The Best Biodegradable Soap To Clean Up The Planet

When you go away on camping trips, you get dirty, really quickly. And washing in the lake might seem like a good idea, but that’s not always the case.

Find out how biodegradable soap helps our environment and why we should use it.

What To Look For When Buying Biodegradable Soap

When looking for a new biodegradable soap there are a few things you might want to consider before making a purchase.

What Is The Best Biodegradable Soap

People have different ideas about what makes good soap, if you’re struggling to find something that suits you, then check out my favorite biodegradable soaps.

It should give you a push in the right direction:

Sierra Dawn All Purpose

An all-purpose biodegradable soap available in sizes 2 fl. Oz – 16 fl. Oz.

Their one of the best selling soaps for campers because of how effective it is on dirt and grease.

It’s made with natural fragrances and essential oils leaving you with a light and refreshing pine scent.

Their soap is created with a blend of purified water and vegetable-based cleaning agents, making it 100% biodegradable.

The biodegradable soap is highly concentrated; you only need a few drops in water to create enough studs for a wash.

It’s also strong enough to be used as a household cleaner.

Key Features

One customer used it all the time for work and pleasure. It replaced all their daily cleaning products while traveling. It worked excellently and left them feeling fresh and clean. One problem was with the leaky bottle, some people have had a few issues with it leaking.

Sierra Dawn Campsuds is 100% biodegradable, but it needs to be used with care, so make sure you read the disposal guidelines. Overall it’s a great liquid soap, so be careful not to apply too much. I’d also check for leaks when you receive the bottle.

Reef Repair

They have created a revolutionary biodegradable hair and body soap.

The biodegradable shampoo is effective for cleaning and promoting hair growth while leaving you with a healthy scalp and strong roots.

The eco-friendly coconut-oil infused soap has a tropical lime and coconut scent.

Reef Repair’s biodegradable shampoos come with a cute plastic-free pouch. Their unbleached pull string travel bag is 100% recyclable.

The reusable bag makes it great for eco-travelers wanting to lower their daily footprint.

Their soap also lathers up well but doesn’t break and flake like other brands.

Key Features

It was a hit for one customer’s household. The scent was refreshing, and it didn’t bother their scalps at all. Another thing they liked was the biodegradable packaging. But, a couple of people thought the soap was to heavy on their hair and made it tangle.

Overall, reef repair is a great biodegradable soap but works better with hair. The scent is refreshing, and it has no harmful chemicals. The little carrying case makes it perfect for a backcountry explorer, while it’s reef safe qualities make it ideal for surfers and snorkelers.

Sierra Dawn Insect Deterrent

Sierra Dawn’s Insect deterrent is filled with citronella, lavender, and peppermint to help deter insects while showing outside.

It also gives you some added protection during your trek across the backcountry.

Their insect deterrent soap has all the power of their classic brand but with added protection.

Made with blends of purified water, other natural fragrances, and oils make this eco-friendly camp soap 100% biodegradable.

You can use their camping soap for a multitude of purposes, from washing your hands and face to cleaning your clothes.

Key Features

There was one customer that spent a month in the jungle and always felt clean. And another said they were bite free for the first time in ages. They were also delighted that they didn’t have to use greasy sprays anymore.

The reviews all seemed pretty impressed with the product. There were a few unhappy customers, but they’re always is. I like the mixture of the insect deterrent and biodegradable soap, showering in tropical countries can always lead to mosquito bites.

Joshua Tree

Their shampoo is safe to use inside and outside.

It’s so safe you can even wash your dog with it, or you can clean your dishes.

It comes in a container that holds eight fl. Oz, which is portable but can last on long trips.

They use an olive oil base while adding a tea tree and mint scent for a fresh feeling.

Joshua Tree biodegradable soap is handcrafted in Michigan; they use only the finest quality ingredients.

It lathers up just like any other body wash creating great coverage while bathing. They add Jojoba oil to help condition the skin and your hair for added freshness.

Key Features

There was a customer that went on a vacation to a family lodge. It didn’t have a bath or a shower, so they had to bathe in the lake. It smelt great and worked excellently on their scalp. Some of the complaints were down to its sting on sensitive areas.

I really like this brand; it’s safe in water and smells excellent. The bottle is a great size for long trips away while giving you the ability to reduce your luggage. They also use high-quality ingredients to make their biodegradable soap safe.

Dr. Bronner’s

The soaps made with 90% organic materials and uses certified fair trade ingredients.

Dr. Bronner’s uses ethical working conditions and fair trade prices to make their biodegradable soap.

Their fully biodegradable soap is vegan-friendly; the products and components are never tested on animals.

Dr. Bronner’s isn’t just good for your body; it’s good for the planet too.

It uses no synthetic preservatives, detergents or foaming agents; only plant-based materials.

It comes packed in 100% recycled plastic. And inside the liquid is 3x more concentrated than most soaps.

Key Features

One review said it had got rid of their scalp psoriasis, and she wasn’t the only customer to share their good experiences. People loved how it worked on their scalp and how well it worked as a cleaner. The biggest complaint was the lack of scent.

This is defiantly a soap to stock up on, especially if you suffer from scalp conditions. The review of the psoriasis was fantastic. The bottles are a bit big for short camping trips, but if it’s to replace multiple bottles of shampoo and shower gel, then it works great.

Why Use Biodegradable Soap?

They’re made with natural materials, which means it doesn’t harm aquatic life.

Some of the chemicals in soaps have been known to cause blue-sac disease in fish.

Ordinary soap can also cause algal blooms to form in lakes, ponds, and other water sources.

Biodegradable soap isn’t just better for marine life; it also helps plants. When regular soaps are dumped in the wooded areas, the chemical Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP).

This chemical is used to make substances softer and more pliable; when leached into the soil, it damages the tree.

And to make it worse:

Regular soap contains Endocrine Disruptors, which act as a nerve toxin to wildlife. Which is known to damage the cognitive ability of animals.

That’s just a few reasons why you should switch to biodegradable soaps. But here’s a word of warning before you make the switch.

Even biodegradable soap needs to be used responsibly as SectionHiker points out.

You need to use them away from water sources and bury them under the soil. This is, so the camp soap has time to biodegrade in the dirt without being disturbed.

Summary

Remember, guys, before purchasing your biodegradable soap, think about what you need from it. Are you looking for a multi-purpose cleaner?

What size do you need? If you are going to share it, you might want to go for a multi-pack option. Are you going to a reef-safe area? Finding a soap that offers reef safe protection would be very beneficial.

And you can double down on those benefits if you also use the best reusable cotton rounds!

Please, if you liked this article, please show support and share it on social media. And as always, if you have any questions, please comment below.

Let’s stand united and protect our water systems if you want to further the protection of water, why not check out how the best biodegradable sunscreen can save coral reefs.