Alongside giving you important information regarding the benefits of using all natural products for yourself, your family and your pets, we like to, on occasion, highlight some of the products that we offer and give some additional, in depth information about them.
California Cool Soap – We frequently get asked if we have a soap that is a good facial cleanser. We always point people toward our California Cool soap because it is made with fresh cucumber juice and lime essential oil. The fresh cucumber is very beneficial for your skin. They are an excellent source of silica. Silica is a trace mineral that is helpful in building and strengthening the connective tissue that holds our bodies together. Because of this, it can help in the reduction of wrinkles and promote smooth skin. Cucumber is also a good source of caffeic and ascorbic acids which prevent water retention and decrease puffiness.
Lime essential oil acts as an astringent which increases and skin tone. It also will detoxify and clear the skin of any toxic materials and oils.
California Cool is a soothing gentle soap that makes a great face soap.
Wrigley’s Dog Soap – Wrigley’s soap contains Cedarwood essential oil. Cedar is a fresh smelling essential oil that is great for stinky dogs. Bathing your dog with Wrigley’s soap will kill the bad smell and leave everyone happy. Cedar essential oil also will relax and calm your dog and it does have flea repelling properties.
Wrigley’s Dog Soap is the best choice to get rid of that stinky dog smell.
Both these soaps, along with all our other products, can be found on our website.
If you have read any of our previous blog posts, you know that Glynne’s Soaps is passionate about “green”. It all started with our mission to fight fleas all naturally (which you can read about here and here), moved on to skin care products, hand sanitizer and shampoo. We have researched and know first hand the dangers of chemicals and pesticides that can be found in personal care products.
We have worked hard creating skin care products that are natural and effective to replace those made with hazardous chemicals. However, dangerous chemicals are everywhere, especially in household cleaning products. We have no plans to start making safe, natural cleaners, but we can give you all natural alternatives to the commercial cleaning products you might be using now.
Baking soda is a great cleanser. When mixed with water to form a paste, it cleans soap scum and hard water stains from tubs and sinks without scratching or leaving grit.
No one like to clean the oven. However, Baking soda also works well as an oven cleaner without the nasty fumes or the need for rubber gloves. Cover the bottom of the oven with water, then sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the water. Sprinkle or spray the baking soda with water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, the grease will have loosened and will easily wipe off the oven. This works in the microwave as well.
A mix of vinegar and water makes an exceptional window, glass or mirror cleaner.
Straight vinegar can be used as a natural deodorizer. If you keep some in a spray bottle you can spray it on kitchen counters, cutting boards and other surfaces. For very strong smells, it can be left overnight. Straight vinegar will also kill 82% of mold and mildew. It can be sprayed directly in the shower and left overnight.
Dangerous and toxic chemicals can be found in most soaps, shampoos and household cleaners. Glynne’s Soaps can be used to clean yourself, your family and your dog. The above mentioned cleaners will allow you to clean your home without exposure to nasty, harmful chemicals.
Last week at the Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market, we were asked by no less than three people about how to care for soaps. Of course, we were happy to share our (Jenn’s) knowledge on the subject. It made us think we should revive a post from last year on how to care for your new soap.
Once you bring your new soap home, there are some things you can do to help it last as long as possible. I know when I have a new soap that lathers great, smells wonderful and leaves me feeling soft and smooth; I don’t want to waste any of it. Just following these few simple tips will keep your soap (and you) happy longer.
1) Any moisture will dissolve your soap, even if you aren’t using it. Don’t let it sit in a puddle. A draining soap dish or a mesh bag hanging in the shower will help dry your soap between uses. If you don’t have either of these, minimize the area of your soap that comes in contact with the wet area; sit it up on it’s side or prop it on the edge of the soap dish. Any air circulation will keep your soap drier.
2) The longevity of your soap improves if you use a loofah, washcloth or sponge instead of rubbing the soap directly on your body. You can purchase some nice accessories on our website
3) Before use, store your soap in a cool dry place. Under the sink is bad because the soap can pick up moisture from condensation on the pipes. Some people store it in a linen closet or dresser drawer so the scent can freshen towels or clothing.
Since true natural soap has no chemical preservatives, it will not last as long as detergent bars purchased at the grocery store. However, with just a little planning, you can extend the life of your soap.
Everyone hates mosquitoes! I’m not even convinced mosquito moms love mosquitoes! Our human loathing of the pests have caused us to use some pretty nasty stuff to keep them away. For years, bug repellents containing DEET were used liberally to keep the bugs from biting. Most commercial bug sprays that you can buy at the store today have DEET as their main active ingredient. The only problem with that is that DEET, in the long run, is probably more dangerous than the actual mosquito bite. It can react with skin causing anything from a slight rash to seizure. There have been a few reports of people dying after using products containing DEET. As more and more research is being performed, it is showing that DEET also can cause brain damage after repeated exposure. And to make matters worse, the toxic effects of DEET were increased when it was combined with other chemicals such as those found in sunscreens.
Some people say that DEET is completely harmless, and an effective way to keep the bugs away, but it is a pesticide made from synthetic chemicals. There is nothing natural about it, and as more and more research is being performed regarding the long term effects of this pesticide, it is better to be safe than sorry.
There are, however, all natural alternatives to covering your body with pesticides. Glynne’s Soaps Bug Off Soap and Bug Off Lotion contain 6 natural essential oils that have bug repelling properties. They have been shown to be effective against mosquitoes, ticks, flies and other biting annoying insects.
Some people have found that applying the lotion after bites (even from fire ants) will reduce the itching and burning.
This summer, use an all natural alternative to chemical pesticides on yourself and your children. It’s the smart choice.
We live in coastal North Carolina. In the summer, there are really only two topics heat (humidity), and BUGS! Short of staying in the Air Conditioning and avoiding the beautiful outdoors, we have yet to find a solution to heat and humidity but we can help with the bugs.
We have thoroughly enjoyed being at The Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market every Saturday! Not only does it give us the chance to meet people and tell them about our products; it gives us the opportunity to get feedback about our products. There is no better feeling than hearing how much someone enjoys your creation!
Sure it’s great when someone stops and buys our products again but there is a special thrill when some just stops to tell us how well it worked for them or that they made a special trip to Farmer’s Market to see us. Knowing you are making a difference is its own special reward!
Our product that gets the most attention is Bug Off. Our Bug Off is made with a proprietary blend of six (6) different essential oils. Each of which have bug repelling properties. As you might imagine the first question someone asks is, ‘Does it work?’ Naturally, when I answer, there is a certain amount of understood bias but when a user walks up and tells their unbiased experience, we can’t keep enough of it made.
My solution, buy a Flip (affiliate link) and begin to film the testimonials as people shared them at Farmer’s Market. Last Saturday, I filmed my first testimonial (I was very excited). Now, I want to share it with you.
Makes me wonder, if a picture is worth a Thousand words; what is a video worth? You can get your own Bug Off stick on our website or any Saturday at the Carolina Beach Farmers Market.
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At Glynne’s Soaps we have shared our passion for fighting fleas again and again. With every new person we meet, we are sharing Franklyn’s Story (or we think we are). Invariably, someone we have known for a while will say “I didn’t know that is how y’all got started” and we realize as all natural evangelists, we just have got to keep saying it So, if you haven’t read the story about our fight against the flea, check it out here and here. If you’re a regular reader of our blog or a subscriber to our newsletter please forgive the reiteration of our message.
We have successfully been able to win the war against fleas will all natural products. Products that are safe for our dogs, ourselves and the environment. This is our battle plan:
First, we use an all natural soap to bathe our boys regularly. Franklyn’s is a good choice because it contains Eucalyptus and Tea Tree essential oils which are both great at repelling fleas. The Tea Tree oil has the added benefit of being a natural antiseptic so it will help ease the pain and itching from any flea bites. Roxy’s is also very effective at fighting fleas. If you can’t decide, you can always get a sample stack which includes a one ounce bar of each of our dog soaps.
To get rid of any fleas in the house, we use Borax. It can be found in the grocery store with the laundry detergent. We sprinkle the powder on the carpet, sofas, chairs, beds, etc., rub it in with a dry broom and let it sit for a few hours. Then just vacuum it up. Borax will suck out all the moisture from the fleas and kill them.
For the outside, we use food grade diatomaceous earth. It is very important to buy the food grade material and not what you find at a pool store. The diatomaceous earth at the pool store contains silica which makes the dust harmful if inhaled. We sprinkle it all over the yard. The small sharp crystals will literally poke holes in the fleas, killing them. It also works for other crawling bugs – roaches, ticks, bed bugs, beetles and more.
We have been using this approach for the past year and a half and have had less problems with fleas then ever before. We encourage you to fight fleas all naturally this year. You, your pet and your environment will be better off. In our next post we will discuss the options for dealing with the pesky bugs which are out to bite you.
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John Hayes (right) demonstrates how his product, ShellBond, binds with oil and causes it to sink and degrade in salt water. Hayes, whose product is made of oyster shells, has partnered with Gayle Tabor (left) and Jenn Beddoe of Glynne's Soaps to create an oil-repelling soap that can be used to clean wildlife without adding additional dangerous chemicals to the environment.
Two small local companies have joined forces to develop a product with some big ideas.
Glynne’s Soaps and ShellBond have created Sea Soap, an organic liquid made specifically for oil removal. The companies’ owners think it is the perfect all-natural solution for birds and other wildlife affected by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
If you look at the labels of detergents commonly used to clean oily animals, you’ll see hard-to-pronounce chemicals that can be harmful to the environment in their own right, said John Hayes, an oceanographer and founder of ShellBond.
“None of the stuff being used on marine life is organic,” he said. “We’re taking poor birds that have been covered with oil and putting more junk on them and then hoping that they live.”
Hayes, who formerly worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, began making ShellBond about five years ago. It’s formed by a patented process that converts animal bones and marine shellfish, using heat and hydration, into a powder that has a unique crystal with the ability to bond with and absorb oil on water and land.
Since then, he’s been working on developing various uses for ShellBond, including an organic paint and hog lagoon treatment. But when the oil spill happened, Hayes thought it was time to move into high gear.
He searched online to find an organic soap company in Wilmington, and Glynne’s Soaps popped up.
“A few weeks ago he contacted us and was interested in creating a soap product that would remove oil from birds,” said Glynne Soaps co-owner Gayle Tabor. “Being the animal lovers that we are, we were very interested in that project.”
The other half of Glynne’s Soaps, Jennifer Beddoe, who has a master’s degree in chemistry, went to work and had the first batch of Sea Soap ready within a week.
Standing near the north end pier at Carolina Beach on Monday morning with the cries of seagulls and the hum of the ocean in the background, Hayes demonstrated not only the cleaning abilities of Sea Soap using his hands but also the oil remediation qualities of ShellBond on a tray of sand and a pitcher of sea water.
The next step is to receive the funding necessary to manufacture and distribute Sea Soap and ShellBond to those who can use it to mitigate the affects of the oil spill, Hayes said. He envisions a factory in Wilmington.
“We have a product, and there’s obviously a need,” Hayes said. “We just need some seed money to launch this business.
“This is not a fly-by-night thing,” he added. “This is not a bunch of hoopla. This stuff works.”
In case you haven’t heard, there is a big oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Jenn and I have been devastated by the photos and reports of what is happening with the birds (and other wildlife) but like most people we felt powerless. The we received a phone call from a gentleman who has developed a product call Shellbond which removes oil. He wanted to know if we would partner with him on a project to create a liquid soap that would all naturally remove oil from birds.
We felt we were up to the challenge! we dropped EVERYthing and began our journey to be proactive to affect change in our world. We are pleased to announce that we have a product we are all very pleased with (Sea Soap) … which works.
See the you tube video demonstration:
If you know Jenn and I you know this is a perfect fit for us. Saving Animals is our passion.
Now comes the hard part. Getting this product into the hands of those who can best use it. We know there are thousands of people with ideas and we may be a small fish in a huge ocean, but we are tenacious small fish!
These days, it seems like the term “anti-bacterial” is on the labels of many of our cleaning products and soaps. Is this really necessary? What are the effects on the wider environment? We seem to be really fixated on bacteria. Without a doubt, there are bad bacteria out there, but there are also many kinds of good bacteria that we couldn’t live without. There are approximately 182 strains of bacteria that live on your skin, and most of them are helpful. Think of them as an added layer of defense against germs. Repeated washing, especially with anti-bacterial soap strips your body of this defense mechanism. For example, there is at least one type of bacteria whose job is to help moisturize the skin. Anti-bacterial soap will kill these bacteria, causing your skin to dry out.
The next time you go to use your anti-bacterial soap, read the label. Some anti-bacterial soaps contain MIT (methylisothiazolinone), which some studies have found to be allergenic and linked to nerve cell death. Another anti-bacterial chemical commonly used is triclosan. This chemical is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as being a pesticide and is believed to destroy fragile aquatic ecosystems. So, not only is it bad for your skin, as it runs out of your shower and into the water supply it is very dangerous to the environment, creating poisonous chlorine gas as it mixes with any water supply.
While anti-bacterial chemicals do play a role in professional health settings, they are not necessary in your home. Not only do they kill the good bacteria, but with overuse, harmful bacteria can become resistant to cleaners and necessary antibiotics.
The best thing you can do for your skin and the environment is to use a good all natural soap, like those found at Glynne’s Soaps . Not only will you be clean, but your skin will be softer and the environmental impact is very low. If you are somewhere and don’t have access to soap and water, but need to clean up, try our new all natural hand sanitizers. Made with only the safest all natural ingredients including therapeutic grade essential oils that are a safe way to get rid of the bad bacteria without dangers, our all natural hand sanitizers come in two refreshing scents; lemon and lavender.
California Cool Soap – We frequently get asked if we have a soap that is a good facial cleanser. We always point people toward our California Cool soap because it is made with fresh cucumber juice and lime essential oil. The fresh cucumber is very beneficial for your skin. They are an excellent source of silica. Silica is a trace mineral that is helpful in building and strengthening the connective tissue that holds our bodies together. Because of this, it can help in the reduction of wrinkles and promote smooth skin. Cucumber is also a good source of caffeic and ascorbic acids which prevent water retention and decrease puffiness.
Wrigley’s Dog Soap – Wrigley’s soap contains Cedarwood essential oil. Cedar is a fresh smelling essential oil that is great for stinky dogs. Bathing your dog with Wrigley’s soap will kill the bad smell and leave everyone happy. Cedar essential oil also will relax and calm your dog and it does have flea repelling properties.
So, if you haven’t read the story about our fight against the flea, check it out 
