Goodness Direct

Soap Flakes

The soap flakes are a traditional no-nonsense product which clean unstained clothes and bedding well. They have an additional benefit in that they are not harmful to the environment. For people who are sensitive to smell this is a fantastic product but it is only suitable for hand washing and may need several rinses. At under £4 it is remarkably inexpensive for an environmentally friendly product. Several testers tried it on their smell sensitive children with extremely positive results. Testers with super-sensitive children recommended using only a little and rinsing extra-well, some added a little vinegar to the rinse. For the really desperate and determined parent there are recipes on-line to make a washing powder suitable for the washing machine using soap flakes as their base.

Ecover Delicate

This washed very well and was suitable for a machine wash. One tester set it on a quick wash and noted that unlike some powders, it did not leave white powder marks on her coloureds. For those with mild sensory issues it was very well received, however with my son who is extremely sensitive to smells, it took about five rinses before it was acceptable. It is certainly well worth a try and is kind to the environment.

Oliva

Oliva is made from olive oil, water and mineral salts. It comes in a solid, hard block that looks comfortingly old-fashioned. It has a natural scent that even the most sensitive nose seems to accept. It feels silky and moisturising and gives a gentle lather, leaving a clean smell. It is inexpensive and can even be grated to use on hand washing clothes.



If you've also had experience of these products, or similar, we'd love to know what you think! Email us here with your views.

Anna van der Post
July 2009