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Get dirty with soap! is an innovative way to add value and color to single use nonwoven textiles. The project explored the idea of printing a colored soap layer directly onto textile hygiene wipes, creating a smooth hand washing experience. The soap image gradually fades as the wipe foams, thus encouraging the user to wash their hands for a longer time.

As a continuation of the material exploration Get dirty with soap!, we experimented with using natural dyes as the colorant in our printing soap. The pine soap printing mixture was enhanced with a natural dye made from spruce bark.

The dye itself was made by extracting natural color out of spruce bark, using water and dissolvent extraction methods. Spruce bark extract is known for its antibacterial properties which makes it the perfect dye for cleaning wipes. 

Different shades were achieved by varying the intensity of the dye as well as the amount used in the mixture.

The soap was mixed with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), glycerine, and food colours and printed using a silkscreen. The natural ingredients in the product make the wipes safe and environmentally friendly.

Photography

Photos in the studio: Esa Kapila
Photos In the lab:  Mira Nittymäki