Truth comes out in the wash

Bathing with buddies

OK, so for me, the skin science appears to be checking out. But what about the surrounding environmental claims: that showering wastes water, and that using all these cosmetics for washing damages the environment?

Depending on the flow, a shower consumes roughly 12 liters of water a minute, according to several conversancy groups. So, if you stay in there for longer than 10 minutes, you're actually using about the same amount of water as for a bath, which on average is 130 liters.

If the aim is to save water, experts advise simply taking shorter, more-efficient showers. Some prescribe the "pits and bits" strategy to cover the essentials, while British nonprofit Waterwise even suggests people "bathe with a friend", although I hazard to guess such a proposition could be misinterpreted.

But what about the water after we're washing it down the drain full of soapsuds? Is there an environmental cost from our products?

For this question, I turned to the oracle: my dad. He's worked for a water company in Britain for more than 25 years, including as a quality inspector, so I asked him what effect, if any, our various soaps and shampoos are having on the natural environment.

After getting the insults out of the way ("You must stink" was his initial response), he told me: "If soaps, detergents and other cleaning fluids go into a surface water sewer or directly into a watercourse then it would have an impact on that aquatic environment ... (and have) a detrimental effect on local biodiversity.

"It can also result in bioaccumulation within food chains," he says, which basically means a buildup of poisons and chemicals that increase as plants and animals eat each other.

Sounds lovely. Plus, the more of these chemicals that are discharged, the harder water treatment facilities need to work, which costs more time and more money.

So, it is true these chemicals can have a lasting effect. But - and this is a big but - "it's worth noting that the difference between using products for some things and not using them for other things is minimal", he adds. "To have any real affect you would technically need to stop using all forms of chemicals for everything, such as washing dishes, washing clothes, general cleaning of baths and sinks, and using moisturizers and deodorants that would eventually wash away in the shower or sink."

So we need to stop washing everything?

Well, not exactly. If you don't want to give up your "smellies", as they are known in my neck of the woods, many stores, including in China, now sell eco-friendly and organic products for the shower, washing machine and kitchen sink. If you are an adventurous sort, you could even look into enzyme cleaners, which can be made at home using food scraps.

I don't think I'm ready to start scrubbing myself with compost, but for now, the no-soap experiment appears to be working.

craig@chinadaily.com.cn