What's Best for the Planet (and You). Soap or Detergent?
Of all the chemicals we use daily, detergents are the most prevalent. Detergents come in the form of: laundry powders and liquids, dish-washing detergent, hair shampoos, liquid soap gels and hand-washes, shower gels, pet shampoos - even toothpaste contains many of the components found in detergents.
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| | About Detergents
Detergents
are chemical formulas designed to 'strip' grease and dirt. Dry and
flaked skin on our hands after washing the dishes (for example) is the
result of the powerful grease stripping properties of dish-deterrent
removing all the natural oils from our skin - natural oils that Nature
has provided to keep our body healthy and protected.
Detergents
also contain many harsh chemicals that take thousands of years to break
down in the environment. Thousands of tonnes of detergents end up in the
environment every day via our waterways - poisoning plants, animals,
the earth and damaging the normal cycles of nature (ecological balance
of the environment). The other problem is that all these commercial
detergent based products come in containers (usually plastic) - the
disposal of which is a continuing ecological problem.
Soap, on
the other hand, in it's basic form, is environmentally friendly, natural
and safer to use. Using soap in place of detergents when-ever possible
will benefit both you and the environment. Soap is also cheaper when
compared with the huge array of detergent based cleaning products
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| | Lessons from the Past
In Grandma's day (before the advent of 'modern consumerism') a simple bar of soap was used for all personal and household cleaning tasks. She cleaned absolutely everything in the home: herself, the kids, the husband, the laundry, the dishes, floors, etc. with just soap. It was both cheap and effective. Today there is a myriad of cleaning products in the supermarket for every conceivable cleaning task. That's how commercialism works: More products for the consumer to buy the more money in the manufacturers' and retailers' hands. This philosophy is detrimental to you and the environment and the future of our fair planet.
By saying 'No' to the range of detergent products available commercially and, instead, using one single product - such as soap, you are choosing to not take part in the power of consumerism and live more accordingly with the needs of ourselves and the planet.
When it comes to cleaning the bottom line is: It does not matter with 'what' you have cleaned, as long as it is clean. It makes no difference to your status in society, how you are judged by others or your personal happiness whether you have cleaned with the latest expensive commercial concoctions or just a bar of soap!
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| | What can you do? Ways to replace detergents with soap
1. Use a bar of soap for hand washing, bathing, showering, etc – instead of ‘liquid soaps’ or shower gels.
2. Use a homemade soap-saver by placing a bar of soap or soap pieces in a net bag (recycled orange or onion bag). Hang under the tap or swish through the water before washing dishes, hands, etc.
3. Grated soap can used to replace detergent powders (i.e. in the washing machine, when floor washing, surface cleaning, etc.). Make sure to completely dissolve the soap in hot water before adding to the wash. (Grate the soap in a metal grater or place walnut size soap pieces in food processor and process to a fine powder).
But the ultimate solution is...........
4. Make 'soap jelly' which is of similar consistency to liquid detergents so can be used in place of laundry and dish detergent, shampoos, body washes and liquid soaps. (It will also save money as a cheaper alternative to the many detergent based products on offer).
Recipe: Economical Soap Jelly Mix.
Grate one bar of soap. Pour one half into a 9 litre bucket. Pour the other half into another 9 litre bucket. Add ½ cup washing soda* and 2 litres of boiling water to each bucket. Stir both buckets until mixture has dissolved. Top each bucket up to full with water. Leave to cool to form a thick jelly. (For the thicker, richer soap jelly use less water).
How to Use: Use in place of liquid detergents. Use approximately one cup of this mixture per full tub (in the washing machine) or use for dish-washing, hand washing (liquid soap), shampoo, etc. in place of detergents.
*Sodium carbonate - a water softener available from the laundry section of the supermarket or use bicarb soda.
For more information about soap and it's many uses and recipes see e-booklet No. 50 - Recycling Soap - see details below
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| | Availability - What type of soap to use
1. Bar of soap (any soap – commercial or homemade, non-animal-based or animal based, beauty soap, laundry soap, bath soap, etc.). Choose a soap that suits you – for example a 'soft' soap (beauty/bathroom bar), vegetable based soap, cheap laundry soap (if on a budget), good quality soap (such as from a health food store) or make your own. Homemade soap is very easy to make and contains less chemicals than commercial soap. Check the ingredients of commercial soap before buying as some contain added chemicals - the less listed chemicals - the better!
2. Soap flakes (e.g. Lux) may be used and has the added advantage of not needing to be grated.
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| | Get creative with soap jelly
Soap jelly is wonderfully versatile and can be used as a base to make a range of environmentally friendly liquid soaps. By adding food colourings (or natural colourings like beetroot juice, turmeric, etc.) and perfumes, scents or food flavourings you can create a range of hand and body washes and cleaners for household and personal use just like what you buy commercially!. Here's some examples: mix rose scented oil with pink colouring or lavender oil with purple colouring to make hand and body washes. Add lemon juice or peppermint food favouring and yellow or green colouring to soap jelly to make dish washing soap. e-Booklet No. 50 has all the recipes and more ideas) Click here for more information.
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Of all the changes I recommend and encourage through my workshops and e-books switching to soap jelly instead of detergent is the most crucial. I wash my clothes in soap jelly (one cup per full wash tub) and have been doing so for more then 20 years. For normal daily wear soap jelly is quite sufficient to clean clothes. Generally we do not need to use powerful chemicals for cleaning - soap will do the job just as effectively.
My other main use for soap jelly is as a hair shampoo - ever since I began grappling with hair loss and thinning (nearly 20 years ago) and read that one of the main causes of hair loss is a particular chemical (sodium laryl sulphate) in commercial hair shampoo I have not used shampoos since! Instead I make and use a homemade soap-based shampoo - which has worked well (no more hair loss problems). For natural hair care alternatives and shampoo recipes see e-booklet No. 14 - Natural Hair Care
I also use soap jelly for general cleaning - i.e. floor-washing. However, using soap jelly for dish washing is a little more difficult as unlike detergent it does not break down grease and grime - it removes it from the dishes - but then leaves it a 'scum' around the edge of the dish water which some may find unpleasant (spare a thought for Grandma's day!). So I use a good quality dish detergent - but select one that has the least amount of dreaded chemicals that cause me problems.
And don't be fooled - like I have been - by purchasing products with the words 'earth' or 'sustainable', 'natural', 'gentle on hands', etc. Some years ago I used such a product for dish-washing - and reacted strongly to it - causing dermatitis that took some months to subside.
Soap jelly is easy to make, cheap and good for you and the environment. It's just one small thing you can do the change the way you live on the planet.
Pam - The Shoppe www.theshoppe.com.au
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| | Soap Jelly Questions and Answers
In my workshops I encourage people to switch from using detergents to soap. Here's some common questions from people about their soap jelly and my answer to the problem:
Q: My soap jelly becomes watery around the edges - what does this mean and how can I avoid it? The soap jelly we made in the workshop did not do this.
A. The outcome of making soap jelly depends on the type of soap used. Some are good and others have additives that affect the consistency of the soap jelly. The economical soap jelly mix is more likely to have a water residue than the rich soap mix (both recipes are in Booklet No. 50) because of it's higher ratio of water to soap.
For my workshops I make and use the rich soap jelly mix (as per e-Booklet No. 50) as it produces a thick soap jelly that allows for leeway when adding water and other ingredients without affecting the mix. However that can also sometimes separate. In such cases I use my stick blender to re-blend the mix. Do not use a hand-whisk or electric beater as it will cause the mix to froth excessively.
Q: Is the soap jelly OK if little bits of soap have not melted and float to the top of the mix?
A: Pieces of grated soap are only a problem in the washing machine - as sometimes they cling to the clothing leaving unsightly white flecks on the washing (after it has dried). Finely grated soap (i.e. in the food processor) will dissolve better than coarse soap. If washing in hot water most often the soap pieces will dissolve in the wash, but as most people use a warm or cold cycle the soap does not melt and remains in the wash water.
To avoid the problem you can either dissolve the soap jelly (and any soap pieces it may contain) in boiling hot water before adding to the washing machine water - or when making your soap jelly place the grated soap in a saucepan with water (and softener) and bring it to the boil whisking occasionally to make sure all the soap dissolves. (But take care as it boils over really quickly). Next pour the melted mix into 2 buckets and top up with water (use less water - approx 1/2 bucket - if making a richer soap mix).
Q: Can I use soap jelly in my front loader washing machine?
A: Soap jelly can be used in all types of washing machines - front and top loaders - and dishwashers. Often the 'manufacturers' recommendation is to not use soap (i.e. only use powdered detergents). I have found no evidence to suggest that soap is detrimental to the workings of the washing machine. I purchased a new top loader in 2000 - and have used soap jelly for every wash - and the machine is still functioning. Pouring a cup of vinegar into the wash water on a regular basis will clean out any soap residue in the machine (pipes and pump) and ensure it has a long working life.
Q: My soap jelly is really 'hard' and difficult to use. Does it matter what type of soap I use to make the jelly. Will it make any difference to the soap jelly?
A. Different soaps result in different outcomes when making the jelly – some soap jellies are runny some are really hard - it all depends on the components of the commercial soap as all soaps are made differently. Hard soap jelly is the best outcome. If my jelly is very thick and 'hard' I first slice it with a knife, then blend it with a stick blender to soften the mix – adding a little hot water will help break down the jelly. The outcome will be a ‘runny jelly’ that will be easier to use.
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| | Further Information and Reading:
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| e-Booklet No. 50 - Recycling Soap:
Transforming a simple bar of soap into a array of safe, environmentally friendly products - either in the form of grated soap or soap jelly. Contains recipes for: rose liquid hand soap, lemon dish-washing soap, rosemary & lavender hair shampoo, soap-based garden spray, wash-balls, heavy-duty cleansing powder, soap-bags, old English wash-balls, 'gourmet soaps' (pet soap, honey soap, etc.), beeswax polish (containing soap) and other interesting uses. You'll be amazed at the things that can be done with a simple bar of soap - including making putty, poultice and as a drawer liner. Price: $12.00 Download info here |
| e-Booklet No. 3 - Simple Soap-Making:
Using just 3 ingredients: lard, caustic soda (lye) and water, soap is surprisingly easy to make. This simple method for making soap is similar to Grandma's approach to soap-making. Instructions are step-by-step covering moulds, possible problems, maturation, colouring, scenting, utensils, precautions, history of soap. Information includes variations to basic recipe for: almond oil soap, oatmeal, honey, herbal, scented, cucumber, sand-soap, antiseptic soap. Price: $12.00 Download info here |
| | e-Booklet No. 25 - More Soap-Making Recipes. Follow-on booklet from No. 3 - Simple Soap-Making - containing more recipes and ideas for making soap. Covers: glycerin soap, chamomile & milk, lanolin, borax, heavy duty cleaning soap, soap without animal products, soap without caustic soda, rich rose soap and more. Price: $12.00 Download info here |
| e-Booklet No. 23 - Green Cleaning:
Alternatives for commercial cleaning products using four basic ingredients: bicarb soda, vinegar, eucalyptus oil and pure soap. Covers an array of common commercial products and lists what can be used 'instead of'. Safe, economical, practical and good for the planet! Includes quick reference Green Cleaning Chart. Recipes for : soap jelly, surface spray, oven cleaner, disinfectant, carpet deodoriser, heavy duty scouring paste, air-freshener spray & more. Price: $12.00 Download info here |
| No. 14 - Natural Hair Care: Many shampoos and conditioners are chemically based and in some cases detrimental to healthy hair - this booklet offer natural options - many derived from grandma's era. Includes natural recipes for shampoos, conditioners, rinses, herbs for hair care, specific hair problems: dandruff, oily hair, baldness, graying hair frizziness. Covers dry shampoos, hair spray and hair setting lotion. Price: $12.00 Download info here
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| | © 2014 Pam Marshall - The Self-Sufficiency Shoppe
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