How to Use Soapwort for Cleaning

Soapwort is a perennial herb that grows in Europe and throughout the United States. It is has been used for centuries as an herbal remedy and a cleaning alternative. Soapwort effectively clean fabrics and other items.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Harvest soapwort roots in the fall. Propagate your herb by dividing the plant or planting seeds in the spring. For medicinal and soap purposes the stems and leaves are harvested in the summer. The rhizomes of the soapwort are the thick white root structure of the plant. Dig out the rhizomes in the fall to use for cleaning.

2. Defuse the soapwort in boiling water. The rhizome or root is the best part of the plant to use for soap, but you also can use the stems and leaves. The soapwort contains saponins, which gives the herb its cleaning action. You can strain the mixture for a form of liquid soap.

3. Use soapwort as an alternative to body soap. It is a gentle all natural cleanser. Herbalists recommend soapwort for sensitive skin. Use the diffusion made with soapwort and boiling water to cleanse itchy skin. Use it as you would any other liquid soap.

4. Utilize the soapwort diffusion as a cleanser on delicate fabrics that may be harmed by a synthetic cleanser. Delicate fabrics benefit from soapwort's gentle cleansing action. Soapwort is often used to help restore old paintings. It is an effective cleanser that won't damage delicate surfaces.

Tips & Warnings

• Use soapwort internally with caution. In large doses, it destroys red blood cells and causes damage to the vasomotor center. Use internally only under the care of a trained medical professional. If used as a shampoo, it can irritate your eyes.

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