KNOW YOUR SOAP
By Camilla Swart
Not all soaps are created equal.
In the search for an economical, biodegradable and eco-friendly soap I stumbled upon Boerseep, the traditional South African soap. The more I used it, the more impressive the results were; quickly assuming the place of laundry miracle worker in my home.
Linen Drawer has sourced an excellent brand of Boerseep and sells it as part of our ‘one stop shop’ policy, but you can source it from anywhere as well as online. https://boerseep.co.za/#Home
Boerseep has a pretty long history – our grandmothers were intrepid soap makers. There were no detergents available in the hinterland of South Africa, and ‘shop soaps’ were often expensive and only suitable for bathing purposes.
It is fascinating that Boerseep is made from only three ingredients – water, naturally derived beef or sheep tallow (rendered fat) and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) Mixing these produces thick viscous liquid that is soap.
The soap then is poured into moulds, hardens and is cut into bars and left to cure for about 6-8 weeks. This results in a creamy bar of soap that is the laundry miracle worker we know and love!
Linen Drawer has chosen to supply Ouma Hanna’s Boerseep in our shop. This is a cold water(rainwater) soap, made with animal tallow and lye (sodium hydroxide). It is a superior Boerseep and is very versatile – it can even be used to wash your pet!
Here are some facts not commonly known about Boerseep:
- Biodegradable and eco-friendly – exceptionally natural product.
- It is gentle on your skin and may assist in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis.
- Traditionally it contains no preservatives, colouring or fragrance; resulting in a soap that does not irritate skin.
- Varied uses from shampoo, bath soap, face wash, laundry soap, kitchen soap.
- Long lasting due to the curing process.
Linen Drawer recommends using Boerseep as a general stain remover. However, it can also replace detergent. Some detergents contain chemicals which can irritate sensitive skin.
You can buy grated Boerseep, or grate it yourself. This makes it easy to dissolve. Dissolve 125ml grated soap in 1litre of hot water. Add to the washing machine and wash as normal. This gel is safe for hand-washing and automatic machines, in hot or cold water.
For stain removal, rub the soap on the stain and leave it for a while (30minutes). Rinse well and repeat if stain persists. For generally dull bed linen or clothing – soak overnight and wash as normal the next day.
Boerseep can be used generally in the home; for washing dishes, pot scouring, cleaning bathrooms, carpets, walls and windows. It can be used as a soap to wash your pets. Being a pure soap, it is easily rinsed out of their fur and leaves no irritating residue on their skins.
Who would think our grannies could teach us a thing or two about soap?
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