Soapbox #1

Why soap, and why start with it? 

I started Start with Soap to share what I have learned in navigating my younger son’s health challenges—namely, the importance of what we put in, on, and around our bodies. 

When my then-infant son was suffering without relief, I did a deep dive into everything we were using in and around our home.  As I read the label on product after product in my cabinets, I realized that—savvy consumer though I thought I was—it was all junk, full of harsh detergents, fragrance, added preservatives, dyes, and other harmful chemicals.

I was completely overwhelmed.  I thought I needed a new hand soap, a new dish soap, a new laundry detergent, a new body wash, a new shampoo. . . and on and on.  I spent endless hours researching, reading labels, experimenting, and searching for a solution.

When the solution emerged, it was mind-boggling in its simplicity: I could use a single, simple product—a true soap—to replace nearly everything.  I didn’t need new bottles, jugs, boxes, and cartons.  I just needed one brown paper bag of soap flakes.  Even then, I knew that eventually, I wanted to share this solution and save others the time and heartache of research and trial and error.

Switching to soap is an easy way to eliminate dozens of products with ingredients that do not belong on our bodies or in our homes.  So what better place to start than with soap?

P.S.  “Start with Soap” was almost named “Soap & Soil.”  I’ll explain why (and why not) from my next soapbox!