What Is Lerak Soap? Here Are the Uses and How to Make It

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Have you ever heard about lerak soap? Lerak soap is one of the eco-friendly soap choices made of natural soapnut, or buah lerak, supporting your sustainability beauty actions.

Then, what is lerak soap? In this article, you will learn about the benefits of lerak soap and how to make it easily and practically. So, read the information below.

What Is Lerak Soap?

Lerak soap is one of the natural soaps made of lerak fruit, or soapnut or soapberries. Soapnut may not be as popular as other edible fruits, but it is indeed inedible because it contains high saponin.

Instead, you can utilize soapnut by turning it into soap, as it contains natural detergent. Soapnut can also produce foam just like chemical soaps and detergents in the market.

Soapnut contains saponin, polyphenol, tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, and other antioxidants. This saponin content is what makes it possible to use it as soap.

Saponin is a bioactive compound that produces froth just like soap. That’s why saponin is often used as a foaming agent in many beauty products, pharmaceuticals, and fire extinguishers. According to Isoprenoid Synthesis in Plants Microorganism, saponin is antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and much more.

Why Must You Use Lerak Soap?

Lerak soap is a natural soap made from soapnut, meaning that it is more environmentally friendly than conventional soap containing chemicals. The chemicals can pollute water channels, and if the washing waste flows to the river, the life of river biota can be threatened. Moreover, some detergents contain non-decomposable microbeads.

Furthermore, lerak soap leaves no harmful residue, making it safe for both the environment and the body. Additionally, because it is free from harmful chemicals, it is a great choice for individuals with detergent allergies or sensitive skin.

Most importantly, lerak soap is one of the multipurpose soaps you can choose because you can use it for various needs, such as clothes washing, mopping, showering, and so on.

Uses of Lerak Soap

Recently, lerak soap has been used for various cleaning activities. In fact, this soap can be found in shops and marketplaces. Here are some uses of lerak soap you should know:

1. Detergent

Lerak soap can be a natural detergent. The saponin in this fruit can remove stains and dirt without damaging fabric fibers, making it cleaner and safer.

2. Jewelry Cleaner

Lerak soap is considered a soft cleaner, making it suitable for cleaning jewelry that requires special care. Despite being mild in nature, lerak soap is still effective in cleaning gold and silver jewelry.

3. Natural Shampoo

Lerak soap can be a natural shampoo thanks to saponin, which is antimicrobial. Lerak shampoo is also effective for handling dandruff and lice, as well as balancing natural oil in your scalp. In addition, your hair becomes softer and more fragrant with this shampoo.

Moreover, this natural shampoo can be an environmentally friendly and safe alternative for those with sensitive skin because it does not cause irritation and does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

4. Multipurpose Cleaner

Another benefit of lerak soap is its versatility as a multi-purpose cleaner. As explained before, lerak soap is a multifunctional product because you can use it to clean your bathroom, floor, and many more. Lerak soap mixed with water can also remove dirt without leaving harmful residue on the housewares or the room.

5. Dish Soap

Lerak soap is a safe cleaning option that can be used to wash cutlery. This soap can remove stains on cutlery and clean oil and blackish stains on cooking utensils.

How to Make Lerak Soap

Now you already know the uses of lerak soap for daily activities. If you want to use it, you can make it easily at home. Below are the steps to make lerak soap:

Prepare 500 ml of water and 1 dozen soapnuts.
Boil the soapnuts for 10 minutes until softened and the fruit is separated from the seeds.
Add 2 tablespoons of salt to make the soap last longer.
After boiling, let the liquid cool.
Squeeze the soapnut in the liquid until it foams.
Strain the liquid and discard the soapnuts.
To make it smell good, you can add a few drops of essential oil to taste.
Store the lerak soap in a safe and clean bottle or container.

This concludes the information about lerak soap, its benefits, and how to make it. Lerak soap is one of the safe and eco-friendly alternatives to chemical-based soaps. Thus, you can implement a sustainable lifestyle by decreasing the use of chemical soap and shifting to lerak soap.

In addition to using lerak soap, you can also carry out a sustainable lifestyle by becoming part of Indonesia Asri. As a Warga Asri, you can participate in fun programs and challenges, one of which is #SiPalingSustainable.

Challenges in #SiPalingSustainable can help you in implementing a sustainable lifestyle and creating a greener environment.

How is it? Are you ready to contribute to the environment? Register yourself now and become Warga Asri!