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 Prep time: 30-60 min.
Ingredients
- 5-6 soapberries
- 1.25 lt water
Extra 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 a container or bottle (with lid).
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. Click here to watch me make some.
13 Comments
Sorry if I’m missing something, you mention vinegar in the method but not in the ingredients? – thanks in advance
Oops, I see that in the recipe notes. Fixed, thanks for flagging it!
When using laundry liquid, are you using one cup or capful ??
1 cup 🙂
I love this! Completely natural and super-easy! Will definitely give this a go! 🙂
I made this and it’s great for so many things, I use it for washing dishes & clothes!
Fabulous idea. I like soapberries but this makes them far more effective
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.
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.
Made my first batch… super easy!
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!
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!)