Soaps are made by mixing a fat (plant or animal) with a caustic soda (like lye or potassium hydroxide). Soaps require very little energy in the production process and can be made without having any leftover by-products. Soaps have been around for hundreds of years, perhaps thousands. Soaps do biodegrade in our waterways, which are better for your health and the environment. They are the most natural option.
The most widely-used detergent, sodium lauryl sulfate, is created by reacting sulfuric acid with dodecanol (a fatty alcohol), adding a few other chemicals, heating it up, and adding more chemicals. On the average, there are about 10 steps in the production of a detergent. Household detergents became widely available in the US in the 1940's as a result of wartime shortages of the fats and oils needed for soap production. Detergents can be very harmful and toxic to our waterways.
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