Washing up bars

Broomstick

Alongside this discussion, can I put in a mention for loofah washing up pads.  I needed to replace my washing up brush but the eco alternatives in the shop I was in were more expensive than a pack of two loofah sponges.  These have been brilliant, are rough enough to clean off stuck on food without damaging the pan, expand up when wet to being much larger with a loose structure so they are easy to rinse and dry so don't end up smelling. I put mine through the wash with the kitchen cloths.  They seem indistructable but, when they are done, you can compost them.  Apparently you can grow your own which is something I intend to try when I get a garden again. 

babyshoes

Real soap is surprisingly easy to make, especially if you're not bothered by colours and scents, though chucking in some essential oils is easy enough once you've got basic soap under your belt. You can use a lot of equipment you are likely to have already, and can improvise a mould from something like a margarine tub lined with baking paper, or a Pringles tube, so it won't cost much to get started either.

 You need to watch some videos about lye safety and cold process soap making, but if you can safely cook a full meal, you'll be able to safely use lye.
Elly's everyday on YouTube has some good, no nonsense videos on getting started.

For washing up soap, 100% coconut oil soap will give you the best grease removal with good bubbles. It'll be a bit too harsh and drying for regular hand washing though. 

LadyHarriet

babyshoes said:

Real soap is surprisingly easy to make, especially if you're not bothered by colours and scents, though chucking in some essential oils is easy enough once you've got basic soap under your belt. You can use a lot of equipment you are likely to have already, and can improvise a mould from something like a margarine tub lined with baking paper, or a Pringles tube, so it won't cost much to get started either.

 You need to watch some videos about lye safety and cold process soap making, but if you can safely cook a full meal, you'll be able to safely use lye.
Elly's everyday on YouTube has some good, no nonsense videos on getting started.

For washing up soap, 100% coconut oil soap will give you the best grease removal with good bubbles. It'll be a bit too harsh and drying for regular hand washing though. 

This is a link to the lye calculator that I used for years - as @babyshoes says, it is really easy to make decent 'real' soap, whether for washing up, or for washing yourself! 
http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

This place do nice soaps and they also sell the soap saver bags that people have mentioned.
Cosy Clean Natural Household Cleaning – Cosy Cottage Soap

I would also  recommend splosh. They do washing up liquid which I found really good. Its not completely plastic free though. It comes concentrated in a pouch that you mix with water when you get it so one pouch is normally enough for something like 4 bottles. You can then send the pouches back to them. 
Homepage (splosh.com) 

tboo

Jojohighlander said:

Oops, forgot to say, I am now looking for a soap shaker and once I have that I will take the leap to washing up bars. I have invested in a stainless steel washing up basin, which should last the rest of my life. It was expensive but it should have paid for itself in 4 years over plastic.  

I have made lots of little (old style moneysaving) eco changes over the last few years and regretted none of them.  

Jojohighlander said:

The soap shaker is like a long handled sieve (or a BBQ fish cage) that you put your dish soap bar in.  You swish it around in the water and it puts soap in the water and makes bubbles at the same time. They are really old style but coming back into plastic free vogue in Australia and NZ.  I don't want to have one shipped half way around the world so I'm looking at repurposing another utensil e.g. A BBQ fish cage that I can put a bar of dish soap in.  Waiting for the seasonal reductions 😁

The cage helps the bar dry as well making it more efficient.

@Jojohighlander or anyone else interested.

They are rather expensive to ship from NZ/AUS but this website in the UK has them for £8.59 p&p not inc. (free collection from 4 stores or free delivery over £50)

LadyHarriet

tboo said:

@Jojohighlander or anyone else interested.

They are rather expensive to ship from NZ/AUS but this website in the UK has them for £8.59 p&p not inc. (free collection from 4 stores or free delivery over £50)

Thanks so much for the link, @tboo - I ordered one from these people and it arrived this morning!

Jojohighlander

LadyHarriet said:

tboo said:

@Jojohighlander or anyone else interested.

They are rather expensive to ship from NZ/AUS but this website in the UK has them for £8.59 p&p not inc. (free collection from 4 stores or free delivery over £50)

Thanks so much for the link, @tboo - I ordered one from these people and it arrived this morning!

I am so jealous. Because I am in the Highlands it would be £14 postage and I don't buy from company's that charge Highlanders like this. All they have to do is use Royal Mail but hey that's a whole other battle with retailers.

Jojohighlander

@LadyHarriet will you let us know how you get on with your soap shaker? I am really envious.

LadyHarriet

Jojohighlander said:

@LadyHarriet will you let us know how you get on with your soap shaker? I am really envious.

Will do - so sorry that the postage is so high for you up there. Seems awfully unfair 😥