Soap Nuts Pro

The “12 Tips” to Ensure Your Satisfaction When Buying and Using Soap Nuts:

Purchasing soap nuts (soapnuts, soap berries etc.) isn’t as simple as it should be. Let’s face it – it’s a fruit, and there’s lots of sketchy and/or erroneous info floating about. If you didn’t know much about apples, how would you know you’re buying the best ones for you? Are you going to eat them raw or bake a pie? Are they the best type for your intended use? Are you getting a good value? Exporters and retailers have added to consumer confusion by selling different species, different grades, and making claims that may or may not be factual. Different usage instructions compound the confusion. This article can’t cover everything, but it will help you make better decisions about what soap nuts to buy, things to look for, how to obtain your best value, and what soap nuts to avoid. These tips should ward off the vast majority of common mistakes made – and most importantly, help ensure you of a good buying experience.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Soapberries of questionable quality – grown in China – and potentially pollution-tainted – wash up on Western shores. Chinese business owner boasts to reap “long term benefits” by “conquering” the US market via selling super-cheap Chinese “plantation grown” berries. Owner continues with, “I know you do not want us in this market. We are here and we will stay.”
– See the new “MUST READ” Post: China Soap Nuts – Just Say NO!!

As referred to on our Welcome Page, efforts are made not to point out specific brands for either good or bad reasons. Sometimes it’s unavoidable in order to make specific points. My goal however is to teach readers how to think, and what to consider. Obviously all content is subjective and based upon the educated opinions of the author, plus a multitude of soap nuts reviews. Please visit our Welcome Page for detailed “who, what and whys” as to the reasons there is a SoapNuts.Pro. SoapNuts.Pro is here for you!

A quick outline:
1) Buy soap nuts by weight – NEVER by loads claimed.
2) Buy only “DE-SEEDED” soap nuts.
3) Be mindful of what’s real and what’s only marketing “hype”.
4) Avoid soap nuts packaged for retail in Asia – and say NO to China grown.
5) Know exactly what you’re buying.
6) Expect nothing, assume nothing.
7) Be certain the soap nuts are returnable.
8) Pay for soap nuts with a credit card, Paypal or similar.
9) Stick with suppliers that are proven reliable.
10) Don’t let price alone be the determining factor in your buying decision.
11) Buy mukorossi or trifoliatus soap nuts.
12) Know what’s normal for soap nuts – and what’s not!

1) Buy soap nuts by weight – NEVER by number of loads claimed. Hopefully this will be a “no-brainer” for you. Selling soap nuts by “Loads” is a dubious, antiquated marketing tactic that is still being practiced. Even if apples-to-apples (in product quality), the number of loads one receives can vary a lot, hence it’s a totally unreliable means of measurement. Just consider for a moment how many variables there are when it comes to washing your laundry: Washer type (regular or HE, front or top loader), washer size, cycle(s) selected, duration of cycles chosen, load size, water hardness, water temp, degree of soiling – just to name a few. ALL will affect your results – and yield. – And that’s not factoring in YOU. The number of loads obtained depends greatly upon the user.

MANY new users get taken by this one. Let’s face it, most won’t give it much thought when buying soap nuts for the first time? Most folks are more focused on whether if they will be pleased with the results, or if they’ll even work at all – far from how many loads they’ll get – yet. Hence, a retailer can claim almost any number of loads they choose – and probably even show that it’s possible. But using the outer limits of something’s potential as the primary measurement of quantity makes no sense. I’ve even seen loads “guaranteed”. Given our busy lives rarely will anyone keep track of every single laundry load done in their household, so such a guarantee is only a hollow promise that the seller will rarely – if ever – be held accountable for. That’s disturbing because consumers unknowingly can be misled. And right when we’re all trying to save money more than ever!

It’s impossible to accurately provide the number of wash loads YOU’LL get from X-amount of soap nuts. Again, there’s just too many variables, not to mention many folks are just beginning to learn how to use them. At best we can only calculate rough estimates based upon weight.

Using a “number of loads” as a yardstick for measurement began with the first significant (now defunct) retailer of them in the US. It was – and remains – a very bad method – for YOU! Thankfully, we pay closer attention to details than we did years ago. We read labels more thoroughly. We check those “costs per ounce” or “per unit” prices at the grocery store. We’re much smarter shoppers today. Soap nuts were an esoteric product years ago, and buyers couldn’t really compare brands. Well, not anymore. However, soap nuts are still primarily sold in small stores and on the Internet where we don’t have the luxury of using those convenient “per unit cost” tags that the big stores provide. So for the time being, we just have to look a bit closer, think for ourselves, and crunch a few numbers. It’s not hard.

This problematic and subjective “LOADS” means of measurement only creates confusion for shoppers. Exaggerating claims is a way to make a seller’s product appear cheaper than the other guys. Which is precisely the strategy. – WEIGHT is the ONLY reliable benchmark for a prudent shopper. Never base your comparisons or buying decisions upon any “number of loads”. Keep it simple. What’s the cost per ounce? Do that, and you then only need to be sure you’re comparing apples-to-apples. i.e., Mainly being “de-seeded” or not. Simple, huh?

Akin to “number of loads” are SIZE claims. Some retailers still use a size measurement (i.e, Small, Medium, Large, Family Size, etc.). Size is likewise subjective and only somewhat useful. In the case of “packages” or “sets” of items, it can be a reasonable method of comparison. But that only pertains to the “packages” of the SAME retailer – not between brands. Enough said. This should be plain common sense.

The following calculation is based upon my personal experience and TONS of feedback from regular soap nut users:
It’s simple – and easy to remember:  10 LOADS PER OUNCE.
Any claim that deviates far from that should be disregarded. Depending upon your personal efforts and your variables at home you may get more or less to start – but it’s a great benchmark and very reasonable expectation to begin with.

Used traditionally (the wash bag method), a half-ounce (around five average sized, de-seeded, mukorossi soap nuts) is the normal amount you should use. That will typically wash 5-7 loads with good results. I’m using 5 loads to be conservative. Using 5 soap nuts per wash bag, and 5 washes per use, it’s a VERY safe bet that you’ll be pleased with the results from EVERY wash. If you get more – great! With experience most learn many ways to extend the effectiveness of the soap berries (more on this to come).

If you cut back on how many berries used, or if you use the berries for too many washes, their effectiveness will decline. In either case, the amount of saponin (the active ingredient) released decreases. Again, just plain common sense: Less soap, less cleaning power.

When using reasonable benchmarks: A pound of good quality, de-seeded, mukorossi soap nuts should yield around 160 or more washes. That’s a realistic expectation to start with. You can significantly increase your yield depending upon the conditions and variables you have at home. Allow yourself some time to get better at using them in order to optimize their performance. You’ll be amazed at all you’ll begin to learn. It’s fun just experimenting with them.

• Common CLAIMS deserving extra scrutiny:
“360 LOADS” — from a 20.5 oz box. (210-290 loads is closer.)
“360 LOADS” — from a 16 oz (1 lb) box. (160-200 loads is realistic.)
“100 LOADS” — from a 6.5 oz. box. (65-80 loads is closer.)
“100 LOADS” — from a 5 oz. box. (50-60 loads is realistic.)
“10 LOADS” — from a 1/2-oz box. (5-8 is more like it. Particularly when new to soap nuts – who are usually those buying such trial sizes.)

Based upon years of personal use, input from thousands of other users, and the claims of almost ALL suppliers & sellers in the world – the above are inflated CLAIMS. – Period. – They’re not even consistent. (If a 1/2 oz box really did 10 loads, then a 20.5 oz box would do over 400!) It’s just marketing – nothing more. Skip past ALL such “fluff”, and just get to the NET (again, NET) product weight. Only with that can you properly compare values.

Even given the largest 20.5 oz size in the above list, to do 360 loads means that every single wash bag (loaded as per the directions) would need to effectively wash a minimum of 8.8 loads! – NO WAY!

Obviously, any correlating “COST per load” will be equally in error. – Compare the COST PER OUNCE and you can hardly go wrong. (Again, be sure not to forget about seeds if applicable, and any other factors that may affect the product’s value. More below.) And for the last time, this is ALL common sense – if you think about it.

I have no issue with retailers providing rough estimates of loads for any given weights, but the net weight should be clearly specified. That’s #1. Thankfully, few retailers make outlandish claims but since some still do, just be aware of it. I’ve seen soap nuts where the retailer’s instructions were to use only two or three soap nuts per wash bag. (That’s another way to manipulate claims of yield.) I sure wasn’t happy with the results from using so few myself, so the average user probably won’t be either.

A clever little trick recently pointed out to me is that the shipping weight was the only weight provided in a product’s description. Geesh… That’s a big difference! – And it’s really sneaky! We shouldn’t need to scrutinize ALL details so gosh darn carefully.

Some retailers, like a “Venus Flytrap”, continue to seek new prey. And for many NEW soap nut users the end result is not a happy one. The buyer ends up with far less product than a forthright retailer would have provided. Until the soap nut market further matures, and more consumers become savvier shoppers, we’re going to see such marketing tactics. It’s common to see many “third party” sellers of such brands. I’ve seen as many as 10 to 20 sellers of one brand on just one web site! Why? – BIG profits. I believe that all new markets eventually weed out their greedy. Such is the beauty of a free market system. It may take a bit of time, but at the pace the market is growing – it won’t be long.

Please keep in mind that selling them doesn’t qualify anybody as an EXPERT. Many sellers are just as new to soap berries as you may be. I believe that some retailers truly don’t know any better - YET. I noticed a very reputable E-Store recently pick up a questionable brand, and then dropped it like a hot potato! – That says something… Consumers figure things out sooner or later. The very last thing a good, honest retailer wants are complaints, returns, or dissatisfied customers.

So, use your head, and do your own math. I commend all of you that read those labels and descriptions carefully – and think for yourself! – Good job!

One final note: As a US consumer, I avoid product in metric weights for two reasons:
1 - It can be confusing. I don’t like having to convert metric weights.
2 - They almost always indicate overseas packaging. (See Tip #4 below – and the post “Why from the USA?”.)

Wish this section could’ve been shorter, but there was a LOT to cover. Just remember:
We are looking out – FOR YOU!

2) Buy only “DE-SEEDED” soap nuts. - Be 100% certain this is spelled out - plainly and clearly in the description. Be aware that many photos are simply “stock images”, so don’t rely on pictures. They may or may not be representative of the actual product.

A very common term I see used that is a major red flag is “WHOLE”. Almost invariably it means NOT de-seeded. My best advice is to simply avoid any referred to as “whole”. If ever considering “whole”, a fair price should be approximately half of the prevailing rate for de-seeded mukorossi.

One caveat: It is common to find trifoliatus or saponaria berries with seeds. These are the lowest valued of all. We’ll discuss these species in more detail elsewhere, but for now simply keep in mind that there’s many such soap nuts on the market. Their ultra-low cost can be very attractive to retailers. It’s common to see sellers of these just “gloss over” the specifics. (More on typical tactics below.)

It’s common to find seeds once in a while (a few seeds out of 100 soap berries is no big deal). Some just slip through unnoticed. However, throughout the “batch” purchased they should show breaks or cracks in the skin and pulp where the seeds were removed. It’s typical for there to be a mix of full and partial shells (the latter often being referred to as the “pieces”). When sorted and graded in the US, you can often select your quality level of choice. When packaged overseas, they are almost always a mix. Sometimes, these are referred to as “bulk”.

As with all “Tips” here, the focus is on ensuring you of a good value, and protection from possibly unsavory sales people and practices. As shown, the seeds should be removed – leaving only the valuable saponin-rich hollow outer skin and pulp that is dried. Most long-term users know this. Today however, the market is growing so rapidly that many consumers don’t understand this, or know how to tell the difference. We’re going to fix that problem.

A soap nut containing a seed will weigh DOUBLE (or more) than a seedless one. It’s a big seed! Being sold by weight when exported is precisely why we are finding so many soap nuts with seeds on the market. They create “lucrative” opportunities for both exporters and retailers alike. (Lucrative is such an interesting word…don’t you think?) Whenever such lucrative opportunities arise, there’s always someone who will capitalize on it. – There was a day when it was rare to ever find sellers of soap nuts with seeds.

Some interesting sales tactics have arisen from this scenario of “WHOLE” soap nuts. Here’s just a couple:
1 – The seller markets them at very cheap prices – typically with very little specifics and/or a lot of generalized information. The effort being to simply let the story, benefits - and price - sell the product. This distracts the buyer from looking at the truly important details. The buyer of them is often one who still thinks that they’re all the same. No major harm is done here, aside from some disappointment. Ultimately it’s not the “good deal” the buyer may have thought they had. (Oh well…you get what you pay for.)
2 – The seller sells them at or near the prevailing market rates for top-quality - and pockets “a bundle”. This is the very bad scenario, and harm is most definitely done. The consumer ends up getting stung – big time – paying double or more than a fair price. Here again, either a lack of specifics, or a whole bunch of vague and generalized information, descriptions, instructions, etc. are typically used by the seller. A lot of info (even if useless to an experienced user) can give an appearance of credibility to a newbie.

Even when you’re buying by weight (not by loads) – as you should be – then seeds add unwanted weight that YOU are paying for! My advice again is to just steer clear of any that don’t specifically state, “seedless”, “de-seeded”, or “pieces”. – It’s really that simple.

NOTE: Seeds can also permanently spot or stain laundry – particularly when left in contact with wet laundry for even a short period of time. Their dense, jet black outer skin can leave a dark spot on your favorite blouse or linens. So, remove all seeds found. You’ll sometimes hear them rattling a bit in a mukorossi soap nut – not the case with the smaller species (such as trifoliatus and saponaria). When berries of the smaller species dry out and shrink down the shell and seed become very tightly bound. Hence very tough to remove. A larger mukorossi soap berry (with a seed) may leave a slight air gap between the shell and seed, hence looser and easier to detect. Break it open and the seed will often fall right out.

I have read only one seller ever attempting to justify a benefit to seeds that boiled down to what I will describe as “increased agitation.” (The importance of agitation is discussed at length in numerous posts here.) It’s a great idea, but one problem: They won’t work like that. I’ve tried. I’ve experimented with this notion in mind years ago. Once being soaked, that big seed does not bounce around in that soft, wet shell – no more than the seed will in a big ripe black cherry. There isn’t a large enough weight differential once saturated. I truly do appreciate the creative thinking, but just apply some common sense.

(Dropping a few significantly heavier typical marbles or even a couple large stainless ball-bearings into the wash bag is a FAR, FAR BETTER WAY to achieve this effect much more effectively. They work – if you don’t mind the noise at times. Plus they last indefinitely – with zero risk of staining anything! Just be sure to tie the wash bag extra tight, or double tie the bag so they can’t possibly fall out. DON’T EVER use small ball bearings that can get stuck in your machine! Been there… BIG hassle… I quit playing with this idea after that episode. Not worth it…)

Only use seeds for cultivating new tress – or be creative with them. See the post at left called “Soap Nuts with Seeds” for more info! Also see post at right, “Soap Nut Trees”, to learn more about the trees. It includes info on how to grow your own, too!

3) Be mindful of the marketing oriented claims – the “hype”. There’s a lot of creative marketing that’s getting thrown about. It’s always in an effort for a company to try to differentiate their brand in some way. Just stop and think. Your common sense will go a long way. “Organic”, “gourmet”, “generic” are just trick terms. “Gourmet” being humorous of course. (I can’t wait to scarf down my next plate of soapberries!) For the most part, “organic” is now being tossed around so much that the term has become almost useless. All soap berries are “organic” by definition (same as they are “natural”). Don’t think any such generalized terms are meaningful. Look for OFFICIAL Organic Certifications. Ask for proof. Statement of “organic” alone means nothing – at least unless someone invents synthetic ones. I’ve seen it claimed that a company doesn’t sell cheap “generic” soap nuts. Hmmm… So, what is a “generic” soap nut? Some of the marketing is simply ridiculous.

Only OFFICIAL USDA Certified Organic and EcoCert Certified Organic (the international certification agent) provide assurances of chemical-free processing and sanitary processing conditions. There are very steep fines and stiff penalties for fraudulent use of them that inhibit their abuse. However, when buying soap nuts, the species, condition, and reputation of the seller remains paramount. Keep in mind that there is nothing to stop an exporter of inferior quality soap nuts from obtaining official certification that a seller may then use. The species, quality, effectiveness and value of the soap berries are NOT criteria used in the official organic certification processes. Write me at [email protected], or leave a comment if I confused you on this. I understand. It gets confusing.

But let’s address a more important issue regarding “creative marketing” & “product differentiation”:

One small retailer (brand) now claims better soap nuts because of using a “proprietary sterilization process”. Sterilized? This process is claimed to also magically increase the effectiveness of the berries. Oh, brother… Please spare me… But even forgetting about the claim of increased effectiveness, claiming a need to sterilize Certified Organic imports becomes a very serious matter.

This is clever marketing to be sure, but it’s terribly irresponsible. Personally, I believe the claimed reason for sterilizing is simply not true at all. If it was, we’d be hearing about it all over the news! (Think about all the consumer scares: tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, pork, etc., etc.) Those were real – and documented cases. To actually create a public “scare” or concern for the sheer purpose of marketing is about as downright low as I can imagine. This issue is currently being investigated by the State of California. It’s been reported to the proper authorities. This is not an issue to play around with. If the claimed reason were true, then by law the company was required to file a report with the Department of Health and Safety. (I also address this issue in the FAQs for I’ve received many questions about it. It compliments this, and has a little more of my personal spin put on it.) This issue has received more attention than usual because the company was pitching for venture capital (investors) on a popular TV show. Many consumers saw it. They received no offers on the show, and it was very embarrassing, but I’ll elaborate in the FAQs.

This whole issue greatly intrigues me for it utilizes the powerful marketing tactic of FEAR. – By design, it is to stir concern in the minds of the consumers – and worse, create an unwarranted fear of other brands. Use of “fear tactics” in consumer products marketing strategies is essentially never done – at least never initiated by any reputable firm. It’s playing with fire. The issue is huge, and it raises questions of monumental importance. (Sure, we see lame fear tactics every single day used in the political arenas. And, yes, we all hate it. But it’s taken for what it’s worth, and usually just shrugged off being seen for what it is.) – This matter is another ballgame. We’re discussing matters of public health and safety!

The BIG problem here: We’ve seen absolutely zero substance, evidence, documentation or proof of any kind whatsoever to support any need for sterilization - NONE. – Please keep in mind that this company has a long track record of exaggerating and making blatantly false claims - this time caught outright on national TV!

So, in a nutshell: This appears to be one more attempt of this company to try to differentiate their brand. But in this case, it’s without regard for the very serious consequences. The company will likely face big problems. If an agriculture product is brought into this country, and found to be contaminated (by a lab no less as was stated on TV and Facebook) then there must be an official report filed - again, by law. If there was any truth in this matter, without a filed report (California’s response was that is no such report exists) then laws were violated, and the company will face grave consequences.

Frankly, I don’t think this scheme was fully thought through, or reviewed by a competent trade/commerce attorney. Be it due to zealousness, greed, or simply ignorance – a major line was crossed. Albeit all earlier references are deleted now, what was stated (on TV and some of what was posted online) was documented, and there’s no back-peddling that will ever undo it. I sure wouldn’t want to be in their shoes right now.

Certified Organic exporters, importers, handlers, and sellers across the globe will be (or are) outraged. The implications of such reckless claims and statements aren’t taken lightly. They’re an outright and unjust indictment of the reputations of many companies. That company is now in the cross-hairs of many large, reputable companies. It’s taken years of hard work and tons of money for so many companies around the world to become Certified Organic compliant under stringent and often overbearing government regulations.

Consumers wanted assurances of receiving genuinely chemical-free cleaning alternatives – and companies responded. Official Organic Certified products are now available for them. Going beyond Organic Certification especially for products not for human consumption appears counter-intuitive to me, and based in marketing efforts alone - not consumer need. However, I am doing my due diligence as you have come to expect of me.

Here is some preliminary information that should prove helpful.

The Government in India requires strict quality assurance programs be in placed and followed by Indian Exporters. They are very serious about protecting their status as a major agriculture exporter.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Legitimate exporters are to be providing a Certificate of Analysis with each export.
- A reputable Indian company exporting agricultural products to the US will have a US FDA Reg. Number.
(Does this raise any questions for you regarding this issue? This brand? Their supplier? Their claims? – It sure does for me.)

Certified Organic products from India are certified by EcoCert (recognized by the National Organic Program, NOP, and the USDA). There are very specific requirements with regard to the handling and storage of product.
There are inspections at the US receiving port by US Department  of Agriculture, Customs and Homeland Security.

Also very interesting: Post harvest sterilization of a Certified Organic product can alter the product, plus involves the use of substances such as:
- either ethyl or isopropyl alcohols
- bleach
- carbon dioxide
- chlorine
- detergents
- ethylene
- ozone
- peroxide
(List courtesy of the Arizona College of Agricultural and Life Science.)

Final note: There are many illegal exporters in India and Nepal. The Indian Government advises companies/importers to verify that they are buying from a registered legitimate business so that they can be assured that Government regulations have been followed.

4) Avoid soap nuts packaged for retail in Asia. Plus just say “NO” to China grown!

A detailed post has now been published (04-2013) on this important issue of China-grown soap berries. Please see: China Soap Nuts – Just say NO!

There are numerous reasons for this. Once sealed and packaged for retail, nobody will inspect your soap berries before you own them. Let’s remember we are talking about a raw fruit here. The overseas sorting and inspection of soap berries prior to packaging is often low in quality control. Keep in mind that these retail packages will be at sea in large cargo containers (without climate control) for many weeks or even months. They will travel on open seas over a great distance through all kinds of climates and weather. Who knows what will happen to them during this long journey. They will get very hot and very cold. Condensation and moisture can build up and degrade the soap berries. I have received soap nuts packaged overseas that were overly wet and stuck together, blackish in color, plus contained many seeds, hairs, and all kinds of leaves and debris.

It’s much cheaper for retailers to purchase them “ready for retail” because of the low Asian labor costs. Interestingly though, soap nuts that are packaged overseas are usually comparably priced to ones that have been inspected and packaged in the US or Canada. Buy soap nuts that have been inspected and sorted AFTER their long voyage. This will assure you of better quality control over the final processing and packaging. You can also feel more comfortable that Fair Trade practices have been adhered to.

Update 5-2012: For the most part, I have been referring to soap berries coming out of Southeast Asia from numerous new unestablished exporters that have jumped on the soap nut bandwagon since their rise in popularity. However, in recent months a new country of origin has arisen. You guessed it: China. As usual, if something is selling, it’s only a matter of time before China catches on. And numerous species grow in China.

Here’s my issues: I’ve already been approached by Chinese exporters claiming that they have “plantation grown” soap berries – at cheap prices. “Cheap” certainly doesn’t surprise me for it is almost synonymous with consumer goods from China – both in quality and price. It’s important to realize that a China “plantation” means “field-grown and harvested” – NOT wild-crafted as those from India.

The seller(s) of China-grown soap nuts appear to have no bounds in the claims they make. It’s common to read “Certified Organic”, “Organically grown”, “from remote mountains…” and all kinds of bogus claims. Many claims are in direct violation of the Regulations established by the National Organic Program (NOP) of which all USDA Organic suppliers and handlers must adhere to.

Now please follow me on this: One Chinese seller actually listed their soap nuts as a seller of brands that truly are Certified USDA Organic on Amazon. The Chinese seller was selling their berries under the name of a legitimate seller. The #1 Amazon seller stopped this via threat of legal action (both for consumer fraud and violations for misuse of the USDA Organic Seal). The Chinese seller then started listing again under the name of a different seller! It’s outrageous, but true!

So, a few points:
1 – There are soap nuts grown and harvested in China under “who knows what?” conditions.
2 – Typical Western consumers want nothing to do with Chinese products – particularly anything grown there.
3 – Nothing claimed can be believed. They change product titles, names and descriptions routinely. Sometimes their China origin is never mentioned – at all. Numerous claims are in direct violation of NOP Regulations. No proof of ANY claim has ever been provided. In other words: They’ll simply claim ANYTHING to sell their berries.
4 – “Plantation grown”? What does that tell you? Commercial fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals, etc.
5 – The Chinese seller will provide no proof or evidence of a legal US Customs entry number. i.e., Basically, we have no clue how they even got here.
6 – The primary seller stated that they’re in South Carolina and are shipping from South Carolina. To date we can find no listing in the SC Corp. Commission for the company. i.e., If operating under the radar – there’s no business license fees, taxes, etc.
7 – They have fraudulently posed as reputable established brands.
8 – They make utterly grandiose claims, yet present zero to substantiate anything.
9 –  No official Certifications are presented whatsoever. No Organic Certification. No mention of Fair Trade. Nothing…
10 – We get cheap generically packaged soap nuts of highly questionable quality – nothing more.
Lastly - And frankly, I really don’t like their arrogance. Read their own words posted in the “must read” post: China Soap Nuts – Just say NO! Personally, I’d trash them if they were FREE! And no Chinese profiteers are going to dictate anything to me (nor anyone else that I’ve spoken with). They actually speak of “conquering” our markets.

Well, they can’t “buy us” by peddling their cheap goods. Nor will they undo any of the good we’ve accomplished these many years in providing aid to all the hardworking villagers in India and Nepal. No way…

You’re going to have to be watchful for these. I’ve given you enough dots to easily connect yourself. i.e. If you see a name brand product on Amazon or eBay or similar being offered from some seller at half the regular price, ask yourself, “What’s wrong with this picture?” If you think you’ll just return them, don’t kid yourself. You’ll have a hard time ever getting a full refund. In the end – you’ll have been had. – Count on it.

5) Know exactly what you’re buying. Be certain of what you want. Soap berries are still so new to the general public that there are many big gaps in the information available. Retailers tend to focus on the general, when the specifics are vitally important to a good transaction. As I’ve written hundreds of times, “A soap nut is NOT just a soap nut.”

Understanding that takes a bit of study. And we still must also separate the hype from the facts. It is crucial to understand that many soap nut retailers are simply trying to sell the concept that soap nuts are a better, natural way to clean. Very few are educating consumers about all the very important particulars. Sellers tend to tell you what you want to hear. Period. This oversimplification is the root of the problem. Only when consumers become well schooled regarding the differences, will sellers recognize the need to become more knowledgeable in order to satisfy the marketplace. Understand that, and we are almost home. The burden is truly upon us – the consumers. Only in recent years have most of us started reading product labels much more carefully – and with much more skepticism. Be skeptical. That’s great! Soap nuts may be exactly what you want. They may not. We must learn to ask the right questions.

6) Expect nothing, assume nothing. If it isn’t spelled out clearly, something is likely wrong. Good soap nut retailers are very knowledgeable and will specify all the important aspects. They’ll describe their soap nuts’ species, weight, condition, de-seeded or not, age, packaging, accessories such as wash bags and instructions, etc. Quite simply, assume nothing and you won’t be disappointed. If everything about the soap nuts has been clearly verified by the seller, you will most likely be pleased. There are many start-up soap nut businesses today. Some really care and are sincerely promoting this wonderful green alternative. Others only want to sell something, and don’t care much about what it is. The ones that do care will show it.

7) Be certain the soap nuts are returnable. All good sellers will stand behind their products. Unless you’ve made a certain “deal” and are willing to agree to a no return policy, returns should be acceptable. Expect to lose the shipping costs and to have to pay to ship them back. At least you won’t get stuck with poor quality soap nuts.

8) Pay for soap nuts with a credit card, Paypal or similar. In a worst case scenario, this will provide you buyer protection and an out from a bad transaction. You can always dispute a charge for “merchandise not as described”. Be extremely leery of any seller who wants cash, debit card, wire transfer, Western Union, etc. Getting your money back will be unlikely. A good seller will have credit card processing and/or Paypal available. If not, beware. As always, when buying soap nuts online be certain that you are purchasing through a verified secure store.

9) Stick with suppliers that are proven reliable. Good sellers will have a well-known and documented reputation for quality products and customer service. The exception to this is the new seller. I highly support the efforts of so many people that are developing new, honest, green soap nut businesses. Everybody has to start somewhere. With a new seller that has little history, get to know them. Follow the above tips, and if all is in order, support them. They are foot soldiers of the green movement and deserve our support.

10) Don’t let price alone be the determining factor in your buying decision. That’s a huge mistake, be it whether you are paying a lot or a little. If buying cheaply priced soap nuts, that’s asking for inferior quality and disappointing transaction. Paying more however does not ensure better quality. I’ve seen prices go from A to Z without any correlation to quality. Only by knowing exactly what you are buying can you expect a good transaction.

11) Buy mukorossi or trifoliatus soap nuts. I personally prefer mukorossi soap nuts because they are the species of choice for quality exporters and are consistently of high saponin content (the all-important active ingredient in soap nuts).

Trifoliatus is often being sold with seeds, and sometimes misrepresented as mukorossi. It’s a cheap alternative with lucrative profiteering potential. Trifoliatus (seed excluded) is high in saponin content, same as mukorossi, but it has a lower market value. If you are buying trifoliatus you should be paying much less. If you really know your soap nuts and/or are making liquids and powders in volume, it can be a cost effective way for you to go without compromising effectiveness. Trifoliatus is however much more similar in appearance to other species with lower saponin content, hence more difficult to be assured of what you actually have. Only one soap nut being harvested in high volume is distinctly different in appearance than other species. That is mukorossi. Particularly for the new soap nuts user, sticking with mukorossi makes for a far safer bet that you’ll be buying a quality soap berry. Both whole soap nuts and pieces are equally effective. Pieces also make for good buying opportunities. Note: As mentioned above, be aware that “whole” may be used by some sellers to describe soap nuts that have not been properly de-seeded. Be sure that this is clear.

Images added to illustrate age:

D and E: Miscellaneous images showing soap nuts of significant age. Once soap nuts have reached a black coloration as shown it becomes very difficult to determine the year of harvest. It is not uncommon for older soap nuts to become very gummy due to high humidity at time of packaging, moisture release from the berries, and condensation if they have been sealed in plastic bags for long periods.

12) Know what’s normal for soap nuts – and what’s not. Akin to Tip #5 above, this is the only way you can evaluate your transaction. Soap nuts are mainly harvested from January through March (particularly mukorossi). The new harvest will typically sell at a premium price, while the previous year’s harvest will be discounted to clear floor space. Very freshly harvested mukorossi soap nuts will be large (about the diameter of a U.S. nickel and up to the size of a quarter), sticky, and yellow/golden in color. A good processor will allow them to air dry before packaging or sealing if overly moist. As they age in the first year they will darken to a reddish and then brownish color. Ultimately the soap nuts will turn black. If overly moist they will darken more quickly.

It is quite common to find black soap nuts as seen in pictures D and E, and they may be up to two or even three years old. If soap nuts are processed and stored properly they will be somewhat dry, yet remain a bit tacky to the touch, and get no more than dark brown in color. They can remain this way for very long periods, but require a stable storage environment. Storage at a humidity level of 25 to 30% and temperature of 60 to 65°F is ideal for extended storage periods. Unfortunately maintaining such stability is difficult for many suppliers, hence overly dry and overly moist soap nuts are commonly found. It is recommended to buy as fresh of soap nuts as possible. If needed, allow them to dry to the point where they are slightly moist and pliable. Then seal in an airtight container and store in a cool, dark place. This will ensure long term freshness. Trifoliatus is similar except they are much smaller, usually darker in color, and drier even when very fresh. The important thing is to get what you are paying for.

Know the species you are buying and when the soap berries were harvested. If you do, you’ll then know exactly what to expect. If it’s Springtime and you are buying – and paying for – high quality, de-seeded mukorossi, then you’ll know that the soap nuts should be large, golden-ish and tacky. If they are small (like a U.S. dime), or very dark, or very gummy, or very dry, or full of seeds, then something is definitely wrong. Don’t pay as much for previous year’s soap nuts as the current harvest. If the soap nuts have been properly stored, the previous year’s harvest can create great buying opportunities. They will still be highly effective and available at bargain prices.

I want to sincerely thank all the fair and honest sellers that have done their homework, and are properly and accurately representing their products. Hopefully, these writings and pictures will help you to quickly identify such good sellers. They are the ones who are not just after a quick buck, and will help lead consumers to the wonderful experiences soap nuts offer us all.

You are now ready to buy soap nuts with a minimal risk of being disappointed.

Good luck and enjoy!

IMPORTANT: Please see the article “Soap Nuts with Seeds” for a more in-depth discussion regarding this serious issue with many being sold these days. – There are good pictures from active sellers and exporters used as examples of this growing problem.

ALSO: Please see the article “Why from the USA?” for a more in-depth discussion regarding the issue of processing and packaging soap nuts in the USA vs. overseas.

January 4th, 2010 | Tags: organic soap nuts, sapindus mukorossi soap nuts, sapindus trifoliatus soap nuts, soap nut liquid, soap nut quality, soap nuts, soap nuts powder, trifoliatus soap nuts | Category: Uncategorized | Comments (142)