When detergents become happy

by Annalisa Audino

Wash, iron, clean, cook, take the children to school, give something to eat to the cat or the dog, go shopping, be perfect at work: life today is too frenetic. And if it’s difficult to have time to go walking or to go out with your friends or go on holiday, how can you be an ecologic housewife?

Producing and using organic detergents seems almost a privilege of a tiny and wealthy elite who has economic possibilities to choose particular products and time to pack and use them at home. In fact, you can rethink a different way to cleanse, to everyone and with an eye on the economy and the environment. The project began in 2005, from a discussion forum where the tips for a greener lifestyle became a real website and a guide to biohappy detergents, published by the Gruppo Mondo Nuovo. Well aware of the importance of environmental issues related to the planet, the group decided to give its contribution from everyday life and communicating and disseminating the most information and tips to safeguard the public. «We have explored the world of traditional detergents – explain the founders of the group - we studied their effects and how to replace them efficiently, economically and especially respectful of human and global ecosystem, but most importantly, we have discovered that those who seek to live environmentally are so many and so we created our group, to help us, recommend and face. We would like to build a new model of life that is characterized by the brotherhood and sharing not only tangible but also skills and ideas».

Fundamental points to convert to bioallegri are few and of simple implementation. The first step (economic and ecological) is learning to do without many products that stuff our house: few products are really essential to keep a clean house. About the products considered irreplaceable it is essential also to know how to read labels: ingredients are very important and often their actions may be replaced by less aggressive products. Among the various sections of the site, there are also a some recipes, as well as useful tips for many jobs: simple realization are, for example, the use of water and vinegar for polishing and remove signs of limestone on the taps and clean glasses without need of any other product. Sure, it takes time: with the advent of detergents traditional we took the habit that they want everything at once. Disinfectants household is a few minutes more to act and be effective as traditional ones. Obviously you cannot pass the entire House shots of vinegar and peroxide or wait hours because the limestone decides to leave, but surely you can find either that they form a bridge between traditional and organic. A good start is to understand that, while using conventional detergents, we can learn of the tricks that change much the impact thereof on the environment.

For those who wish to purchase the guide to biohappy detergents, M.T. De Nardis, EMI, 2008 can find it on the website of the Group and in the libraries: proceeds from the sale will be donated to paediatric Centre of Goderich in Sierra Leone, created and run by volunteer doctors of Emergency. In any case, take a tour on the website: the nice authors’ style will tempt you to live environmentally!