Why Washing Dishes by Hand May Lead to Fewer Allergies

Households worldwide now have extra incentive for getting family members to do the dishes: It could prevent the development of allergies. A new and preliminary study, published in the journalPediatrics, adds to an increasing body of evidence that suggests getting a little dirty does the immune system some good. That thinking is known as the “hygiene hypothesis,” which speculates that the reason kids develop so many allergies today is because their environments are just too clean. Without exposure to bacteria early in life, children’s immune systems don’t become as hardy as they could be. Research over the years has linked a variety of early lifestyle factors, like having pets, eating fish, and living on a farm to a significantly lower risk of developing allergies. Now this new study suggests that hand washing dishes might be the next behavior to add to the list. “If you are exposed to microbes, especially early in life, you stimulate the immune system in various ways and it becomes tolerant,” says study author Dr. Bill Hesselmar of Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. “We thought [hand washing dishes] might be important, but we didn’t know, so we asked that question.” Hesselmar and his team surveyed the parents and guardians of 1,029 Swedish children ages 7 to 8. They discovered that children in homes where the family hand-washed the dishes instead of using a machine were less likely to have allergies. Only 23% of children whose parents used hand dishwashing had a history of eczema, compared with 38% of kids whose families mainly used machine dishwashing. The researchers also found that the result was amplified when kids ate fermented food or food bought directly from farms. Though the study is only observational and can’t confirm causality, Hesselmar and his team have a few speculations. It’s not necessarily that the kids are washing the dishes themselves and becoming exposed to bacteria. That might be one form of exposure, but as Hesselmar notes, some of the kids might be too young for that chore. Instead, it could be that long-term use of hand-washed dishes does the trick. Prior research comparing the cleanliness of dishes washed by hand to those washed by machine has shown that machine washing is more efficient and leaves fewer bacteria behind. Living in a household that hand-washes means family members are eating off of plates and cutlery that have more bacteria, and therefore more microbial exposure. Families who hand-wash may also have other lifestyle factors that contribute to a lower allergy risk. The researchers note that overcrowded housing, low socioeconomic status and immigration status can also be linked to fewer allergies, as well as possibly different modes of dish washing.

“The study was really well done and caveated well, while simultaneously suggesting new areas of research and interesting models,” says Jonathan A. Eisen, a professor at the University of California at Davis. Eisen, who was not involved in the study, is an expert on exposure to microbial communities.

The study still leaves a few questions unanswered, like why hand washing was only associated with a lower likelihood of eczema and not other allergy-related symptoms like asthma, or why the effect was so significant even though dish washing requires the use of soaps, possibly even antibacterial products. Hesselmar says they are asking the same questions and hope to continue looking into the link.

Read next: This ‘Peanut Patch’ Could Protect Against Peanut Allergies

This story originally appeared on Time.com.

Why Washing Dishes by Hand May Lead to Fewer Allergies

Soap Nuts: Washing Clothes Organically

Soap Nuts: Washing Clothes Organically

Technically a berry, soap nuts received their name because of their nut like appearances.  Native to India and Nepal soap nuts have been brought all over the globe and can be commonly found in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  Also known as “soapberry”, soap nuts contain a natural cleaning agent Saponin.  Saponin releases from the soap nuts creating natural surfactant foam which dissolves in water and removes both dirt and odors.  It is often mistaken that the entire soap nut is used for cleaning purposes but in fact it is actually the shell of the soap nut that contains Saponin and not the seed.

Soap nuts are collected organically from trees that typically contain no pesticides or other chemicals.  For resale purposes soap nuts are dried and de-seeded for the convenience of the user.  However, soap nuts can be collected naturally if nearby.  Soap nuts contain natural anti-bacterial properties, anti-fungal properties and anti-microbial properties and are completely safe to use with individuals who have a nut allergy as soap nuts are not technically a nut.

 

Alternative to Chemical Cleaners

For individuals who have sensitive skin soap nuts make a great alternative to mainstream chemical cleaners.  Many detergents and fabric softeners often contain chemicals that can be the cause for itchiness and even rashes on the skin especially if not thoroughly washed from the laundry.  Soap nuts have been around for centuries and are commonly used amongst environmentally friendly individuals and cultures.  Fortunately soap nuts are becoming increasingly popular amongst prepper and survival groups as well as organically minded groups and even economically minded groups.

Soap nuts are simple and extremely easy to use while washing clothes organically.  Begin by collecting five to six soap nuts and place them in a tied wash friendly bag.  Typically a small wash friendly bag can be found at any local natural and organically friendly store.  Let the soap nuts wash with the rest of the laundry through the entire wash cycle than take the bag out and let dry.  The Saponins will release throughout the wash cycles removing dirt and grime and eliminating odors.  The soap nuts in the wash bag can be used for up to 10 laundry loads saving much money on laundry detergent.

 

Other Uses for Soap Nuts

There are many common uses for soap nuts such as household cleaners that can be made from a soap nut liquid concentrate.  Since soap nuts have natural cleaning agents in the Saponins this makes soap nuts a great tool to be used in every part of the household.  A liquid concentrate derived from soap nuts is safe to use to clean food and even clean rooms such as the bathroom specifically toilets and even floors.  Soap nuts are great as a cleaning solution that they can fight against yeast, black mold, salmonella, staph and even E. Coli.

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Premium quality, safe, non-toxic, laundry soap! –Naturoli

Soap Nuts: Washing Clothes Organically