non soap products? do they exsist? where can i get some?

[misdee]

i am thinking of making my home a soap/detergent free zone. but not in a dirty way lol.
dh and both dd's have ezcema, and i feel that some of the detergents, soaps etc etc i use are unnesscery (plus dd2 has an obsession with the sink and soap atm which isnt helping the skin on her hands). I am looking for alternatives for hand soap, bath products (for me, as dd's have their own, but which hopefully wont have adverse affect on them if they do get hold of them), shampoos, deodrants, cleaning products. i think you get the idea. If things are as natural and chemical free as possible (without breaking the bank) then all the better.

Boots do a soap free handwash.

The best thing to use is a cheap and cheerful product called Aqueous cream. Available from any Boots, Superdrug, pharmacy etc its only a couple of quid for a huge tub and can be used anywhere on the body, including in the bath or shower and for handwashing. Its basically a soap substitute with no nasty chemicals in it and can be used by people with allergies, exzema or senisitve skin. The only thing is that it doesn't lather like normal soap and some people don't like this, but it truly is great stuff! Give it a go. All the doctors at work recommend it (I'm a nurse!) and the patients all rave about it once they've tried it. We should have shares in the stuff!

we have tonnes of aquous cream. the kids get it perscription.

what i'm really looking for is natural ways to keep a house and person clean without resorting to chemical cleaning. (uses for vinegars, bi carb, essential oils) or a place where i can but stuff ready made.

your local health shop will have loads...prices vary and many are quite cheap, Jason brand of bodycare come in large sizes so quite good value.
you can get natural shampoo,toothpaste,body lotions, toothpaste, washing powder, soap-free soap!, bath and shower gel...the list is enless.

be careful as some health stores are more money-orientated than others and not everything they sell is as natural as it seems. try to find a small indepndant health shop where you can get good advise on the products.

they can also point you in the right direction re:making our own stuff

ecover products are a good compromise, and are now fairly mainstream so available in most supermarkets. They clean as well as anything else, I am particularly impressed with the clothes washing liquid & powder.

have you seen www.greenpeople.co.uk\greenpeople website{}they also have very good links. i would avoid anything from mainstream pharmacies - they all have sodium lauryl sulphate/parabens in the ingredients - even their 'natural' products!

Why is Sodium Laureth Sulphate so bad - have just seen baby products in Boots proudly saying "contains no SLS". Does that make them Soap-free or not?

www.greenpeople.co.uk\greenpeople website{}
so so bad at links

arhhh still can't do link - i'm going to have a cup of tea and try again....

greenpeople
i don't know enough about the different s.l.sulphates in shampoos/soaps/toothpaste but i remember reading that it is the sulphates which have the detergent/drying action on the skin. the website gives a lot of info that may help.