Back to School, Cleaner Choices: What's Actually in the Soaps Your Kids Use Every Day

More School = More Soap

Back to school season means one thing for most households: a lot more handwashing and a lot more laundry. Which also means a lot more exposure to whatever ingredients are in your soap and detergent.

For kids — especially those with sensitive skin, eczema, or allergies — that matters more than most parents realize. Here's what's worth knowing before you stock up for September.

What's in Most Conventional Hand Soaps

Most liquid hand soaps on store shelves are synthetic detergents, not true soap. They're built on petroleum-derived surfactants, synthetic fragrances, preservatives like parabens, and artificial dyes — none of which are necessary for effective cleaning, and some of which are known skin irritants.

Synthetic fragrance is one of the biggest culprits for sensitive skin reactions. It's a catch-all term that can represent dozens of undisclosed chemicals, many of which are common allergens.

The Ingredients Worth Being Concerned About

Beyond skin irritation, some common ingredients in conventional soaps and detergents have raised more serious health flags:

Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben) are preservatives used widely in personal care products. They're known endocrine disruptors — meaning they can mimic estrogen in the body and interfere with hormone signalling. Studies have detected parabens in human tissue, and Health Canada has flagged certain parabens as substances of concern, particularly for children.

Synthetic fragrance is a legal catch-all that can contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates — another class of hormone disruptors linked to developmental and reproductive effects. Because fragrance formulas are protected as trade secrets, manufacturers aren't required to list individual components.

1,4-Dioxane is a byproduct that can form during the manufacturing of certain surfactants (like sodium laureth sulfate). It's classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and isn't listed on ingredient labels because it's a contaminant, not an intentional ingredient — making it nearly impossible for consumers to screen for.

Optical brighteners in laundry detergents are synthetic chemicals that coat fabric to make it appear whiter under UV light. They don't rinse out — they stay on clothing and sit against skin all day. Some are classified as potential allergens and environmental toxins.

None of these are in our products. Not because we had to remove them — but because we never needed them in the first place.

What Makes Our Hand Soap Different

Our Hand Soap is made through traditional saponification — the same process used to make real soap for thousands of years. We combine coconut oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil with potassium hydroxide, which triggers a chemical reaction that produces genuine soap and naturally occurring glycerin.

The result is a soap that cleans effectively without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier — something kids' skin is particularly sensitive to.

Coconut oil provides the cleansing action. Olive oil conditions and soothes. Sunflower oil softens and supports the skin barrier. Vegetable glycerin keeps hands from drying out after repeated washing.

Scent Options: Light or None at All

All of our scents are formulated with pure essential oils — no synthetic fragrance, no phthalates. And because we know fragrance sensitivity is common, especially in kids, we keep our blends intentionally light:

• Mint Blend — a gentle mix of rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, and spearmint. Fresh and clean without being overpowering.
• Citrus Blend — lemon, sweet orange, bergamot, lemongrass, lime, and litsea. Bright and uplifting, lightly scented.
• Unscented — no essential oils at all. Ideal for very sensitive skin, young children, or anyone who prefers fragrance-free.

What About Laundry Detergent?

The same principle applies to laundry. Conventional detergents are often loaded with synthetic fragrance, optical brighteners, and petroleum-derived surfactants that stay on fabric long after the wash cycle ends — sitting against your kids' skin all day.

Our plant-based Laundry Detergent uses coconut-derived surfactants that biodegrade quickly and rinse completely clean. It's currently available in a Mint blend — but because the essential oils don't bind to fabric, your clothes come out fresh, not scented. No perfume smell lingering on your kids' clothes all day. Just clean.

How to Get It

If you're in the St. Albert area, we offer local delivery and pickup via our jar exchange model — we deliver in clean glass jars, collect the empties, and reuse them. No new plastic, no hassle.

Not local? We ship across Canada in recycled packaging, so you can make the switch wherever you are — just in time for the school year.