On Jul 29, 1:13 pm, "Scout" wrote:
Any suggestions for river-and-bay-friendly dish washing or showering soaps?

Good question and a responsible attitude.
There are alot of misconceptions about biodegradable soaps. People
with good intentions who are using biodegradable camp soap think that
it is good for the environment.

All soaps, unfortunately even biodegradable ones, can contaminate the
water.
Using a biodegradable soap doesn't reduce its immediate environmental
impact... it just means that the soap will biodegrade in time.

What does biodegradable mean? Well by definition it means capable of
being decomposed by biological agents like bacteria. Materials are
usually deemed biodegradable if they break down to at least 90% H2O,
CO2 and biomass within 6 months, although some materials may take
years to biodegrade. Keep in mind that biodegradability doesn't
necessarily mean environmentally friendly.

Biodegradable "camp soap" like what you can buy at Walmart? it is not
easily biodegrable in the water because biodegredation requires soil.

The best you can really do is to be sure that your soaps and
detergents contain no phosphates.