I honestly didn’t believe that soapberries would do as good a job as normal laundry detergents and fabric softeners but I really wanted to figure this out on my own and test the wonder berries. Boy, did they prove me wrong! After using the soapberries from That Red House for about a month, I can conclude that they do their job till perfection. Not only are the soapberries natural and organic, they are also super easy to use and wash all my clothes clean, even my sports clothes.
According to That Red House, “The soapberries are the fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, which grows in several different regions around the world, but is most prevalent in the Himalayas. The shell of the fruit is then collected, dried and packed for use. The shell is exceptionally high in 'saponin' which is nature's soap. This saponin content reduces the surface tension of the water so it will remove dirt and leave fabrics, soft and clean.”
When I first found out about the soapberries, I didn’t find them under that name. They are often called soap nuts, but this is in fact not correct. They have nothing to do with nuts and everything to do with berries.
Why should you convert to soapberries?
If you have allergies or a sensitive skin then you should try the soapberries. They are hypo-allergenic.
You basically throw money out the window if you use the traditional laundry detergents and fabric softeners. The soapberries cost around 10c per wash load for a 1 kg bag.
They are completely free of chemicals.
Grey water safe.
Septic safe.
Fully compostable.
The berries are 100% sustainable.
You don’t even need fabric softener with the soapberries because they leave clothes feeling soft and fresh.
Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.
They have not been tested on animals.
If you have babies or children then you just have another reason to use soapberries since they are extremely gentle yet effective.
They reduce pollution.
Soapberry trees are often subject to deforestation, so purchasing them ensures that they are maintained as a form of income for the Nepalese people, thus reducing deforestation.
No pesticides, fertilisers or chemical treatments have been used in the growing or storing process. This ensures that nothing but 100% natural organic products are used in your home.
I wish you lots of fun with the natural soapberries but if you are still not completely convinced just think about this; you will be doing something good for the environment and you will also safe a lot of money in the long haul. Plus, they do really wash just as good, if not better actually, as the traditional laundry detergents.
