Some of this info was in a letter I wrote to the fabulously cool and “Green” Ed Begley Jr. and it made me realize I had more to say about the virtues of this remarkable gift from Mother Nature. It’s becoming more apparent that everything we need is already here in the bountiful gifts she gives.
The Santa Barbara News Press just did a large article in the Feb 16th Salon/Style section on my Perfume making (which was my first foray into look at me territory) but as fun as it is to make women smell good it’s not truly making the world a better place so I started SoapSeed which actually DOES make the world a better place! This is everything you need to know about this amazing, inexpensive, fabulous product. ( one 14 oz bag will wash up to 120 loads!) AND it’s certified Organic and hand gathered by families in Katmandu who earn a living wage doing it… I’ll go see it in person some day..
Across the jungles of India and Indonesia, a surprisingly practical tree called sapindus mukorrosi grows a small fruit surrounded by a firm outer shell, much like a lychee or rambutan. This tree, also called the Chinese Soapberry Tree, is unique in the fact that it synthesizes its own natural soap-like saponins that coat the shell of the fruit. When the fruits ripen and fall from the tree, local families harvest the windfall, and then remove the inner fruit from the outer shell. The shell is then dried in the sun, using absolutely no chemical processing or manufacturing processes. In fact, the whole process uses no fossil fuels either, except in the transportation of the product to the western world (which is efficiently accomplished by ship).
It is this outer shell – rich in natural saponins which act as water surfactants – that the native families in India have used for centuries to wash their own clothes. They toss two or three shells into a small burlap bag and work it in with their laundry (which is usually washed by hand, by the way). The Soap Seeds, as they’re now called absorb water and release their saponins which circulate as a natural surfactant in the wash water, reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing dirt, grime and oils from the clothing.
When the clothes are rinsed, the soap nut saponins are washed downstream where they remain harmless to the environment. No synthetic chemicals, no fragrance chemicals, no foaming agents or other toxins. Just pure, natural Soap Seedt saponins grown by a tree and engineered by nature. The Soap Seed can be boiled with fresh water and sprayed onto plants as a natural pesticide and it’s a very effective non toxic way to protect your garden as well as washing fruits or vegetables from the store that may have pesticides residues on them. We of course don’t buy anything but organic fruits and vegetables! But some people still can’t afford to eat totally organically even in Santa Barbara…
Even though these Soap Seeds have been used for hundreds of years in India and Indonesia, they’re barely known in the western world where brand-name chemical detergents are heavily marketed to consumers through advertising, coupons and in-store displays. Packed in eye-catching boxes and scented with artificial fragrance chemicals, these synthetic detergents are literally scooped up by tens of millions of consumers who have no idea they’re bathing their clothes in cancer-causing chemicals while destroying the environment by flushing dangerous chemicals downstream.
The laundry room is one of the most toxic rooms in the home of a typical consumer. Commercial laundry detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain alarmingly high levels of toxic chemicals well known to cause cancer, liver disorders, neurological disturbances and hormone disruption. Many people wash their clothes in these dangerous chemicals and then wear them around all day, allowing the chemicals in the clothes to penetrate their skin and enter their bloodstream where they cause serious harm. Even worse, all those toxic chemicals get flushed downstream where they contribute to the mass killing of fish and ocean ecosystems, including all the various lifeforms that depend on the fish.
Until now, there have been few options for eco-conscious consumers. While an increasing number of eco-friendly manufactured laundry products now exist in the marketplace (such as Seventh Generation and Biokleen brands), no natural laundry product had appeared in the western world that is 100% manufactured directly by nature.
Three or so Soap Seeds per load of hot or warm water wash is the recommended quantity. On their own Soap Seeds have a mild, fresh, vinegary smell. Yet they will not fragrance the laundry. For added fragrance, add a few drops of an essential oil on the cotton sack. There is no need to remove the soap nuts from the rinse cycle. The little bit of saponin left in the rinse adds softness and body to the laundry. If the laundry feels stiff after washing, however, too many soap nuts were used and excess saponin was in the rinse water. The stiffness will go away after the next washing. Soap Seeds can be used for one load with hot water and up to four loads with warm water. If the Soap Seeds no longer feel squeaky clean or sudsy when rubbed, the saponin is used up. When the shells are ready to retire, add them to the compost. Soap Seeds are safe for washing silk, woolens and other delicate fabrics. Furthermore, they are antimicrobial, beneficial for septic systems and greywater, and can be used in the remediation of contaminated soil.
Soap Seed may be used for various cleaning tasks as well, including removal of tarnish from silver and other precious metals. The price of using these Soap Seeds is quite comparable to, if not more reasonable than, other eco-friendly laundry products. Granted, it’s not as cheap as dumping foaming chemicals into your laundry. Protecting the environment and well being of family is hopefully more important than saving a quarter here and there. By each of us choosing wisely, it is possible to end the cycle of monetary support for manipulative consumer product companies that poison the world with their harmful chemicals.
I even use Soap Seed in my dishwasher! AND I’m in the process of formulating a lice shampoo with it a fabulous lice shampoo! In Santa Barbara no matter how “Fancy” you think you are,there’s a good chance that during the school year your children are going to come into contact with Lice! Yuck. We escaped it this year with Soap Seed as a preventative shampoo and last year got rid of it right away with Soap Seed which was my first time using it for that specific purpose. I’m formulating with natural preservatives as we speak to make a shampoo that I can add to the website for folks who aren’t “Potion Makers” as my family refers to me… Something with a shelf life and easy to use bothe scented and unscented versions will be available soon. Lissa