I think it is safe to say we ALL use a lot of plastic in our lives. It is fairly common these days to see people coming out with plastic free products that we can switch to and be more sustainable. Today, we are going to talk about our loofahs…you know, that big plastic poof hanging in your shower. More and more researchers continue to come out saying that these loofahs are actually not very good for our skin! (*GASPPP*) That is one of the many reasons my family and I have switched over to soap savers in our showers and I am here to tell you why yours should too!
Let’s start with the loofah!
Where did it come from?
The loofah is a fairly modern creation that came to us with the start of the industrial age. The loofah we know and use today is actually a “model” of the original body scrubber that dates back ages. People would use the plant, luffa, which grows on a vine and is considered a gourd, like pumpkins. This plant is said to have originated in Asia where Egyptians would use it as a sponge. It was brought to America over 9,000 years ago by people who were settling in America and they were able to domesticate it. Luffa was previously used for tons of different things including stuffing pillows and as filters for ships prior to WWII. Today it is mainly used as a sponge, due to its natural sponge like properties.
Why shouldn’t we use the plastic loofahs?
Many dermatologists have warned people about using loofahs and the negative impacts they can have on our health. The main problem being the fact that we tend to leave our wet loofahs hanging in our showers which leads to bacteria growing between the netting and then transferring to our skin when we shower next. It can also scour your skin because of its rough plastic makeup. Mix that with our hot steamy showers that open our pores and the loofah becomes an ideal transport for bacteria. Then, we get out of the shower into the cold our, which causes our pores to close and trap in all that bacteria. Another negative impact the famous pouf carries with it is the fact that they are not biodegradable (Duh, plastic) and just add to our already full landfills.
What should I use instead?
Well, I am glad you asked! Because I have the perfect solution and it is called a soap saver bag. Here are 3 reasons why you should throw out the pouf right now and make the switch!.
- Extend the Life Of Your Soap
The process of transferring a bar of soap onto a loofah to wash your body typically leads to a lot of wasted soap because we try to lather it up really well when we first start which just leads to a lot of suds going down the drain before we even wash. Too much soap can also lead to dry and cracked skin…which nobody wants to experience. With a soap saver you just slip your bar of soap into the bag, secure it with the draw string, give it a quick pass under the water, and start washing…it will foam up in no time. Less is actually more with this bag. Another way this bag leads to less waste is by allowing you to use every last bit of your soap bar. Typically, when a bar of soap gets too small it is hard to hold onto and usually just gets tossed. But, with a soap saver you can just pop the small pieces that are left into the bag with a new bar of soap and the first time they get wait they will basically bond together allowing you to get every last bit without every having to deal with washing your whole body with a piece of soap the size of a quarter.
- No More Soap Dish
Who has every picked up a bar of soap off of a soap dish, or even worse, the side of the bathtub and it is so water logged it just turns into goo all over your hands? I can say from experience that it is not a very appealing sight and absolutely does NOT make me want to wash my body with that soap. Besides the fact that soap dishes are just a giant cesspool of scum and bacteria. With a soap saver you just give it a little rinse and hang your bar up using the draw strings which allows the soap and the bag to get good air flow and dry out leaving it in perfect condition for its next use with no messy soap residue to deal with.
- Gentle Yet Effective Exfoliation
The magic is all in the natural Sisal fibers soap saver bags are made of. The fibers are firm enough to provide efficient exfoliation while not tearing up the skin, leaving you with a smooth finish. Sisal is a natural fiber that comes from the agave plant. Due to its string it is often used to make twine or string. Not even salt water or hard water will break these fibers down, which is why it is so good for exfoliating. Sisal fibers are ethically sourced, non-toxic, safe for use on the body, sustainable and environmentally friendly. Because the fibers are sourced form plants, whenever your bag has lost its life you can actually compost it and get a replacement.
So, what are you waiting for? Jump on board and make the switch from those bacteria filled plastic loofahs to a natural soap saver. It will greatly increase the life of your artesian soap, does not expose your skin to bacteria, is a dual action exfoliant, and will greatly reduce your carbon footprint.