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Housekeep No. 1 is built on organic unrefined coconut oil, the one plant oil that saponifies into a soap rich enough to lather freely and strong enough to lift grease. A measured amount of potassium carbonate and citric acid works alongside it, holding the minerals in hard water so they cannot bind with the soap. That is what keeps the lather full and the rinse clean, whether your water is soft or hard.

For laundry, use a quarter cup per large load. If your machine has a dispenser, pour it there and let the machine do the mixing. Otherwise put the clothes in first and pour the soap over top, then turn the drum or stir the basin a few times so it spreads evenly through the load. A 32 oz bottle carries you through roughly sixteen large loads. Turning garments inside out before they go in is worth the extra second — it puts the soap against the side of the fabric that actually needs it, and keeps printed and darker surfaces facing in. For a pre-treat, put a few drops straight onto a collar, a cuff or a food stain, work it in with your fingers, and let it sit ten minutes before the wash.

One more from us: hang dry where you can, rather than reaching for the dryer. The heat and tumbling of a dryer are what wear fabric down over time, and air drying is gentler on fibres, colour and shape. It matters most for smaller items and for anything delicate or special, which come out of a hang dry noticeably better kept.

For dishes by hand, stir two tablespoons into about half a cup of water, then work from that as your wash water, lifting it onto your sponge, brush or cloth as you go. That small amount is enough for twenty to thirty dishes, depending on how heavily soiled they are. Let the lather sit for a moment on anything greasy before you scrub, and rinse in clear water.

Housekeep No. 1 lathers well in cool water, so there is no need to run the tap hot for the sake of the soap. Use warm or hot water when the job calls for it, not to make the soap work.

Because this is a true soap and nothing more, it is as kind to your hands as it is to your dishes. You can wash a full sink without gloves and finish with your hands feeling soft rather than tight and stripped.

The full ritual

Made to be used, not rushed.

Housekeep No. 1 repose sur une huile et un seul objectif. De l’huile de coco biologique non raffinée, de l’eau et la soude qui transforme l’une en l’autre — un savon suffisamment complet pour dégraisser une poêle et nettoyer un col, et suffisamment simple pour être nommé en une seule inspiration. Il est entièrement biodégradable : ce qui part dans l’évier retourne à la terre sous forme d’eau savonneuse. Il respecte aussi les mains qui l’utilisent, les laissant douces plutôt que tiraillées après une longue soirée passée devant l’évier. Vaisselle propre, linge propre, mains propres — les trois réunis dans un seul flacon.