In our last article, we talked about a versatile, eco-friendly product: baking soda. Today, we'd like to introduce you to another product that can be used for many purposes: Fuller's Earth.
What is Fuller's Earth?
Fuller's Earth was discovered in the 19th century in Sommières, a village in France. It's a powdery clay that can vary in color from beige to green.
Today, it also comes from several countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Morocco and Turkey, where it is known as Fez Soap.
The special feature of this clay is its absorbency: it can absorb up to 80% of its weight in liquid, thanks to the layering of its components. Liquids can thus enter the spaces between the sheets.
Benefits
Because it's extracted directly from the soil and hasn't been transformed in any way, Fuller's Earth is an environmentally-friendly, biodegradable product. It's also non-toxic.
It's also economical, as it replaces other, more expensive products for the same tasks.
Applications
Stain remover
Being highly absorbent, Fuller's Earths is mainly used as a dry stain remover. As it doesn't need water to be effective, it can be used to remove stains from non-washable surfaces or objects. This makes it perfect for cleaning leather, silk, sofa fabric, carpets, wool, car seats and natural stone floors. It's also one of the best products for grease stains.
To use it, simply sprinkle Fuller's Earth evenly over the stain to be removed, then leave for a few hours to a full day, depending on the size of the stain and the time since the incident. You don't even need to scrub! To remove the product, simply vacuum.
If your stain is stubborn, you can heat the surface of your object or fabric with a hair dryer before sprinkling on the product. You can also use an iron, depending on the fabric.
Deodorize
As well as being a good stain remover, this product is also a good deodorizer. So it's perfect for removing odors such as cigarette smoke, urine or sweat. To achieve this, sprinkle onto or into the object to be deodorized and leave to work.
Depending on the composition of the odor, the effectiveness of Fuller's Earths can vary, so it's advisable to mix it with baking soda, as the two products don't absorb gas molecules in the same way.
If you're a pet owner, this product is ideal for cleaning up your dog's or cat's urine spills or discharges, as it will absorb the residue while removing the odour.
Reviving brightness
If your white fabrics have become dull and your colors less vibrant, you can soak them in a sink filled with warm water to which you've added 2 tablespoons of Fuller's Earths. Soak for 2 hours, then wash your fabrics in the usual cycle.
Clean
For aspiring artists or house painters, Fuller's Earths is ideal for cleaning dirty hands. Create a paste by mixing it with a little water, then rub your hands with it. Rinse, then wash your hands with your usual soap for impeccably clean hands.
Additional information
As Fuller's Earths is highly absorbent to both liquids and gases, it's important to store your product in a dry place and in an airtight bag or container.
Also, before using this product on a surface or fabric, it's always important to test it on an inconspicuous area. This will avoid a nasty surprise if your object doesn't react as you expected.
Finally, this product is not for consumption, so keep it away from children and pets.
If you're ready to test this product, click here to buy it.
Ecologically yours,
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