SOAPNUT OR REETHA
Let's talk about our star ingredient--SOAPNUT OR REETHA
Reetha, also known as soapnut, is a medicinal plant with many uses in hair care, skin care, and other household chores
soapnut or reetha is the nature’s shampoo which god has bestowed upon us
soapnut or Reetha contains saponin, a natural surfactant that helps create foam to clean dirt, dust, and oil
reetha is well know in traditional medicinal uses and is commonly used as a cleanser, whether a hair cleanser or utensil or cloth cleanser
https://soapnuts.co.nz/natural-and-eco-friendly-detergent/soapnuts/what-are-soapnuts
here, i will be talking about how to clean the silver items specially the pooja items
most indians houses have a temple, big or small, and generally they are loaded with lots of temple accessories, like diyas, bells and plates and most of them are silver as well
silver tends to oxidize and they change their color and turn black very fast. so how to maintain their color and shine always
and that’s possible through the method i will be mentioning below
i saw this hack on social media and i would really thank the source for sharing such a wonderful tip which was beneficial for me and hence sharing for others benefit as well
before that let’s know
an indian mythological story associated with soapnut or Reetha -
The Sacred Soapnut or reetha and the Sage’s Curse
Long ago, in the dense forests of ancient India, there lived a great sage named Rishi Durvasa, known for his short temper but deep wisdom
He meditated in the forests and lived in harmony with nature. Many disciples sought his guidance, but they had to follow strict rules of cleanliness and purity
One day, a young prince named Anirudh came to the sage’s ashram to seek spiritual wisdom
He was arrogant and used to a luxurious life and was unfamiliar with the simplicity of an ascetic’s life
The sage instructed him to bathe daily in the river before entering the prayer hall to ensure purity of both body and mind
Hearing this, the prince was troubled. The river was filled with clay and natural elements, and no fancy soaps or oils were available for bathing which the prince was quite used to
Feeling frustrated, he secretly ignored the sage’s orders and skipped his bath one morning before joining the prayers
Rishi Durvasa, with his divine vision, immediately sensed the impurity
Furious at the prince’s disregard for cleanliness, he cursed him:
“Since you refuse to cleanse yourself with nature’s gifts, may you forever be covered in dirt and grime!”
The prince, realizing his mistake, fell at the sage’s feet and begged for forgiveness. Seeing his genuine repentance, the sage softened and offered a remedy
“Go to the sacred tree near the river. Its fruits, though humble, hold the power of nature’s purity. Use them, and you shall be cleansed.”
The prince rushed to the tree and found small, wrinkled fruits hanging from the branches
As he crushed them in water, he was amazed to see a rich lather forming
When he bathed using the fruit’s foam, his body felt clean, and his mind became lighter, as if the burden of arrogance had washed away
From that day on, the Reetha tree (Soapnut tree) was revered as a divine cleanser, not only for the body but also for the soul
It became a common offering in rituals and was used by sages and monks to purify sacred idols, clothes, and even their own bodies
Moral of the Story
This story emphasizes the idea that nature provides everything we need, even for purification
True cleanliness comes not from man made artificial luxuries but from respecting and acknowledging what the mother earth offers us in abundance
The soapnut or Reetha fruit became a symbol of natural purity, humility, and wisdom
soapnut or Reetha’s Spiritual and Ayurvedic Significance
Used in temple rituals – Even today, soapnut water is used to clean idols in temples, as it is considered a sacred cleanser
Symbol of purity – Reetha’s natural foaming properties represent the washing away of sins, ego, and negativity
Ayurvedic treasure – Known for its antibacterial and cleansing properties, Reetha has been used for centuries in Ayurveda for skin, hair, and even washing clothes naturally
so let’s get started
pre preparation and ingredients required for reetha wash
soak 5 to 6 reetha pods in water overnight.
if you forget to soak overnight, then you can boil it in water for 10 minutes and close it with a lid for 1 hour and it will become soft
mash the soap nuts really well now before we start to use it
use sabena powder or any dishwash powder available with you. i generally use the patanjali brand dishwash soap
the other ingredient required is the coconut husk, ( yes the one which i had discussed in my earlier blog )
how to use the soapnut or reetha
first take the silver utensils which requires cleaning
now take the coconut husk and wet it with water, dip it in mashed soapnut liquid and take the pulp as well as and scrub the silver items really well till all are really coated with the reetha mixture
now take the dishwash powder and scrub again the silver items again well
wash it with normal water and see how the silver items get their shine back
this can be done with silver anklets ( payal ) as well
wipe it well with dry cloth and leave them to dry for some time
this same procedure can be done with brass and copper items as well and it works effectively but it works more for silver items as is my experience
do watch my other blog
here's to conclude..
The humble soapnut, often overlooked, has been a part of India’s spiritual and cultural practices for centuries.
Whether in mythology or everyday use, it teaches us to embrace nature’s gifts and cleanse ourselves not just physically, but spiritually too. 🌿✨
so friends do try this DIY reetha dishwash for silver items and you will definitely love it and bless me later on by liking this blog
hope you found this content useful
until next time, keep smiling
much love… stay happy … stay blessed .. always
SMITHA
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