What’s the BEST natural detergent?
The longer I do natural cleaning, the more I notice nature on different levels. It can be as big as a planet or as small as a bug.
No matter big or small, the system always goes in a cycle. When we do cleaning, very often, it is an act that focuses on human’s social needs rather than an act to be in harmonious with the cycle. For example, in order to give the fresh impression, many fragrances are added to the detergent. To make clothes look whiter, optical brighteners are added to reflect uv rays so garment looks brighter. To make clothes softer, softeners are added.
Studies have shown that artificial fragrance and optical brighteners can cause cancer, skin irritation, birth defects and central nervous system disorders. Softeners like phosphates cause algae to over grow, making oxygen level too low for the aquatic lives. These are the signs of a broken cycle.
It is all about finding balance. A detergent should not break the cycles of nature, at the same time able to fit into modern life style. Most of us have a job, have a family, use a washing machine, have children who would make clothes quite dirty, have several different clothes materials that require different care.
And my answer to the question is :SAPONINS.
Here are the reasons why I think saponin is the best detergent:
1. Saponin fits in the cycles
Saponins are from plants, that means by growing the plants, we can maintain the soil, cool down the ground, provide home for many creatures, have fresh air, help with carbon cycle, even means the playground for human.
After you extract saponins from the plant, you can compost the plant. It can easily become soil again.
There are no extra chemicals that might give you cancer, or pollute the water.
2. It can wash all kinds of materials
It can wash plant fibres like cotton and linen; it can wash synthetic fibres; it can also wash animal fibres like wool and silk. Wool and silk needs neutral to mild acidic detergent, so the natural oil on the fibre doesn’t get washed away. Saponins solution is mild acidic, with ph around 6
3. It doesn’t form soap scum
If you live in a hard water area, soap and other synthetic surfactants will react to the mineral ions in the water and form soap scum. This will not only weaken the soap’s washing ability but also harm the washing machine. However, saponins are not surfactants, they are glycosides. Although their washing ability is similar to that of a surfactant, their chemical structures are different. That is why they don’t form soap scum.
If cleaning is a season, it has to be late autumn. When the leaves fall on the ground, and become soil again. It is the end of a cycle. It is secretly a lot of work, but nature is doing it so gracefully, sometimes even breath-takingly beautiful.
If you are willing to, cleaning can also be so graceful, despite all the work.
You can also watch the video version on my YouTube Chanal!
