Alternatives to Non-Biodegradable Tensides

As a result of cleanliness and hygiene, we succeeded in improving the quality of life and the life expectancy of humans. However, about 40% of the pollution of wastewater can be blamed on cleaning agents and detergents.
We use approx. 8.5 kg of detergents per person per year. On average, we pollute 20 - 40 litres of potable water per person per day by doing the laundry. Thus, doing the laundry causes the most regular pollution of the household sewage with chemicals. Tensides are responsible for the major part of the environmental pollution caused by doing the laundry.
Tensides are molecules, which are both hydrophilic (-COO), and therefore water-soluble, and lipophilic (fat-soluble; -CH3). The tenside attaches itself to the fat on the one hand, and to the water molecule on the other hand. Thus it is possible that fat dissolves in water. Such substances also cause the dissolving of the water’s surface tension.

Although tensides are very practical for man, they pose a great danger to nature. Since tensides can only be partially degraded, or not at all, by nature, white crests form on polluted waters when they are churned up. Fish and plants may die due to the pollution by tensides.

In general, man-made substances are less degradable by nature than substances which were produced by nature itself, like vegetable fats and oils (e.g. sunflower oil) and starch from potatoes or corn. If these natural raw materials are chemically modified, you obtain products which are more environmentally friendly.

For ecological cleaning we recommend:

• All purpose cleaners and dishwashing liquids made of renewable raw materials (e.g. tensides made of sugar) for cleaning the kitchen, the bathroom, floors, etc.

• Vinegar, vinegar essence or citric acid can be used for limestone deposits, spirit for cleaning the windows and - if you use a dishwasher - chlorine-free automatic dishwasher detergent.