1. Do soapnuts wash as well as an ordinary washing liquid?
Yes they do wash as well as an ordinary washing liquid, but remember it is not a miracle product. Too many people expect soapnuts to wash better than detergent and to get rid of all stains. If you have stubborn stains, you should use stain remover, just as you would with regular washing liquid.

2. Can I put my soapnuts on the compost after use?
Yes, after using your soapnuts 2 or 4 times depending on the wash temperature, don't throw them in the bin but put them on your compost. They will contribute to enriching your vegetable garden.

3. How can one tell if a soapnut shell is "empty"?
Rub the shell of the soapnut with a wet finger and if you still get some lather it means there is still some saponin.

4. Can one break the soapnut shells?
Yes! When you break the soapnut shells into small pieces, they release the saponin faster, but the shells get empty sooner.

5. What is the yield of soapnuts ?
Soapnuts give the following yield: 3 to 4 half shells of soapnuts can be used for 2 to 4 washes at 30° - 60° or 2 washes hotter than 60°. As the shells do not form foam inside the washing machine, you should use this information which comes to us from the producer as a basis for knowing when to throw away your soapnuts. 1kg of soapnuts is enough for about 180 to 250 washes.

6. What do you mean by shells?
In the instructions for use, when we speak of shells we in fact mean half shells. Therefore you need only put 3 to 4 half shells for x machine loads. That depends on the temperature at which you wash your clothes.

7. Is it normal to see no foam in the drum when the machine is working?
Yes, the shells do not form foam inside the machine. The saponin (which is the substance which washes the clothes) is released upon contact with hot water, and doesn't make a foam.

8. I would like to know if soapnuts wear out fabrics.
In reply to your question, soapnuts do not cause any more wear than regular washing products. They wash just as well as an ordinary washing liquid but are not a miracle product. Too many people expect soapnuts to wash better than regular detergent and get rid of all stains. If you have stubborn stains, you will need to use stain remover just as you would with normal washing liquid.
With soapnuts, you no longer need to use softener. Saponin (which is the substance which washes the clothes) will make your clothes soft to the touch.

9. With a child suffering from eczema, are soapnuts recommended?
Soapnuts are recommended for babies and for persons who develop allergies to conventional washing products, as they contain no allergenic substances. As regards essential oils (which you may add to give a scent to the wash), we have had no experience with persons suffering from eczema. In principle, there shouldn't be any problem. If however you want to be absolutely sure, you can wash your clothes without adding essential oil. Your wash will be perfectly clean but will have no smell.

10. Quality and selection of soapnut lots

a.  Selection of lots
Our European distributor pays a premium of 20% to his Asian wholesaler in order to guarantee a stricter selection of soapnut lots. For optimal washing quality, the soapnuts must have a fine honey-coloured skin, without white traces or black parts. They should not be sticky when dry. Apparently, you didn't buy your soapnuts from our company. Maybe you bought soapnuts of lesser quality, with less saponin (which is the substance which washes the clothes).

Our European distributor has the soapnuts quality sorted. But the soapnuts which our distributor rejects on quality grounds are sold off cheaply to other retailers or distributors in Europe. Presumably this allows them to sell these soapnuts at a much cheaper price.

b. Soapnuts: organic quality
Our European wholesaler has set up an organic quality soapnut production and import connection. This allows us to guarantee total transparency up the chain, from harvesting to putting on sale in Europe. This quality and the maintenance of an organic quality soapnut production and import connection have a certain cost which we also pay.

1. Can one also use this product when for example you have a white pullover with a blue or coloured logo?
Yes, you can use the Ecover oxygenated whitening agent if you have a white pullover with a coloured logo or other coloured elements. It has the following properties:
*Removes deep stains, ensures hygienic wash and improves the washing strength of the washing product used. *Gives a bright white naturally *Contains no optical bluing agents which might leave traces on the skin, and no chlorine *Leaves no traces of chemical products or chlorine *Suits vegans. *Maximum biodegradability. *Minimum water pollution *Not animal tested.

2. How often should one add this product?
When you do a machine load of white clothes, we recommend you add this product into the detergent container of your washing machine. This is how to use it:

Ecover oxygenated whitening agent preserves the whiteness of your wash even after numerous washes and eliminates all sorts of stains such as tea, coffee, fruit juices, red wine or grass stains. Always pour the oxygenated whitening agent into the dispensing tray in combination with the washing powder or liquid.

Quantity for a full machine load of 4 to 5 kg (1 soupspoon is equivalent to 15 ml):

- for a very bright white: 1 soupspoon
- to get rid of coloured stains: 2 soupspoons
- for handwashing or soaking: 1 soupspoon

Ecover oxygenated whitening agent is also very suited to getting rid of mould from various surfaces. Pour 3 soupspoons into a 5 litre bucket of lukewarm water and rub the surface immediately with a brush.

We also advice you to use the Ecover stain remover. 

Advantages of this productsuitable for whites and coloureds

1. vegetable origine
2. fast and complete biodegradability (OCDE 301F test, complete product)
3. minimal impact on aquatic life (OCDE 201&202 test , complete product)
4. product not tested on animals

How to use

Ideal for all stains from grease and proteins: blood, eggs, grass, mud, milk, sweat, ice cream, etc. Wet the stain with water. Use the brush to work the stain remover into the stain. Do not allow the garment to dry but wash it normally with the rest of the wash. Do not use on woollens, silk or other delicate fabrics.

D) Decoction

1. Can you use a decoction of soapnuts in the dishwasher?
Yes! You can use your decoction of soapnuts in the dishwasher.

2. What else can I use this decoction for?
You can also use this decoction for :
Liquid soap
Universal cleanser
Plant protection

3. How many soapnuts are needed to make a thick decoction?We recommend you boil 10 to 15 half shells of soapnuts in 1 litre of water for 10 minutes to make your decoction. Leave it to cool and finally pass through a filter. Your decoction is ready!

4. You say the decoction will keep for 10 days in a cool place… is that all?
Yes, the soapnuts decoction will keep for 10 days in a cool place if you add some citric acid, some lemon or some essential oils. After that it will be finished. Don't forget your decoction contains no fixing agents or preservatives like what you buy in big stores.

5. If I make a hand soap to put in the dispenser, do I have to use it in 10 days and do I have to keep it in a cool place, or can I leave it at room temperature?
Same reply as the previous question. The soapnuts decoction will keep for 10 days in a cool place if you add some citric acid, some lemon or some essential oils. If you wish to make a decoction use in a hand soap dispenser, make a more concentrated decoction (20 to 30 half shells in half a litre of water). You will be able to keep it in your dispenser at room temperature between 7 and 10 days.

6. Can you tell me why I have greasy hair except at the ends since I started washing with a decoction of soapnuts?

This could have several causes:
· Your decoction is too old
· You make your decoction with soapnuts which have been used several times (not enough saponin left)   
· You bought poor quality soapnuts (low in saponin)
Did you buy your soapnuts from us? We think not, because we have never had this kind of complaint before.
What we suggest is that you make your decoction with good quality new soapnuts (which haven't been used to wash your clothes)

1. How many machine loads can I do with 3 or 4 half shells of soapnuts?
Depending on the temperature of your wash, you can use soapnuts several times:
At 30 or 40 degrees, soapnuts can be used 4 times
At 60 degrees, the soapnuts can be used 2 times
At 90 degrees, the soapnuts can only be used for one wash.
When the soapnuts have released all their saponin, they become all soft. Don't throw them in the bin, but on your compost. They will contribute to enriching your vegetable garden.

What happens during the rinse, seeing that soapnuts released saponin in contact with water?
Remember, it is only when in contact with hot water that the soapnuts release their natural detergent, saponin. During the rinse, the machine uses cold water, so the soapnuts stop releasing saponin.

Shampoo

1. Can soapnuts be used as a shampoo?
Yes. A decoction of soapnuts (3-5 shells in a litre of water brought to the boil) can be used as a mild shampoo for your hair, to give it sheen and fight dandruff. The hair will be easy to comb. Remember: keep it away from the eyes!!

Liquid soap for pets

2. On your site you say a decoction of soapnuts can be used for household pets. I read somewhere that plant saponin is toxic for animals (cat-dog). What about soapnuts saponin?

We received this information (that a decoction of soapnuts can be used for pets) from our European wholesaler. We have very little experience in this matter. By consulting other internet sites, we found that consuming soapnuts is toxic for humans and for animals. However, using it as shampoo for the human or as a liquid soap for animals is not dangerous.

Wash your household pets with a decoction of soapnuts, their fur will be soft and silky and the characteristic scent of the saponin will repel parasites for a time. Boil around ten half shells in 200 ml of water for 5 min and leave to cool. Remove the used shells and add as much lukewarm water as you need. Wet the animal with it and massage it well into his skin, leave it to work for a few minutes then rinse. Make sure the solution doesn't get into his eyes.

Yes. A decoction of soapnuts (3-5 shells in a litre of water brought to the boil) can be used as a mild shampoo for your hair, to give it sheen and fight dandruff. The hair will be easy to comb. keep it away from the eyes!!We received this information (that a decoction of soapnuts can be used for pets) from our European wholesaler. We have very little experience in this matter. By consulting other internet sites, we found that consuming soapnuts is toxic for humans and for animals. However, using it as shampoo for the human or as a liquid soap for animals is not dangerous. Wash your household pets with a decoction of soapnuts, their fur will be soft and silky and the characteristic scent of the saponin will repel parasites for a time. Boil around ten half shells in 200 ml of water for 5 min and leave to cool. Remove the used shells and add as much lukewarm water as you need. Wet the animal with it and massage it well into his skin, leave it to work for a few minutes then rinse.

1. Do you have a shop for direct sales or is it only possible by internet?
We have not tried to establish a dealer network for soapnuts for two simple reasons:
a) to keep our prices competitive
b) to minimize costs in order to ensure a better dividend for the producers in India and Nepal
For these reasons we have no shop in Lausanne in Switzerland retailing our soapnuts. However a drugstore in Yverdon, Switzerland sells them. It is the Pharmacie Droguerie, Rue du Lac 42 to Yverdon-les-Bains. You therefore have two choices:
a) go buy soapnuts from this pharmacy at Yverdon
b) order through us by internet and receive your soapnuts and accompanying products at your home.

1. When using soapnuts must one add a descaling product to protect the machine?
Yes, you must add product against limescale. The soapnuts have no effect on lime which depends on the quality of your water. For the moment, we recommend you use Calgon. We have already had this kind of question from other customers. We are therefore looking for an ecological product against limescale to complete our range.

2. Have you already heard of magnetic descaling balls?
Yes, we have already heard of this product and we are not at all convinced by it. The reason is simple. This kind of magnet also exists for descaling the plumbing in apartments and houses. After discussion with a specialist company we found that this method is ineffective. The only effective means for fighting limescale in a house is a reverse osmosis unit. People don't use them because unfortunately they are much too expensive in salt.
To return to the limescale in the washing machine, for the moment. We recommend using Calgon. We are trying to evaluate a product similar to Calgon but 100% ecological and biodegradable. Once we have completed our tests to our satisfaction, we will offer it for sale to our customers on our website.

1. Limescale

The question of limescale is important and crops up often. I myself live in the Morges region so I know the problem of hard water very well. For the moment, I am using soapnuts for washing my clothes and put some Calgon in the machine from time to time. This allows me to treat the lime effectively. However, Calgon is not a very ecological solution! We are currently negotiating with one or two manufacturers of ecological products in order to start selling their 100% ecological descaling solution, which will be in tablet form. We hope to be able to include a 100% biodegradable decaling product to our range of products. We can only recommend you come back and visit our website from time to time.

1. All-round cleaner
I have recently discovered the all round cleaner, which I appreciate a lot with one small reservation: the lack of a measure. For occasional cleaning of small surfaces, it is difficult to obtain a small amount of the liquid. Is there a dispenser which can be fitted in place of the cap? Normally one can use the cap of the all round cleaner as a measure. It is even marked on the bottle to use 1 to 2 caps – for smaller quantities, one should preferably use the all round cleaner in a spray bottle, such as a 500ml window and indoor cleaner container.