Natural Soap Is A Green Choice: Safer For The Environment Than Detergents

Natural soap is a green cleaning alternative to detergents. Natural soap has been used for centuries as an effective cleaner. Natural soap that is handcrafted can be enhanced with ingredients that benefit the skin.

Natural soap does not contain any harsh ingredients or detergents, so it is better for the environment. Detergents and the harsh ingredients contained in many commercial soaps can irritate the skin. It only takes a little bit of detergent to cause a fish kill. Switching to natural soap can be healthier for you and the environment.

Natural soap is made from oil, lye and water. By mixing carefully and safely these ingredients, the process called saponification happens. Saponification is the reaction between the soap and lye mixture. Through saponification, soap is made. The lye is carefully measured so that only enough lye is added to saponify the oils or fats. Soap is a salty fat and is considered a surfactant because it cleans surfaces. Soap can be used for personal and household purposes, including fine washables and laundry

Natural soap has been made and used throughout history. The origin of soap is unknown, though writings from ancient Babylonia do contain references to a soap like substance. Different cultures used soap and it became a precious commodity during the Middle Ages where the secret of making it was not widely known. By the colonial period, women were making soap every fall. This soap was a gel like substance that was kept in barrels. When soap became mass-produced, people began to buy it instead of making it themselves. In recent years, handcrafted soap has become valued again. When you buy natural soap, you can even use it to make liquid soap or bubble bath.

When natural soap is handcrafted, it retains the natural skin softening glycerine that results from saponification. In commercial soaps, this glycerine is removed from the mixture and made into its own soap. Handcrafted soaps can also be superheated. A superheated soap has been made with extra oil that is not saponified and remains in the soap to soften and protect the skin. Herbs, essential oils, fruits, exotic vegetable butters and oils, baking soda, pine tar, vegetables, clay and other natural ingredients can also be added to a handcrafted soap for their many benefits to the skin.

Natural soap is an effective and natural alternative to detergents and is less harmful to the environment. The fact that natural soap has been used for centuries points to the fact that it is a quality product. By choosing a handcrafted natural soap, you can pamper your skin and the environment.