Charlie’s Soap: very good

Almost two months ago, I got a 1.2kg bag of Charlie’s Soap ($12), simply packaged in a brown paper bag, but dismissed the purchase with a “more about that later.”

Now I’m ready to speak: I love it.

  • Not just because it is packaged without plastic. (I could say that about my washing soda-borax-shaved soap mix, which never worked as well as I wanted.)
  • Not just because it is biodegradable (which is a parallel reduction for a lot of people who want to use less plastic.)
  • Not just because it is cheap to use (15 cents per load)
  • Not just because it takes little to get the job done (a tablespoon; thus the low per-use cost)
  • Not just because it cleans clothes very well
  • Not just because it does so without perfume (which I think is a big plus)

Taken together, Charlie’s Soap beats that pants off the plastic-loaded alternative. (This is an independent endorsement without any consideration — or indeed contact — by the manufacturer.) The only downside is that it can be hard to find. See their site for details about the product and a retail locator.

Published
Categorized as Cleaning

By Scott Wells

Scott Wells, 46, is a Universalist Christian minister doing Universalist theology and church administration hacks in Washington, D.C.

3 comments

  1. I, too, have bought Charlie’s Soap, and the appeal of it was the brown paper bag it came in. However, when I got home and opened the bag, I discovered it was lined with a sheet of what looks like plastic. I suggest checking the inside of your bag to see if it’s as plastic-free as you believe.

  2. Good point, but I figure that even if it came in a fully plastic bag, it would be a very low amount of plastic per use, especially for a product that was otherwise as good as I mentioned. (And I don’t have access to bulk laundry soap here.)

  3. I agree that the amount of plastic per use is low, and overall am pleased with the packaging Charlie’s Soap uses. Still, I wish consumers had some way of knowing prior to purchase that what looks like an ordinary brown paper bag is in fact backed with plastic. It’s all about informed consent.

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