Frequently asked questions

WHAT ARE SOAPER HEROES AND DID YOU JUST MISSPELL SUPER HEROES?

Soaper Heroes has a mission to have people switch from store bought laundry detergent to home made laundry detergent. And 

WHY SHOULD I SWITCH? IT SOUNDS KINDA COMPLICATED....

Homemade laundry detergent is cheaper, uses less plastic, has fewer chemicals in it and you can choose different scents to add to it.  It doesn’t take much time to make, uses easy to find materials, and you only need to make it every 6 months or so!

WHO ARE YOU? 

We’re kids who believe that climate change is fixable and that this is one step towards that! Join us and you can become a Soaper Hero too!

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS PROJECT?

We are going to talk to 150 people  about the benefits of home-made detergent, how to make it, give out little samples and even offer free kits to make their first batch. We are hoping at least 50 people switch

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

Join us at one of our in-person events in Albany, zoom events online or follow our easy recipe here! Or drop us an email at soaperheroesforever@gmail.com

WHAT IF I MESS UP WHEN MAKING THE RECIPE? WHAT DO I DO THEN?

Email us at soaperheroesforever@gmail.com. We’re happy to help you figure out what to do - we’re like IT support that helps with your laptop!

What exactly goes into your soap

Our particular recipe has borax, washing soda, laundry soap bar and essential oils (these are optional). These ingredients are found at any grocery store.

WHAT DOES EACH INGREDIENT DO?

We’re not chemists but here's a quick answer: BORAX and washing soda are alkaline (high pH) so they help with acidic stains like spaghetti sauce. Borax helps disperse the detergent so it doesn’t leave a residue on your clothes. The sodium in both helps soften hard water which means cleaner clothes and it neutralizes odors. The laundry bar soap is a simple combination of fat and lye which is how most soap is made. And the essential oils make it smell good but this is obviously optional.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S BETTER FOR YOUR SKIN?

We haven’t done detailed tests, but I have atopic dermatitis and bad allergies. We noticed a big difference in my skin when we switched. It’s like the difference between home made food and food made in factories (home made food doesn’t have preservatives etc).

HOW MUCH DOES IT ACTUALLY COST TO MAKE THE DETERGENT?

This recipe costs less than $4 to make per 5 gallon  batch ($3.50 if you don't use essential oils). It’s about 2.5 cents a load depending on how much laundry you do. 

(Long answer: If you use half a cup, you can do 160 loads of laundry which is about 40 weeks or 10 months of laundry. We probably use 6 to 8 oz and it lasts us 4 months on average. So anywhere from 50 cents to $1 a month depending on how much laundry and how much you use per load. You could also say it costs 2.5 to 5 cents per load.)

WHAT DO YOU STORE YOUR DETERGENT IN?

While it costs just pennies per load, we bought a $5 5 gallon storage paint bucket to store our detergent in. This is a one time purchase. While this container is made of plastic, we still think it's a fairly sustainable solution as you can use it for many years. Of course, if you have an existing container or can purchase a more sustainable container, we encourage you to use those instead.  

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU ARE GOING TO TALK TO? 

We have a google form with a QR code that people who come to a session will fill out.  

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE MAKE DETERGENT?

Once you make a batch, we want you to email us with a photo which we will put on our website. That way we can track people who make it.

IS IT MESSY TO MAKE?

It depends if you are a messy person!  If you are organized and set up your materials, it will go smoothly. None of the ingredients stain or damage counters or floors etc.

WHAT IF I'M ALLERGIC TO THESE INGREIENTS?

Borax isn’t classified as a allergen. Some people can have skin sensitivities to borax in powder form but not when mixed into detergent. A skin patch test after you make a batch is a good idea for those with sensitive skin.

ARE THESE INGREDIENTS DANGEROUS?

You should use care not to get any of the ingredients in your eyes, nose or mouth. We recommend using gloves and eye protection when making the detergent. But you shouldn’t drink store bought detergent either!

WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND THESE INGREDIENTS IN INDIA OR CANADA?

We did a quick check on amazon.in and amazon.ca and found the ingredients are available there for a reasonable price, though it would be great to find sources that use less packaging.  There are alternative recipes that might make more sense for your particular area. We’re just trying to shift you away from store bought towards home made detergent - if you find a better recipe that works for you, that’s great!

WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA TO START THIS PROJECT?

We came up with this idea in response to a challenge called Pioneers for the Planet that's part of an environmental initiative called Prithvi Seva Sanga created by the Chinmaya Mission in Niagara. Learn more here! 

DID YOU CREATE THIS RECIPE?

No we didn't create it but we like to think we know a good thing when we see it!  We came upon this recipe here when looking for alternatives 4 years ago and have loved using it (and saving money) since!

WHAT DO I DO IF I CAN'T FIND WASHING SODA?

You can make your own washing soda by baking baking soda! You can use this recipe here for more information!