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Bio-enzymes – Making Sustainable Cleaners From Food Waste

Bio-enzymes or eco-enzymes are the product of 60-90 day fermentation of organic waste. The organic waste could be fruit and vegetable peels or spoiled whole fruits and vegetables.

Bio-enzyme uses

Bio-enzymes are the safer alternative to harsh chemicals we use daily in our households. They are safe for animals and the environment. You can use them in following ways:

Cleaning

  1. Surface cleaners – for mopping, cleaning shelves, tables, etc.
  2. Laundry detergent by adding soapnut.
  3. Dishwashers.
  4. Bathing, hand washing and hair washing.  

Fertilizer and bio-pesticide

Bio-enzymes are natural fertilizers and keep pests away. To use as a fertilizer, dilute 1 part of bio-enzyme with 100 parts water and irrigate the soil.

Worth noting:

The pH of bioenzyme is roughly 3.5. This may vary slightly depending on how you made the bioenzyme. 

It should be diluted with water according to the need. Always do a patch test before you use the newly made bioenzyme on your skin.

How to make bioenzyme

Ingredients

  • 1 part of Jaggery
  • 3 parts of fruit or vegetable or organic waste (preferably citrus)
  • 10 parts of water
  • Air tight container (plastic or glass)

Procedure

Mix the ingredients in ratio 1:3:10. Keep the container away from sunlight.

Make sure to shut the container tightly because bioenzyme is prepared in an anaerobic process. Also there should be some empty space left in your container to leave some space for gases to accumulate.

For the first two weeks, you will need to open the lid of the container briefly once a day to let the gases escape.

From the third week, lesser gases will be produced. But you may still have to open the lid briefly every second day or so.

After 30 days, you will need to open the lid only once in 15 days.

Depending on temperature conditions, the bioenzyme will be prepared in 60 to 90 days.

The liquid bioenzyme will be on the top and the residual solid will collect at the bottom. Strain to collect the bioenzyme.

You can reuse the residual solid for making bioenzyme again or use it in your garden as fertilizer.

How does bio-enzyme work?

Bioenzyme is a chemical free mixture of beneficial microbes.These microbes produce enzymes that are good at breaking down complex organic molecules, and thus are helpful in removing dirt and oil.

In addition to their use in household cleaning, they can even solve our big problems like sewage treatment and river water purification.

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