Last week, I came across a tutorial on the Craftzine blog for a “tawashi,” which is essentially a crocheted washcloth.  It appealed to me because the description mentioned that the microfibers in acrylic yarn clean well enough to make soap unnecessary.  I try not to use traditional commercial soaps because they contain chemicals and fragrances that can adversely affect human health and, once they wash down the drain, the environment.  I decided to whip up my own tawashi and put it to the test.  I was quite surprised and pleased with the results.  I hand wash all my dishes, so it got a lot of use, and even on greasy pans it was very effective.

If you don’t know how to crochet, do not be intimidated.  It is easy to pick up and requires very little up front investment (you only need a hook and skein of yarn, which cost a few dollars each).  This online tutorial guides you through the basic crochet stitch, which can be used like a building block to make any shape you want.  I made my washcloth a basic square, 25 stitches across.  This project requires acrylic yarn because of its microfibers, but I generally try to avoid purchasing synthetic fibers because their production involves toxic chemicals and many are made from petroleum.

If you really need soap to get your dishes clean, consider making it at home.  You can make it from scratch, although the process is delicate and rather labor intensive.  A simpler alternative is to use Castile soap as a base, and add lemon juice or vinegar to help cut grease.  Castile soap is a more natural soap that contains only vegetable oils, citric acid and vitamin E.