Soap nuts are a versatile product that can be used for both cleaning and body and hair care. Learn more about the properties and types of soap shells. Looking into the composition of most shampoos, among the first five components you can see an ingredient such as SLS or SLES. These active surface substances, with prolonged exposure, can adversely affect the condition of the hair, making the strands more brittle. It is not easy to find a quality shampoo without harmful ingredients, so many women use soap nuts tincture as a detergent, which, in turn, has a wide range of applications.
What are soap nuts
Soap nuts are berries that grow on soap trees, which, in turn, can be found in the tropics of Asia and America, many round fruits are yellowish-brown in color in India. The peculiarity of this plant lies in the variety of 15 varieties, as well as the presence of up to 38% saponins in nuts. A solution of saponins, when shaken, allows you to obtain abundant foam, which can subsequently be used for a variety of purposes, has not bypassed its use and the field of cosmetology.
The value of the fruits of soap trees is concentrated in the shell, it is there that a large number of natural foaming agents are located, which also have good detergent qualities, which allows them to be used for rinsing linen, washing dishes, and hair. Means prepared using soap nuts are non-toxic, do not cause allergies, do not pollute the air, do not have a smell, which cannot be said if products with harmful chemical compounds are used instead. Note that nuts taken from soap trees are able to reduce inflammation, accelerate wound healing, and minimize the increased secretion of sebum.
Soap nuts for laundry
If you are one of people whose skin does not react to washing powder in the best way, if for some reason you do not like the smell of the washing product you bought, or you decide to switch to a more natural version of the detergent for washing clothes, you can safely use soap nuts.
First, it is worth deciding on the number of shells (1 shell is equal to two halves) required for a full wash. For soft water, you can take 3-6 shells, hard - 5-10. Moreover, these nuts are enough for 1-3 procedures. Place the fruit in a cotton bag and add about 5-10 drops of essential oil, if desired, for a pleasant scent. Tie the bag well so that the shells do not fall out during washing, and place it in the drum along with the clothes.
For hand washing, it is enough to pour water into a container, add soap shells and shake the liquid a little to get foam, after which you can start the washing process itself. Soap nuts will help get rid of stains from chocolate, yogurt, borscht, some types of felt-tip pen, pens, etc. on the fabric. In some cases (if strong tea leaves, currants, mayonnaise get on the clothes, if traces are found on cuffs and collars, etc.), additional processing will be required.
Helaplant Nuts are effective against traces of grass, tomato paste, blood, or other stubborn stains. As for white items, they should be washed at very high temperatures, since soap nuts do not have a bleaching effect. If the stain is difficult to remove, it is better to pre-treat it; for these purposes, in some situations, you can use the method of soaking the fabric in cold water with the addition of salt or soda, or using laundry soap.
Washing dishes using soap nuts
Based on the fact that common commercial dishwashing detergent is harmful to the body through food or drink, some men and women have switched to safer options, which also include soap nuts. Infusion of nuts copes with greasy dishes, bloom from tea leaves or coffee. To prepare the extract, follow the recommendations of the following instructions:
- Pour a liter of ordinary, or preferably purified, water into a saucepan, and put 20 to 30 shells there. Nuts should be pre-chopped, but you can do without this, in which case, the softened fruits should be mash with a fork during the cooking process. Cover the pot with a lid.
- Turn on a low heat and boil the soap nuts for half an hour. During this time, the shells will have time to release saponins from themselves, substances that have valuable properties, and turn the water into a washing extract.
- Collect the shells in a bag, and strain the liquid and pour into a convenient jar. If you do not cover the pan with a lid, the water can boil off by almost half, in which case you will get a more concentrated extract and, if desired, can be diluted with water. Try to use the prepared product within two weeks, no more, since later the extract will no longer possess the abilities that it could boast at the beginning of its life. A large amount of saponins disappear even after the first boil. To extend the shelf life of the product, store it in a cool place.
Soap nuts are also used for washing dishes in the dishwasher. Place 5 to 7 eggshells in the cutlery drawer and let the appliance do its job in the way it is used to.
Soap nuts for cleaning
Soap nut solution is effective in cleaning furniture, mirror surfaces, tiles and plastic coverings from dirt and grease stains. All you need to do to get a clean surface is simply wipe the contaminated area with a cloth or sponge soaked in the extract. By adding a solution of soap tree nuts to the water, you can get a good detergent for cleaning floors that will cope with stains of varying degrees of dirt, without leaving streaks.
The versatility of the soap nut extract is also confirmed by the fact that the product helps protect children from harmful bacteria and worms, for this you just need to rinse the toys with them and let them dry.
Washing vegetables and fruits
As a rule, many companies involved in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits use chemicals in their work, which, despite the fact that they give products a marketable appearance, can have a detrimental effect on the health of consumers. Soap nut extract will help minimize the effects of these chemicals and make fruits and vegetables edible.
Note that the use of poorly washed vegetables and fruits can provoke the development of gastrointestinal disorders, as well as be the cause of food poisoning. Rinsing apples and pears under running tap water will not be a problem, but qualitatively minimizing contamination of grapes, cherries or currants, for example, can be a significant task. Put water in a deep container, put vegetables or fruits in there and add soap nut extract. After a couple of minutes, you can be sure of the purity of the products. Remember to re-rinse your food with clean water.
Use a nut solution to get rid of bird, insect and animal marks, or to remove dust and dirt.
Pet care
Using the tincture of soap tree nuts in pet care, you do not have to worry that your pet will have an allergic reaction to the shampoo, and the chance of contact with parasites and insects is also minimized. At the same time, the water with the shells becomes soft, which makes the bathing process more pleasant for the animal.
Soap nuts and houseplants
A solution of soap nuts can protect indoor plants from harmful microorganisms. Being a good fertilizer, the shell extract enriches the soil and makes the plant live, accelerating growth. Soap nuts can replace pest control chemicals. Spray bushes and plants with shell tincture if you want to get rid of or prevent the appearance of aphids.
Spray the product over the leaves and do not rinse, because the formed film serves as a protective barrier against pests and dust.
Jewelry accessories cleaning
Not sure how to make a purchased item look new? Try a nut soap solution. Dip the jewelry in the extract, go over the dirty areas with a soft toothbrush and dry with a dry soft cloth.
Skin and hair care: recipes
Soap nuts are most often used as a component for the manufacture of hair care products, they behave well in relation to the skin, they do not dry it out or irritate it, and are also able to rid the skin of impurities. The value of nuts is also concentrated in antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, deodorant effects.
The soap tree shell solution can be used as a liquid hand and body soap, or as a hair shampoo. The product is suitable for sensitive skin that reacts quickly to external irritants, it is used for eczema, acne, psoriasis, itching of the skin, etc.
Do not expect abundant foam from using a solution of soap nuts. If you obviously miss it, you can add a little babassu foam to the cooked product. Wash your hair until it squeaks and try to wash so that the shampoo does not get into your eyes.
Place 10 shells in about 1 liter of boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes. Let the mixture cool, do not forget to squeeze the nuts, and filter the prepared product, strain, and pour into a bottle. In order to extend the shelf life of the product (more than two weeks), add grapefruit seed extract to the solution.
You can do without nut extract if you put the shells in a cloth bag, moisten them with hot water and squeeze them onto your head and strands while taking a shower or bath, using the foam as a detergent for your hair. The remaining nuts can be reused.
The solution, saturated with saponins, makes the hair soft and thicker, making the combing process easier. Regular washing of the strands will lead to the fact that the hairs become much less shedding, and dandruff will disappear.
With a coffee grinder, you can powder the nuts. Dilute 1 tbsp. a spoonful of powder with warm water, apply evenly on the strands and after a few minutes, or even more, rinse with water. The powder can be mined independently and is also available in some online ingredient stores for the production of safe cosmetics.
As a shampoo, you can use both a solution of nuts and a product with the addition of other components. So much for cooking products for all hair types you will need:
- Clay Multani Mitti - 35%
- Soap Nut Powder - 32%
- Shikakai Soap Bean Powder - 23%
- Amla powder -10%
Mix all ingredients thoroughly and transfer to a jar. During use, dilute a small amount of powder with warm water, apply to damp hair, massage and rinse.
Common types of soap tree nuts
The most popular soap nuts are Trifoliatus and Mukorossi. Both berries belong to the sapindaceae family, they are distinguished by their content of saponins, the absence or presence of tanning coloring components, the thickness of the shells, volume, smell, shade, and even the rate of soaking in water.
Trifoliatus berries are much smaller in volume from Mukorossi, their diameter is about 1.5 cm, and the thickness is 1 mm, while the diameter of Mukorossi nuts is from 2.5 to 3 cm, and the wall thickness is 2.5 mm. Small shells soak faster, but those nuts that gradually release substances into the water are more suitable for washing. Tripoliatus nuts, marked by the presence of saponins of 20-25% (in Mukorossi this figure can reach up to 35%) and containing dyes, are best included in scrubs, masks and hair strengthening products, their foam creates a delicate and pleasant, strawberry, sweet aroma … Nuts of the Trifoliatus species can be distinguished by color, the berries are very dark, reddish-brown, sometimes even black, the Mukorossi berries are amber-yellow-brown, with a herbaceous smell with sourness.
Soap Nut Shampoo Video Recipe:
