It really depends on how dirty your clothes are and how big the load is. Hard water areas may require more saponin, therefore more soapnuts. I would recommend 3-4 soapnuts for half a load, especially if your washing machine is fairly new. If you live in an area with hard water or you are washing a big quantity of things, 5-6 soapnuts are definitely best to get things clean properly.Soapnuts are particularly recommended for babies clothes and items, as they are 100% chemical-free and allergy-free, perfect for the delicate skins of infants and young children. They are also great at killing bacteria, so they can be used to wash your pets and their own things too!

Absolutely! That’s why they are such great eco-product! You can reuse the same soapnuts for 3-4 washing loads before you add them to your compost.However, keep in mind that if you are washing clothes in very hot water, this will make the soap nuts release their cleaning agent, saponin, a lot faster, therefore their cleaning power will decrease after a few uses.If instead, you choose to wash your things in cold water, this will make your soapnuts last longer. However, if you have very dirty items, I’d recommend putting the soapnuts in a cup and pour some boiling water on top of them beforehand. That will kickstart the release of their natural surfactants and allow a much better cleaning performance. Remember to add the soapy water to your wash too!Once all the saponin is released from the shells, the soapnuts will stop feeling sticky and will start looking quite pale and brittle once dry. When that happens, it’s time to say goodbye, pop them in your composting pile and start using a new fresh handful.