I love soapberries. If you don’t know a lot about them, check out this blog. They grow on a tree, are completely biodegradable and can be used for cleaning and body care purposes.
Yes, you can throw a few soapberries into a bag and run up to five loads of washing, but making a ‘stock’ like this one just makes these little berries all the more versatile and loveable!
Soapberry Master Stock
Makes: 1.2 lt | 40.6 fl oz Prep time: 30-60 min.
Ingredients
5-6 soapberries
1.25 lt | 42.3 fl oz water
Special equipment required…
Muslin cloth or nut milk bag
Method
1. Add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat until boiling (leave lid on), then reduce temperature and simmer for 20 minutes (with lid partially off).
2. Allow mixture to cool (with lid on).
3. Strain liquid through a muslin cloth or nut milk bag over a clean bowl, squeezing soapberry shells before discarding (in your garden).
4. Transfer into container of choice.
Thermal Appliance Method
1. Add all ingredients to thermal appliance bowl and heat: 8-10 minutes | approx. 100˚C (212˚F) | low speed, in reverse (measuring cup on), or until mixture looks like it may boil over.
2. Reduce temperature and continue to simmer: 20 minutes | 80˚C (176˚F) | low speed, in reverse. Leave measuring cup partially off.
3. Allow mixture to cool (with measuring cup on).
4. Strain liquid through a muslin cloth or nut milk bag over a clean bowl, squeezing soapberry shells before discarding (in your garden).
5. Transfer into container of choice.
To Use
Wash clothes – add 1 cup of stock to your washing machine and run your usual cycle.
Wash dishes – add ½ cup to a sink of running water.
Clean surfaces – add liquid to a spray bottle with a few drops of lemon or eucalyptus essential oil and spray onto surfaces, before wiping over.
Shampoo hair – massage ½ cup into wet hair and rinse.
Recipe Notes
Leaving the lid on prevents excessive evaporation, but it is imperative you ensure the liquid doesn’t boil over (when this happens, it happens with a vengeance!).
If you are after a stronger concentration of soapberry stock, increase the number of soapberries to 10-15, or halve the amount of water. I like to keep stock in the fridge between uses.
Watch me make some here!
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Krissy Ballinger
Author, Advocate & Founder
Krissy wants to see a world where people make conscious, educated decisions that honour both humans and habitat. With a background in education and health promotion, she devotes her time to passionately increase awareness on common and avoidable toxins, in everyday items like washing powder and deodorant, and to educate individuals on how they can easily reduce their daily exposure, through simple and realistic do-it-yourself ideas and recipes.
Krissy has sold over 40,000 copies of her natural DIY recipe books, including her award-winning book, Naturally Inspired - Simple DIY Recipes for Body Care and Cleaning, and her newly-released kids book, Make & Play - Natural DIY Recipes for Kids. She offers honest and gentle guidance, education and 100+ natural DIY recipes on her website The Inspired Little Pot.
Is the soap Berry liquid safe for washing machines
Yes, I believe so. (And FAR better for people and planet than regular washing powders, that’s for sure!)
Love this soap Berry stock idea. So much less mess and I really wasn’t sure what to do with the soap berries. I’m looking forward to using this versatile liquid around my home
Thanks Krissy!
Made my first batch… super easy!
I have only just recently purchased Krissy’s book and this is the very first thing i made. I absolutely love this recipe. I use it in almost all types of washing from dishes to clothes. What i LOVE most about it is that its safe for our precious planet.
Since purchasing Krissy’s book, this Soapberry Master Stock has been a staple in my cleaning regimen. I use it primarily as a spray for daily wiping of counters and any spills. Quick and easy to make plus so useful.
Fabulous idea. I like soapberries but this makes them far more effective