Soap Nuts

Bubbly Bubbly Berry !!

It had all begun when I bought a new washing machine.. I was skeptical on the water consumption of upto 150litres for each wash load.
 ie: In an year, approximately
45,000 liters is polluted with detergent chemicals - is useless for any other purpose and is simply drained into the sewage.

150 liters 1 load / day
150 liters x 4 loads/ Week = 600 liters
150 liters x 16 loads/Month = 2,400 liters
150 liters x 300 loads/ Year = 45,000 liters

From the core of my heart, I choose to restore and recycle the graywater to recharge the ground water. But, this graywater is totally useless for watering my plants as they can not thrive in the harsh water nor is it good to divert to rain water harvesting pit, as it would pollute the underground water table resources.

I started to analyse on the composition of the polluted water and found that the chemicals in the detergents and fabric softeners are the main cause of pollution.
I headed to think of eco-friendly alternatives to the detergents and fabric softeners and made a lot of enquiry and research in market.

Upon profound research and analysis,I found that SOAP NUTS (Kumkudukaya in telugu) are the natural and best alternative, as they are eco-friendly and no chemicals are going into the sewage system and water table.
Hence, we had now connected the washing machine outlet pipe to rain water harvesting pit to recharge the ground level water.

Soap Nuts are probably the most sustainable and versatile cleaning product available from nature. It is organic, non-allergic, cheapest and very effective multipurpose cleanser.

How do they work on laundry? 

The Soap nuts contain saponin, which works as a natural surfactant. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of the water, essentially making it wetter and easier to penetrate into soiled fabrics. This combined with the agitation of washing machine or handwashing removes the dirt or particles, then keeps them away from your clothing until rinsing occurs.

Most commercial detergents contain chemical surfactants, some of which (such as 1,2-Dioxane) have been shown to be carcinogenic and volatile. But soap nuts are all-natural and have been used for centuries around the world.

Properties and its Uses:

• Ideal Cleanser: Soap nuts create less foam with more washing quality, which is highly recommended for front loading washing machines too.
•  Natural Fabric Conditioner: Helps retain color and shine of the fabric. Gives soft fabrics, without the need to add fabric conditioners.
• Biodegradable: The left over suds are 100% decomposed adding to the soil fertility.
• Multi purpose cleanser: Can be used in washing machine, dishwasher, floor cleaning, toilet cleanser, car wash, exhaust fans, hair and body wash, pet shampoo, gold/diamond jewellery cleaning etc..
• Non- Allergic: Free from harsh chemicals which irritate skin and respiratory system.
• Anti-Bacterial and Anti- Fungul: Good to cure Microbial and scalpy infections.
• Affordable: Very low in cost as compared to any detergents and multiple cleansers available in the market.
• Absolutely odourless: The clothes smell natural, without any chemical traces.
• Availability: Its abundant in villages and easily accessible.
• Eco-Friendly: Simple packaging ,instead of the processing industries in large scale, replacing multiple plastic bottles, which is a big havoc to the environment.
• Gentle Cleanser: Delicate on hands, washing machines, all types of fabrics and surfaces, wich need extra care such as silks, wollen's, siffons, lingerie and baby clothing.
•  Insecticide: Can be used to treat lies in the hair and insects in the garden and kitchen. Soap nuts can also be used to wash fruits and vegetables, to remove traces of pesticides.

Bubbling Soapnut juice ready to use

In a nutshell, Soapnuts are a naturally healthy way to stay clean.

It's as simple as just soaking few soapnuts(15 -20) in hot water, and the liquid can be used in many ways throughout the day. I have been doing everything possible I could with soapnuts from the last 10 months and they had worked amazingly well for my laundry, home cleaning, hair and body.

I'm astonished at the way nature provides us with everything we need - We only have to take time and LOOK for it.

Cheer up local farmers/girijans by adding income to them and let the aqautic animals thrive happily in waterbodies.

If about 45,000 liters of water per household can now be reused, imagine the water that can be saved from multi-storey complexes every year....  Isn't the idea of reusing water that's just going into drainage exciting ?
We had connected the washing machine outlet pipe to rain water harvesting pit to recharge the ground level water and also water our garden, and our plants are very healthy now.

Reuse
Recycle
Restore
The water to best of our awerness..!!

Start exploring and try the soapnuts to save our environment and the sparkling magic to happen !!

Please do share with us, the ways you adopt for a eco friendly lifestyle.