Tag: cleanser

Creative packaging design: Eco laundry detergent

Selection of eco laundry sheets

Washing powder is one of those long-time stalwarts of marketing and advertising – alongside toothpaste, beer, cigarettes and foreign travel. Detergents were always “new & improved” giving you “whiter whites” and “brighter brights”.

Things have come a long way since the Mad Men mid-century era and before. The 21st century eco laundry detergent buzz words are now ‘plastic free’, ‘refillable’, ‘ocean friendly’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘cruelty-free’. We’ve never had so much choice! Furthermore, we don’t even have to go to the shops to buy those bulky, heavy boxes of washing powder. Light-as-a-feather laundry strips can be bought on subscription, popping through our letter boxes on a regular or flexible basis.

Sheets & strips

  1. The Lab Co. laundry strips
  2. Wablu laundry sheets
  3. Freddie laundry detergent sheets
  4. Simple Living eco non-bio laundry detergent sheets

Selection of eco liquid laundry detergent

Olive green dotted horizontal line

Selection of eco liquid laundry detergent

Liquid

Image 1:

  1. Eco-Me natural concentrated liquid laundry detergent, Lavender Blossom
  2. Mulieres natural organic laundry liquid – Rose Garden
  3. miniml eco-friendly laundry detergent

Image 2:

  1. Kit & Kin laundry bundle
  2. Faith in Nature aloe vera & rosemary laundry liquid
  3. eco-mate laundry liquid

Selection of eco laundry capsules / pods

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Selection of eco laundry capsules / pods

Pods & capsules

Image 1:

  1. Ocean Saver non-bio laundry detergent pods
  2. Ecover non-bio laundry capsules
  3. Wyx ecological laundry liquid capsules
  4. Laundrythings eco laundry pods

Image 2:

  1. Grab Green, Stoneworks, laundry detergent pods, birch branch
  2. Wilton London botanical eco laundry capsules
  3. smol concentrated laundry capsules

Price Points: Shampoo bars

Shampoo bars

Regular blog readers will know that for many years, we at Chez H is for Home have strived to be as environmentally friendly as we can. We buy our eco washing up liquid and multi-purpose cleaner in bulk, our toothbrushes and cleaning sponges are bio-degradable and get disposed of on our compost heap when they’ve reached the end of their lives.

One thing that still gets bought in plastic bottles is shampoo & conditioner. Justin is follically challenged, so I’m really the only one that uses haircare products. I have fairly dry, fine curly (2c-3a) hair, so I looked into shampoo bars that would suit me.

We already buy our bath soap from Faith in Nature – it smells gorgeous, lasts for ages and comes in a cardboard box, not single-use plastic. Not only is it the cheapest of the three shampoo bars, it’s the largest, so you get more bang for your buck in that respect too!

  1. Shea & argan shampoo bar: £5.60, Faith in Nature
    Our Shea & Argan Shampoo Bar is plastic-free, offering a more sustainable way of reducing waste in your hair care regime.
    • Plastic-free shampoo bar
    • Ideal for curly hair, or dry / very dry hair
    • Paraben and SLS free shampoo
    • Natural shampoo bar made with 100% natural origin ingredients 
    • Vegan Society Approved and cruelty-free hair care
    • 100% recycled & recyclable packaging
  2. Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair (108g): £12.00, Ethique

    You won’t find any sulfates, silicones, waxes, or drying alcohols in this dreamy little bar. Instead, you’ve got a solid shampoo that is equivalent to three bottles of salon-quality goodness that lathers like a normal shampoo for fresh, bouncy curls.

  3. Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair: £13.50, KinKind

    Both the shampoo and conditioner bars have a silicone free, wheat bran based active ingredient that protects the hair fibres. They have a lovely fresh geranium and ylang ylang fragrance. The rich, foaming gently cleansing shampoo bar uses a gentler cleanser than bottled shampoos, so it’s also suitable if your hair is coloured or highlighted.

shop shampoo bars

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
£13.50
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
£12.00
Shea & argan shampoo bar
Shea & argan shampoo bar
£5.60
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
£13.50
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
£12.00
Shea & argan shampoo bar
Shea & argan shampoo bar
£5.60
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
£13.50
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
£12.00
Shea & argan shampoo bar
Shea & argan shampoo bar
£5.60
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
£13.50
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
£12.00
Shea & argan shampoo bar
Shea & argan shampoo bar
£5.60
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
Give me MORE! shampoo and conditioner bars for damaged, frizzy & curly hair
£13.50
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
Professor Curl™ Solid shampoo for curly hair
£12.00
Shea & argan shampoo bar
Shea & argan shampoo bar
£5.60

Natural cleaning remedies you need to try

Natural cleaning remedies you need to try

If you were to look at your current cleaning products and read what’s actually in them, you’ll find an incredibly long list of chemicals. Some of which can be pretty toxic. More and more people are turning towards natural remedies; they’re cheaper, better for you and are a great eco-friendly alternative. You’ll be happy to know that your kitchen cupboard already contains more natural cleaning remedies than you think.

Baking soda in a jar with wooden spoon

Baking soda

You may already be aware of using baking soda for cleaning. After all, you can use it in pretty much any room of your house. From scrubbing your bathroom and unclogging drains, to loads of laundry and carpet cleaning. Baking soda is such a versatile ingredient and it’s great at getting rid of odours and stains.

Bottle of vinegar, spreay bottle and ladle in front of a potted plant

White vinegar

White vinegar is another great, multi-purpose product. You can use it to get rid of mildew, mould and stains. If you’re worried about the smell, you’ll be happy to know the smell fades pretty quickly or you can add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil. You can also use white vinegar to create your very own all-purpose cleaner. Use equal parts vinegar and water, then add a few drops of essential oils to offset the smell. Or you could use citrus rinds for a lovely, fresh, scent. As with all cleaning, make sure you wear rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Lemon, lime, baking soda, essential oils, clothes pegs and pile of towels

Lemon juice

Citrus is not just for scent. Lemon juice is an incredible cleaning product. There are so many different ways you can clean your home with lemon juice. You can add sparkle to your stainless steel, get rid of grease from your microwave and even clean your entire oven. Thanks to the natural acidity of lemon juice, it lends itself to being used for cleaning. Plus, its versatility means it can be mixed in with other natural cleaning remedies.

Pile of salt crystals

Salt

Salt is such an everyday kitchen ingredient – it’s mainly used for cooking and seasoning food. However, you can also use salt to help you clean your home. Salt is a mineral that does a fantastic job at helping you scrub off dirt. You can use it to clean grimy pans and get rid of rust. Also, when you combine salt with baking soda or vinegar, it boosts the cleaning effects.

Natural soap, scrubbing brush and cleaning cloth

Castile soap

You possibly won’t find this last product in your kitchen cupboard, but when it comes to sorting out natural cleaning remedies there’s no other product quite like Castile soap. It’s a plant-based soap. You can use it to clean your home, as well as yourself.

Changing up your cleaning cupboard and embracing natural products not only saves you some cash, but it’s also much better for the environment. Do you use any natural cleaning products that you’d recommend?

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Price Points: Natural soap bars

Three natural soap bars | H is for Home

We have a bio-digester at our new house – a drainage & waste system that we’d had no experience of previously. Basically, over time, natural bacteria breaks down waste in a series of tanks. It means that anything that goes down the sinks or loo has to be completely natural so as not to harm the bacteria or upset the balance of the system.

We have to source suitable bathing, laundry and cleaning products, but we’ve got used to it quite quickly… and there are lots of lovely products out there from which to choose. This week, we installed a couple of those wall-mounted vintage soap trays in the cottage; an old pottery one in the kitchen and a shabby chic enamel one in the garden room. Each will hold a nail brush and a bar of soap – useful at any time, but particularly so now with the current emphasis on handwashing.

Perhaps you have a bio-digester system too…. or just like the idea of completely natural soap bars with no harsh additives. So, here are three of our favourite natural soap bars from our shopping search. 

  1. Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g: £5.35, Feel Unique

    Warm, comforting and slightly sweet—like marzipan or amaretto! Our Almond Pure-Castile Bar Soap is made with certified fair trade ingredients and organic hemp oil for a soft, smooth lather that won’t dry your skin. 100% biodegradable in a 100% post-consumer recycled wrapper.
    Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soaps are biodegradable-vegan, gentle and versatile, good for washing body, face or hair!

  2. UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g: £6.99, Holland & Barrett

    Gently exfoliating soap to brighten and nourish face and body. Activated charcoal draws out toxins and tightens pores. Cacao extract boosts skin radiance resulting in brighter looking skin. A gently-exfoliating soap to brighten and nourish both face and body. Skin is left cleansed without feeling dry. Certified Organic, 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free. Made in UK. Reused, repurposed, reloved. This soap is made with residual chai spices used to create chai syrup.

  3. Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g: £13.75, Amazon

    Aleppo soap also known as savon d’Alep, laurel soap, Syrian soap, or ghar soap, is a handmade, hard bar soap associated with the city of Aleppo, Syria. Aleppo soap is classified as a Castile soap as it is a hard soap made from olive oil and lye, from which it is distinguished by the inclusion of laurel oil. As it is produced only from natural oils, Aleppo soap is biodegradable. It can be used daily as soap for washing and shampooing, as face mask, as shaving cream and for bathing infants and babies. Laurel oil is an effective cleanser, antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-itching agent.

shop natural soap bars

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35