Grown on trees; soap nuts are actually a dried berry with the seeds removed. Their true name is Sapindus Mukorossi and they are full of saponins or natural soap as it is better know. Used for thousands of years in India and Asia to wash everything from clothes to skin and hair to pets and general household cleaning. And they are now here in Australia. They would have to be the ultimate Eco product. They are grown wild without chemicals, and harvested ethically and fair- under a Government of India Social Project meaning the people who harvest them receive a decent income. They are also biodegradable and suitable for your grey water. In fact they improve the quality of septic tanks becaue they don't kill off any life giving organisms. But best of all they replace a myraid of products and they do it well. And did I say they were cheap. 1kg could last you many months making them very cost effective indeed.

So how do you use them? Easy; there is 2 ways to use them. Put 6-8 half shells in the small organic cotton bag provided and place them in the washing machine. You don't need to use fabric softener as the nuts themselves will naturally soften your clothes. Re-use up to 6 times before composting the remains. The soap nuts can also be used this way in your dishwasher. The other option is to simmer the soap nuts in water for 20 minutes and then strain off the liquid. Now you can use the soapnut liquid as you would any other soap to wash hands, bodies, pets and to clean every house hold surface. Soap nuts will not agravate your skin in fact it may actually help and is great to use on anyone with excema including babies.