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february smol talk

Winter sun, longer days, spring cleaning... what are you most looking forward to this February?
With Spring just around the corner we thought it'd be the perfect time for a bit of smol talk.   
     
    
smol products
       
What’s the best detergent for stain removal? What’s the best detergent for sensitive skin? What’s the best way to clean baby clothes? We’re here to answer the big question…what on earth is the difference between bio and non-bio detergents? And which is best for me?
   
Bio laundry detergent contains enzymes that help to break down common stains, such as food, sweat, grass and grease. Bio detergent is best used in mid to low temperature washes (30 degrees is perfect!) as anything hotter can denature the enzymes, causing them to not work as effectively.
Washing at lower temperatures also reduces energy consumption... and household bills.
   
Non-bio laundry detergent, on the other hand, does not contain these enzymes so can be more suitable for those with sensitive skin. Non-bio detergent contains surfactants, so it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean and smelling fresh.
   
Non-bio detergents are really popular in the UK, and tend to be the best choice of laundry detergent for those with young children or sensitive skin, as it is still effective at killing germs and bacteria whilst remaining super gentle and delicate.
   
Our smol non-bio has been dermatologically tested and is great for sensitive skin. We have lots of customers with skin sensitivities such as eczema and psoriasis all happily using our non-bio. Many of these customers have even reported improvements to their skin following the swap to smol. We've also recently released a fragrance-free non-bio laundry capsule for those of you specifically sensitive to fragrance (or maybe you just prefer scent-free laundry!).
   
So which option is best for you? Luckily, at smol we offer free trials on both bio and non-bio laundry capsules, so you can try before you buy. Click here to order your free trials now.
   
laundry fluff
   
   
We're over the moon to hear that Matter has received their 'biggest fluff delivery yet' from one of our amazing smol customers. All your lint (tumble dryer fluff) donations are making a difference... no matter how big or smol.

"Our ambition is to create a world with no waste, where today’s waste products are tomorrow’s raw materials. The lint you send us will be part of a microfibre research project we are doing to investigate how we can create a circular economy from waste materials." @hq_matter 

The lint from your tumble dryer is almost completely made up of microplastics shed from clothes and since the majority of microplastics polluting our oceans come from washing our clothes. The work happening at Matter could have a hugely positive impact on the environment and with the results of their first round of research being announced in November, it's a super exciting time and they need all the fluff they can get. Visit their website for more information.

If you have some spare tumble dryer fluff lying around at home it's not too late... just pop it into an envelope (or an old smol box) and post it to their new address:

Love your Lint,
PO Box 3503,
Bristol
BS2 2FP

Note! Tumble dryers are huge generators of carbon in the home and so of course we recommend that you avoid using one whenever possible. However, if this winter sees you really needing a dryer then posting lint to Matter supports a really innovative cause.
smol peeps

"It just makes you feel good when you get up for work in the mornings knowing you can help
make a difference." 

   

Suzie, smol social media.
   
The smol spotlight's on... the lovely Suzie from our social media team. Suzie has been helping customers over social media for over two years now, so we imagine quite a few of you will have chatted to her personally. Her kind, fun and bubbly attitude at work never fails to put a smile on people's faces. We had a few questions for her...
   
1) What's your favourite smol product?
My favourite product has to be the fragrance-free capsules. I have a condition called MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) which means I have various allergic reactions... sometimes even anaphylactic. smol fragrance-free capsules have been the best product by far that I have ever used - not one reaction or rash. It's amazing to use something that I can trust and actually leaves all my clothes and bedding super soft and feeling like new. Love it!
   
2) What's your favourite bit about working at smol?
I love the people, the ethos and the fact that as a company the main focus is trying to make our world a better place for our children in the future. Everyone is super passionate and driven to find new ways and solutions. It just makes you feel good when you get up for work in the mornings knowing you can help make a difference.
   
3) What's your favourite tip for being more eco-friendly at home?
Through smol and our customers we can discover so many new tips, but my favourite so far has to be that you can dip a damp cloth into ash to clean the glass on a wood burner! Works every time.
   
4) What's your favourite type of weekend?
I live in Cornwall and I also love photography (particularly wildlife photography) so getting up and being by the coast with my camera (whatever the weather!) is pretty magical. Winter is the best because you get some incredible stormy seas and can catch some awesome wildlife as it's much quieter. Also the sunrise and sunsets are phenomenal.
household products you can recycle
   
We can't be the only ones who find recycling confusing at times? With so many different symbols on packaging these days it's sometimes difficult to be sure of exactly what you can and can't recycle. So here's a handy list of the top five household items people think can't be recycled BUT in fact CAN be:
   
no.1: used kitchen foil and foil trays.
Foil is widely recycled in the UK, which means that over 75% of people have access to these facilities. All you need to do is make sure to rinse off any food residue, scrunch it up into a ball and pop it into your recycling pile. The bigger the ball, the easier it will be to recycle.
    
no.2: empty aerosol cans
Aerosol cans are widely recycled as long as you make sure they are completely empty. You can also recycle the cap separately.
   
no.3: jar lids
As long as the lid is made from metal then it can now be recycled. It's important to remember to recycle the lid separately from the glass jar as they will be sorted mechanically. And as always... rinse, rinse, rinse!
   
no.4: bleach bottles
Although these are made from plastic, lots of people still think bleach bottles can't be recycled due to the harsh chemicals inside. It's a myth which needs to be busted. Bleach bottles are widely recycled, so go for it.
   
no.5: aluminium tubes

Products like tomato puree often come in squeezy aluminium tubes which are also widely recycled. Just make sure to completely empty the tube before recycling and recycle the cap separately.

   

If you're ever unsure of what to recycle just visit your local council's website for more information. Many have a handy tool which allows you to search for different items to see where/how to recycle them. 

smol circle
  
Fancy joining our new smol circle? It's the perfect way to tell us what you want from smol and even test out new products.
   
We'd love your lowdown on all things cleaning, shopping and eco-living. Sharing your opinions will be quick and easy, we'll send you a super short smol poll every 2-3 months. No-one knows more than our brilliant smol customers and we're determined to learn from you all. 
   
  
We've been absolutely thrilled with the response to our brand new plastic-free, home-compostable cloths and sponges. If you haven't checked them out already, please click here and login to find out more.
   
And that's all for now... make sure to keep an eye out for us again in April.
   
Any questions or feedback?
Get in touch via email or social media, as always, we love hearing from you.
   
   
   
   
   
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