The pandemic may be under control in Singapore, but hand washing remains a crucial step to preventing infection. With the large number of plastic bottles used in liquid hand wash, is there a way to keep up your hygiene while still being environmentally-friendly?
Well, there actually is! Soap flakes, which are replacements for liquid hand wash, are an ingenious idea that can help you save time, money, and most importantly, the Earth!
With it being a newly created product that is a novel concept on our sunny island, we decided to share more about the product and what you need to know!
Read More: Kickstarting a Zero Waste Bathroom Routine
What are Soap Flakes?
They’re not so different from typical liquid hand wash, really, sans water. Essentially, soap flakes are all the goodness of soap in a concentrated, solid form. Sold in plastic containers that have been collected and reused or biodegradable sachets, these flakes can be mixed with water in your own homes and customised to your preference.
The Eco Soap flakes are all-natural and made of virgin coconut oil to create a rich and highly moisturising soap. Better yet, they contain absolutely no nasties! There are no synthetic or petroleum-derived detergents or additives. Instead, the soap flakes contain four simple ingredients: pure virgin coconut oil; purified water; sea salt; and sodium hydroxide (lye).
Why use Soap Flakes?
Soap flakes are more environmentally-friendly than liquid hand wash for several reasons.
Reduced carbon cost
Liquid soap is made up of 80% water. This increases the weight and volume of each package of hand wash, thus increasing the carbon cost for transport. Meanwhile, soap flakes are light and compact in their packaging, allowing for more soap to be transported in one go.
Since water is something that all of us have at home, the only perk that comes with liquid soap is the illusion of convenience that you are purchasing something ready for use. However, soap flakes are just as easy to use, requiring only a little water on our part, and will take no more than fifteen minutes.
Is fifteen minutes of your time once a month (or less!) worth saving the Earth for? We think yes!
Reduced and reusable packaging
Because liquid soap is, well, liquid, a sturdy and waterproof container is required to store it. More often than not, this is made of plastic.
On the contrary, soap flakes are sold in two types of packaging, either reused plastic containers or sachets. The former has been salvaged and reused to give them a second lease of life. The latter is biodegradable, much like the soaps themselves.
We are currently also selling these soap flakes are sold in bulk at our physical showroom, so you can get refills with zero extra packaging!
Non-toxic
Since the soap flakes are derived from pure coconut oil, they are 100% biodegradable and non-toxic to the environment. This means that even if it is accidentally discharged into our waterways, or left out in nature, it will not harm the environment in any way.
How to Use Soap Flakes?
Making your own liquid soap from soap flakes only requires five simple steps:
- Pour 40 grams of soap flakes into 240ml of boiling water*
- Stir the mixture until the flakes are fully dissolved
- Let the liquid cool for 30 to 45 minutes
- (Optional) To customise, add 20-40 drops of essential oils of your choice
- Pour the liquid soap into a foaming pump bottle
*Either filtered or distilled drinking water is preferred. Unfiltered tap water is not recommended as the impurities in tap water can cause the soap to become cloudy. The soap will still be safe for use, but the texture of the soap will be compromised.
While the hand wash solution can be used in any type of bottles, we highly encouraging you to use foaming soap dispensers for the best experience. Foaming soap doesn’t just feel luxurious on the skin, it also reduces the amount of soap required for each wash, ensuring that you get the most bang for your buck.
What is the Shelf Life of Soap Flakes?
Since there are no preservatives within the soap flakes, the hand wash should ideally be used within two to three months once mixed, so do keep this in mind when you are making your purchase to prevent any wastage.
Must I use it on Foam Pumping Bottles?
Yes! These soap flakes were made for you to prolong the life of your foam pumping bottles and only work on them😊
How Do I Customise The Soap Flakes?
The best part of soap flakes? The freedom to customise your own!
If you’re not sure of where to start, we’ve curated a list of blends to suit a range of preferences. Try them out and let us know which is your favourite.
Ways to customise your hand wash:
- Revitalizing, Invigorating, Fresh and Purifying: Lemongrass, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree Oil
- Sweet Florals: Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Jasmine
- Warm Herbal: Rosemary, Sage, Ginger, Basil, Majoram
- Calming and Relaxing: Lavender, Rosemary
- Cool Mint: Spearmint, Peppermint
- Earthy and Woody: Pine, Patchouli, Cypress
- Uplifting Citrus Scents: Lime, Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Bergamot, Grapefruit
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Have we convinced you yet of the wonders of soap flakes? We sure hope so! If you have any other questions or concerns that we haven’t answered, do drop them in the comments below. Otherwise, stay safe and green with this zero waste alternative!
I need a bit of sample soap flakes for my applications