Soap saver bags or plastic cups?
Many bathroom accessories can be replaced with plastic-free items. Today we take on the loofah.
The plastic sponge dangling in the shower has to go. More and more research shows that these bathroom gems are not good for our skin.
A zero-waste soap saver bag is just the ticket.
It extends the life of the soap bar. It's a clean way to store soap. Instead of in the bacteria thunderdome or soap dish. It also serves as an exfoliant to smooth the skin.
Best of all, it's made of natural bristles and can be composted when worn out.
Plastic Goes Pouf
Let's start with the plastic loofah. It's a relatively modern invention.
Like most plastics, the shower sponge came to us in the industrial age. It pays homage to the original body scrub, a plant that grows on a vine, the loofah. The loofah is a long plastic web sewn together into a light-colored ball.
Dermatologists say no
Many dermatologists do not recommend using this plastic product for the bathroom.
The combination of using the pouf to wash our beautiful pieces and storing it in a damp room is flawed. This encourages the growth of bacteria in the niches of the mesh. While exfoliation is necessary, it can be overdone.
Because it's made of plastic, it can chafe the skin. There is also a hot shower that opens our pores. The loofah becomes the ideal means of transport for bacteria. Outside the shower, in the cool air, our pores close. This traps harmful microbes beneath the surface.
For more information on the loofah see here:
Off to the landfill
Unfortunately, plastic loofahs are difficult to recycle. They are usually made from single-use plastic. However, it is possible to recycle them into plastic bags.
Unfortunately, the sites that collect used plastic bags for reuse only accept used plastic bags.
Dermatologists recommend replacing plastic loofahs at least every 2-3 months. And so the shower sponge ends up in the landfill, where all the discarded plastics will be stored for millennia to come.
3 reasons why you should use a soap pouch
Luckily, there is an alternative to the plastic loofah. Check out this natural loofah.
The soap saver bag is here to save the day.
Here are 3 reasons why you should make the switch:
1. Extend the life of your soap
The practice of putting soap on the loofah often leads to waste. Going for a particularly rich lather uses too much soap. The soapy water just flows down the drain. It also strips the skin of its natural oils and dries it out.
So using less soap or shampoo is a good thing! Less is more with this pouch.
A quick dip under water and it foams. With the soap saver bag, the bar of soap is included.
What do you do with the last bits of soap?
Put the leftover soap in the bag with the next bar. They combine into one piece. Now you can comfortably wash yourself with the end of the soap. You also avoid annoying encounters with the last bits of soap. That never works in planning.
2. No more soap dish goop
Soap dishes can be a huge sinkhole for soap scum and bacteria. After use, she is thrown into the holder where she sits in a puddle of skin dirt and water.
The soap gets really dirty and turns into slime. Think of all the bubbles that could have been. Instead, the decomposing bar of soap is a gooey mess. Another to-do for the cleaning day.
A safe soap pouch
This is the perfect complement for special bars of soap. They have a tendency to melt in water. Place the bar of soap in the pouch and secure with the drawstring. This pouch wraps around a bar of soap.
When you're done, give it a quick rinse and hang it up. You can put it in the same place as your old plastic loofah. This prevents contamination and the ingress of bacteria. The pouch and soap dry easily.
3. Only the best scrub
This is a double action scrub. It is a divine remedy for the traditional hygiene routine. If you're looking for an effective yet gentle body scrub, you've come to the right place.
Massage the body and/or head. As mentioned, a little soap and water goes a long way. The soap will lather as you apply your scrub. The real highlight are the natural sisal bristles.
Your new sisal scrub bag will have you singing in the shower.
The fibers are strong enough to slough off dead skin without scratching.
Leaves a smooth finish.
What is sisal?
Sisal is a natural fiber obtained from the agave plant. It is used as twine and rope. Because of its strength, it is popular in coastal regions. Salt water or hard water cannot dissolve these fibers.
Because of this, exfoliating with this bag is a real dream.
The fibers are ethically sourced, non-toxic and safe for use on the body. Because they come from a plant, they are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
When your soap savings bag has had its day, you can compost it.
Bury it in the garden and enjoy vitamin-rich soil.
Why wait?!
There are so many benefits to replacing your plastic loofah. You will notice a noticeable difference in the durability of your soap bar.
The soap saver bag matches your purchase of artisanal soap bars piling up at the market. They call your name.
As a multi-tasking scrub, it kills two birds with one stone. The most important element is that it is plastic free. It's a small accessory that reduces your ecological footprint and keeps you squeaky clean.
Knowing that plastic plays a lesser role in personal hygiene is a nice feeling.
scrub. Start saving. go green