Linseed soap or pine oil soap – how to choose the right natural cleaning product

Natural soaps have have been used in hundreds years for cleaning and wood care. Today is common types linseed oil soap, tall oil soap and Soapa. But what is actually the difference and which should you choose for cleaning, patios, decking and wooden surfaces?

Here go we through how they works, what as differs them for and why overfatted rapeseed oil soap from Soapa in in practice works equally sif linseed oil soap but with a lower carbon footprint.

What is linseed oil soap?

Linseed soap manufactured through saponification of linseed oil, a vegetable oil from flaxseed. The result becomes a natural soap as traditionally is used to:

- wooden floors

- patios

- furniture in wood

- general cleaning

A important property with linseed oil soap is that it often is superfatted. It means that a little of the oil is left left in the soap after production. It makes that the soap:

- cleans effectively

- replenishes oils and protects wood

- gives a soft and natural surface

It is therefore linseed oil soap for a long time been popular for wooden surfaces.

What is tall oil soap?

Tall oil soap is made instead of tall oil, a by-product from paperthe pulp industry in the sulfate process (kraft process) when softwood, especially pine, is cooked to produce paper pulp. 

The tall oil separated from process and can then distilled and then is saponified to soap.

The here type of soap:

- dissolves dirt effectively

- is used often in industrial or simpler cleaning products

- lacks often replenishing properties

The decisive the difference is that tall oil soap normally not is superfatted. It means that it cleans well but not replenishes oils wooden surfaces on same way. For for example patios and wooden surfaces can therefore overfatted soap be a better choice.

What means overfatted soap?

When you speaks if overfatted soap means you that the manufacturer deliberately leaves left a little oil in the final product.

It provides two important properties: 

- dirt dissolves up effectively

- the surface get back a small amount natural oil

For wood means the that the material:

- are cleaned

- not - dry out

- get a natural protection

It is therefore overfatted soap for a long time have been used to floors, patios and wooden paneling.

Soapa works as linseed oil soap

The soaps from Soapa is based on rapeseed oil and is superfatted, exactly as traditional linseed soap.

In in practice means the that they works on same way:

- cleans effectively

- replenishes oils wood

- leaves a protective surface

- is suitable for patios, floors and wood

The difference is located in the raw material. Instead for linseed oil is used Swedish rapeseed oil, which provides several advantages.

Lower carbon footprint

Rapeseed is grown in large scale in Sweden and northern Europe. It means: 

- shorter transport

- local raw material

- effective cultivation

Compared with linseed oil can rapeseed oil therefore have a lower CO2-footprint dependent on production and transport. When the soap also manufactured locally in Vilhelmina in Västerbotten from recycled and purified reduces the carbon footprint significantly.

The result becomes a natural soap such as: 

- works as linseed oil soap

- is overfatted

- has a lower carbon footprint

Summary – which should you choose?

Linseed soap

- overfatted

- good for wooden surfaces

- classic natural soap

Tall oil soap

- effective cleaning

- normally not overfatted

- replenishes oils not wood

Soapa (rapeseed oil soap)

- overfatted

- works as linseed oil soap on wood

- made of rapeseed oil

- lower CO2-footprint

Conclusion

When you choose a natural soap is it most important the question not only which oil it comes from without if it is overfatted or not.

For wooden surfaces as floors, patios and furniture is overfatted soap often the best the choice because it both cleans and cares for the material.

Soaps based on rapeseed oil, as Soapa, provides same function as linseed oil soap but can while offer a more climate-friendly alternative.

It makes that you can get effective cleaning, natural wood care and lower environmental impact in same product.

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Questions and answers

 

1. What is the difference between linseed oil soap, pine oil soap, and Soapa?
The main difference is the raw material and whether the soap is overfatted. Linseed oil soap and Soapa are overfatted and are therefore well suited for wooden surfaces, while pine oil soap is usually not overfatted and is mainly used for effective cleaning.

2. Why is overfatted soap best for wooden surfaces?
Overfatted soap cleans while leaving behind a small amount of natural fatty acids that help care for the wood. This prevents the wood from drying out and gives it a naturally protective surface.

3. Does Soapa work in the same way as linseed oil soap?
Yes, Soapa is an overfatted rapeseed oil soap that cleans and replenishes the wood’s oils in the same way as traditional linseed oil soap. It is suitable for, among other things, wooden floors, patios, decking, and wooden furniture.

4. Why can Soapa be a more climate-friendly alternative?
Soapa is made from rapeseed oil and produced locally in Vilhelmina. Local production and the use of rapeseed oil can result in a lower carbon footprint compared with soaps made from other raw materials, while offering the same gentle care for wood.