When cleaning, we need less soap than you may think.
Soaps, detergents, and personal care products contain cleaning agents called “surfactants” that can be difficult to remove at wastewater treatment plants. Once in the environment, they can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life.
You can reduce the impacts of surfactants on our aquatic environment by simply using less of these products. Soaps and detergents are designed for hard water and work particularly well in our region’s soft water, which means you can use less and still get things just as clean.
There are many ways you can reduce the amount of surfactants you use, such as:
- Using half the manufacturer’s recommended amount of detergent
- Replacing fabric softener by adding a half cup of vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle
- Running a full dishwasher load with less detergent instead of handwashing your dishes
