Soapnuts: An Eco-friendly Alternative to Traditional Detergents

Native to tropical climates, soap nuts are the fruit pulp derived from the Sapindus tree. For thousands of years people from those regions used the fruit pulp as a washing agent. The natural surfactant properties that soap nuts feature made it a wonderful foaming agent, emulsifier and cleanser. Today, soap nuts have gone mainstream. As eco-awareness grows, people are actively looking for healthier alternatives to everyday products that are just as effective as the conventional stuff. In addition to being able to effectively penetrate the fibers of clothing and remove stains, soap nuts are hypoallergenic and friendly to the environment, making the fruit pulp an excellent eco-friendly alternative to the traditional synthetic detergents.

The trouble with traditional detergents is that it is detrimental to the environment in many ways. First of all conventional detergents are processed from a formula of synthetic chemicals that can be harsh to the clothing and skin and devastating to the environment. Laundry detergents pollute the water and alter the ecosystem of aquatic vegetation that results in overgrowth of algae. Traditional cleaners are also formulated with an unnecessary abundance of unnatural fragrances that can irritate the senses. These are packaged in non-recyclable plastic containers that contribute to landfill waste. Unlike natural laundry detergent, synthetic detergents may be effective at cleaning clothes, the cons drastically outweighs the pros when it comes to health and to the environment.

Benefits to using Soapnuts:

• All Natural: Soap nuts are all natural cleansers, therefore it contains zero artificial ingredients or fragrances
• Biodegradable: Because soap nuts are actually pulps from a fruit, they are 100 percent biodegradable. Once the soap nuts have reached its lifespan, they can be placed in composts or the soil to biodegrade naturally.
• Produces minimal waste: Commercial soap nut manufactures are dedicated to producing minimal waste in regards to their packaging so no unnecessary plastics are used, instead soap nuts are sold in recyclable boxes.
• Easy to use: There is no trick to using soap nuts as a detergent, it is easy to use and also safe for both HE and standard washers
• Effective: Soap nuts are effective at removing stains and odors from clothing and fabric

Gentle: Soap nuts are non-toxic and hypoallergenic making it gentle enough for the even the most sensitive skin.

• Affordable: Soap nuts typically cost about the same or less than the leading conventional counterparts

There is no room for harsh chemicals in a sustainable future. The damage that is already to the water, ecosystem and aquatic life due to conventional detergents are going to continue if healthier alternatives are not being used. However, the world is Greener today than it has ever been, so it is safe to say that as awareness for soapnuts grows so will its use and demand.

The author has written this article on Soapberry. Through this article, she has tried to highlight the effective benefits of using natural things special nuts.