Soap Free Lifestyle, Soap Alternatives

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I finally have all the soap out of our house, that's right, my family and I are soap free. 

Now, before you think that we have also given up bathing or washing our clothes let me assure you we are all still perfectly clean using soap alternatives.

Why did we give up soap? Mostly because it is toxic. Even using old fashion soaps made with lye means you are rubbing down your body's largest organ, daily, with poison, I researched and research home made soaps, natual soaps, eco friendly soaps and I cam to the conclusion that all soap is simply too yucky. I found I couldn't trust the health food store wither because "coconut-based cleaner" is health-scam code for "sulficants", even when naturally derived these become agent orange when exposed to plastic (like a shampoo bottle). So that's when I began researching soap alternatives.

So, after some tinkering here is what I have come up with.

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Dish Soap

Instead of dish soap I use lemon water and baking soda. Here's how; after juicing 4-6 lemons for fermented lemonade every week, I place the skins in a pot of simmering water for about 4 hours. I then let them soak in the pot overnight. The result if a wonderful lemon water full of the natural lemon oil. It has a cheerful yellow color and a divine smell.

I place some of this water in a small bowl by my sink and add about a cup of baking soda, slowly. It does fizz. I then place the paste on a rag and scrub my dishes down. At first my dishes were a little powdery but I found I was using too much paste and that a little bit went a long way and I haven't had that problem anymore. My dishes are squeaky clean and shinny.

My tips; use a hand knit wash cloth to do the dishes, place the paste in the middle of the cloth, fold the cloth over and slowly let some of the paste seep out as you do each dish. Keep a scrubber handy for the heavy duty dishes. Do your dishes as soon as possible. Soak when needed. Use natural oils in cooking like animal lard, olive and coconut oil, they are easier to clean. Always clean with warm water.

Shampoo

I use the same soap alternative on my hair as I do the dishes only I add some nutmeg and tumeric spice. I premix it in a large pot. Let it fizz, and when it has calmed down I transfer it to a plastic squeeze bottle in my tub. This way I'm not mixing it every time I take a shower. I squirt the watery paste around my hairline and then massage it throughout my scalp and then brush it through my wet hair. I rinse well and follow that up with some all natural conditioner or a dab of olive oil. Rinse again. My hair has adjusted wonderfully and quickly! It's so much healthier!

Body Scrub

The lemon and baking soda scrub can be used on the body as well with a stiff body brush. Another alternative is to grind up oats into flour. Mix that flour into a paste using a little bit of water, and then add some tumeric spice as an anti-bacterial. You can use this with a scrub brush on your body.

Face

I use only Witch hazel and/or milk. Just splash on and rinse off. Exfoliate often.

Laundry

My clothes are doing splendidly on one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar added like regular detergent.

Hand Soap

I put Witch hazel in a hand pump and add a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Rub it into your dry hands for 30 seconds, rinse with warm water.

*********** Update 5/28/11 So we are back on the soap! LOL Here are the glitches I ran into. First, for some bizarre reason last year I got the idea to go blond from my natural brunette. I realized my mistake and quickly dyed it back. The problem now is that if I wash with the lemon and baking soda I strip the brown dye from my hair and it turns an awful ashy color. So for now I'm on a natural shampoo.

As far as my dishes go, the lemon and baking soda works great but it was off putting to others and I couldn't get any help with my dishes - ever! *ha ha* No one knew what to do with white goop next to the sink.

Still trouble shooting on my end :)