How do you wash dishes? Are you still using conventional detergents and scouring pads? With today's post we hope to convince you to make the definitive change to sustainable alternatives .
With this change you will reduce your environmental impact by a lot . We assure you that the transition is well worth it. It is easy to make plastic disappear in this everyday action . If you switch to solid soaps and sponges and/or brushes made of natural and biodegradable fibers, the waters of the entire planet will thank you because you will free them from toxins and microplastics . In addition, what we propose are zero waste solutions. Come on, you won't be able to resist.
How to make this transition? We are going to talk about soap, scrubbers and brushes so you can see that it is very easy.
NATURAL SOAP
Switch to natural soaps . The easiest way is to buy them in solid form, but you can also make them yourself with a homemade recipe. These soaps, without toxic substances, made with biodegradable elements, will not contaminate the water . The treatment plants will not have to do extra work to compensate for the amount of components that the water should not have.
In Alma Eko's online store you will find two options for handmade solid soap; the special one for dishes from El Zorro d'Avi and the Marseille soap cubes. We are divided between both. They are of excellent quality and we have a hard time deciding on one. We will tell you our impressions in case it helps you.
But first, let's get one thing straight. Natural soaps will foam less. NO PROBLEM! That doesn't mean they clean less, even though we've been led to believe this by decades of marketing for cleaning products. Still, just in case it's something you're having trouble adjusting to, we're going to tell you which option foams more.
The soap from El Zorro d'Avi may be the one with the greatest degreasing power of any we have ever tried (including conventional detergents). It generates less foam, which can be a bit shocking when you start making the change, but as soon as you scrub your first pan, you realise that this is not so important. I was amazed when I saw the traces of oil disappear practically in the first pass.
You will find Marseille soap cubes in three different sizes . If you are trying it for the first time, it may be a good idea to get the small one, but if you like it, you will quickly upgrade to the large one. Although it also degreases easily, this aspect is not as surprising as in the case of the previous soap. It is much more foamy , almost as much as a conventional detergent, and if you upgrade to the large format, it is especially cheap and long-lasting .
Marseille soap is also multi-purpose . It solves almost all the hygiene and cleaning needs of an entire family . This means a very powerful reduction in the environmental impact. A single cube, broken into pieces, can be used not only for washing dishes, but also for many different things, such as washing your hands, face and body, pre-treating difficult stains, as a multi-purpose surface cleaner, natural insecticide or laundry soap.
In addition to these solid soap options, you can also make liquid soap with soap nuts or with Marseille soap itself . In the next post of 'Alma Eko's potions' we will teach you how to do it.
NATURAL FIBER SCOURERS AND BRUSHES
Get rid of conventional synthetic scouring pads , made from plastics whose microfibres end up polluting rivers and oceans because they cannot be filtered by sewage treatment plants. This does not happen with scouring pads and brushes made from natural fibres , as they are biodegradable . If a piece breaks off and goes down the sink, it will not pollute the water .
Scouring pads, and especially brushes, are handled differently . They are generally stiffer. You will need some time to get used to them , but once you have, there is no turning back because they are super effective. In addition, in our online store you have many different options, also very affordable, so you can try the one you think will fit you best and try other options, if you want, over time.
You will see that we have scouring pads made of different materials, such as loofah, esparto grass or jute; brushes of different hardness, shapes and bristles; as well as a wide range of brushes to clean bottles , baby bottles and even straws.
TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR DISHWASHING PRODUCTS
This aspect is very important. Soap, scrubbers and brushes should be allowed to air dry . Keep in mind that they are made from high-quality raw materials, without preservatives or treatments. Proper drying is essential to increase their durability. A soap dish with drainage is essential.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I USE THE DISHWASHER?
If you wash dishes by machine, you will have to wait for us to tell you about solutions in another post. We are currently testing different alternatives .
What we can tell you is that grated Marseille soap could be an option for using in the dispenser and that we are testing different formulas with ingredients such as citric acid or sodium bicarbonate to create our own dishwasher tablets. We are looking forward to telling you our conclusions.
Are you already switching to toxic-free, plastic-free, zero-waste dishwashing?
