One fine morning, Bengaluru’s Bellandur lake spewed poison in the form of loads of smelly, white, carcinogenic foam on the roads. What caused it? Most of it was due to toxic home cleaners. You can stop a ‘Bellandur’ from happening! How? By using a bio enzyme.
Read Why Bengalureans Starting Using Bio Enzymes All Of A Sudden.
What Is A Bio Enzyme?
It is an organic solution that acts as a natural cleaner and disinfectant.
It is formed by the fermentation of jaggery, citrus fruit peels, and water. A bio enzyme consists of good Bacillus (bacteria) that help in digesting molecules of stains, wastes, and malodors, finally converting them to water and carbon dioxide.
Why Should You Use Bio Enzyme?
A bio enzyme is an excellent replacement for carcinogenic commercial disinfectants which contain hazardous chemicals like ammonia, chlorine, nitrates, etc. and cause long-term damage to your skin, lungs, as well as the environment.
Ingredients For A Citrus Bio Enzyme
- Citrus fruit (orange, lemon, etc.) peels
- Jaggery
- Yeast
- Water
Process Of Making Citrus Bio Enzyme
- Take 1:3:10 ratio of jaggery: citrus peels: water. You can use wet or dry peels as per convenience
- Add all these ingredients to a plastic container with either a lid or screw caps. Gases including carbon dioxide release during the process and the container might expand hence a plastic container is ideal instead of metal or glass ones.
- Add 1 tbsp. yeast to the mixture to speed up the process
- Avoid filling the bottle to the brim Since the gases released might cause the container to explode
- Do not screw the caps too tight since the container might explode due to the gases
- Keep the solution covered to keep off flies and pests
- Open the screw caps once a day to release the gases
- Let the solution be fermented in anaerobic conditions
It takes around a month for the bio enzyme to prepare. Once prepared, drain the liquid and store it in a plastic container (preferably a reusable one if possible). If you wish to do it without yeast then the process might take up to 90 days. Also, the residue left after straining can be reused for the preparation of another batch of bio enzyme which will help accelerate the process to 30 days.
Misconceptions
Questions have been raised over the efficacy of bio enzymes, but this elixir has had good word of mouth and is being adopted by aware and responsible citizens. You can also be one!
What Are The Uses Of Bio Enzyme?
The uses are as follows-
- Pet cleaner
- Shampoo and body wash (advised to be used only after patch testing)
- Pest and rodent repellent
- Fruit and vegetable cleanser
- Laundry softener and stain remover
- Utensil limescale remover
What Are The Benefits Of A Bio Enzyme?
- Inexpensive
- Encourages zero-waste and sustainable lifestyle
- A good alternative for chemical disinfectants
How To Be Cautious?
Bio enzymes are usually harmless but might not suit everyone. It is advisable to wash your hands and eyes thoroughly after coming in contact, and seek medical help in case of rashes, irritation, or other symptoms.
Do prepare a citrus bio enzyme, document the process, and tag Gardenchee on Facebook and Instagram. Hope to see your beautiful entries soon.