Frequently Asked Questions

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Common FAQs
Skipper Body
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Common FAQs

General

Where can I buy these products?

Skipper is currently available online only, in Australia and New Zealand via this very website you have found yourself on!

We also sell to the United States and United Kingdom via Amazon, however we are currently just selling Tirtyl (our brand before we became Skipper!) until we transition to Skipper on Amazon in early-mid 2024.

Select your country below to shop. 

I’m interested in reducing waste. What’s the best way to get started?

Kudos to you Skipper! The best way to start reducing your household waste is to take our Build Your Own Bundle quiz here. The quiz will ask you some super easy questions.

Where are your products manufactured?

This has been a huge journey for us. At present, our products are responsibly manufactured in Australia, China and France, using ingredients sourced all over the world. Here's the breakdown:

  • Hand Wash Tablets: Australia & China
  • Body Wash Tablets: Australia
  • Universal cleaner Tablets: Australia
  • Face Wash: Australia
  • Compostable Wrappers: Australia & China
  • Dishwasher Tablets: France
  • Laundry sheets: China
  • Toilet Blocks: China


When we started Skipper in 2020 (we were known as Tirtyl back then!), we wanted to manufacture all of our products in Australia. The capability didn't exist however and manufacturers didn't want to purchase equipment for a small business (we were too risky).

It has taken us over 2 years to establish our manufacturing base in New South Wales. We are now really excited to be producing Face Wash, Body Wash and universal cleaner, locally. We are migrating more of our manufacturing on-shore to Australia throughout 2024 and are fully committed to supporting the local manufacturing economy. Watch this space!

Why are Skipper products waterless?

A question we are often asked is “Why remove the water from the product only to add it back in later?”. Well, surface cleaners, liquid hand washes, liquid laundry detergents and other home and body products often contain up to 95% water, which makes them bulky and heavy, contributing to greater emissions during transit. This also means you're paying for the extra transport and excess packaging. Skipper’s lightweight refills minimise both the volume and weight of these products as much as 98%, to significantly reduce carbon emissions during transit, as well as reduce single-use plastic and packaging waste. On top of that, you can store a year’s worth of products in a small cupboard.

Where can I find the Safety Data Sheets for Skipper products?

The material safety data sheets (MSDS or SDS for short) for each of our products can be found through the links below.

  • Hand wash
  • Body wash
  • Face wash 
  • Laundry sheets
  • Universal cleaner
  • Dishwasher tablets
  • Toilet blocks

Are Skipper products pet-safe?

Skipper products are considered safe for people, planet, and pets. When used as directed, they are classified as non-hazardous. However, in concentrated form (tablets & sheets), they should be stored safely away from Children and Pets, and not ingested.

There has been some research regarding the of citrus oils on dogs & cats.

Orange essential oil has been used extensively in all species of animals and has GRAS (generally regarded as safe) status(1). Citrus oils are found in several top-selling pet shampoos. Some studies have found that the scent of orange essential oil helps to repel fleas and other pests. However, it should always be diluted and applied topically with caution.

On the other hand, orange oil contains d-limonene which at extremely high concentrations of 0.05% per kilogram of body weight (typically cat weight is about 5kg) has caused reactions in cats wheningested(2). When used as directed, our Universal Cleaner has 0.01% d-limonene and is obviously not designed to be ingested.

1. Melissa Shelton, DVM. The Animal Desk Reference, Second Edition. Essential Oils for Animals. 2018.
2. Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young. Second Edition, Essential Oil Safety. 2014.

Do Skipper products contain palm oil?

Palm oil is a complex environmental issue and we've made a point to provide as much detail on this as possible. In short, responsibly sourced palm oil is often a more sustainable option compared to other vegetable oils or petrochemicals.

We once proudly promoted our products as palm-oil-free, however following lengthy discussions with our raw materials suppliers and chemists, we realised it was impractical and potentially more unsustainable to avoid them. Let us explain.

We love that consumers try to avoid palm oil to decrease the rate of rainforest deforestation. But, we also believe there is a space for RSPO-certified palm oil.

Palm oil has the highest yield (litres per acre) so switching to other oils (like Olive Oil or Coconut) may cause more deforestation as those other plants will require more room to produce the same amount of oil as palm. For example, olive oil requires 5-10x the land and coconut oil requires 3-5x. Alternatively, we can source oil from hydrocarbons under the earth's surface, though that has obvious environmental risks too.

Oil yield is especially important given palm oil is found in roughly 50% of all packaged products on supermarket shelves including shampoos, baking oil, chocolate, cosmetics, chips, cookies, margarine and soaps. If palm oil is boycotted, global oil demand is not going to go down, and companies will need an alternative oil source, and this will result in more forest loss to plant these crops.

We believe RSPO Certified palm is a genuinely sustainable choice versus many alternatives, however, our raw material suppliers are still instructed to source coconut-derived alternatives when practical as it is generally a preferred choice from customers.

Are Skipper products grey water and septic safe?

All our products are grey water and septic-safe, with readily biodegradable ingredients.

It is always best practice to check against your manufacturer's guides as new systems and technologies may vary slightly. As with all septic systems, it is a balancing act and all septic manufacturers will recommend spacing your cleaning and washing days to not overload your system.

Are Skipper products cruelty-free and vegan?

Our core product range at Skipper is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

We now offer eco-friendly beeswax wraps, which are not vegan. The wraps are not part of our core product range and only optional for those seeking a sustainable alternative to single use plastic coverings.

What is the difference between a foaming pump dispenser and a regular pump dispenser?

Pumps that dispense foam work by mixing air with the soap creating foam. The neck size of the foam pump is much larger than a regular pump to allow room for the air chamber. The easiest way to know if you have a foam pump is to test it with a diluted solution of water and regular soap or detergent. If it foams, it’s a foam pump!

Can I recycle defective pumps?

Unfortunately, the national recycling system doesn’t support small and comingled items like soap pumps or spray triggers. The only way to recycle these in Australia is with Terracycle!

You can drop them off in-store at participating Terracycle pick-up locations such as certain David Jones or Sephora stores, or sign-up to Terracycle and collect a box of non-typical recyclables to send to Terracycle for free. Sign up to recycle pumps or triggers and print your free shipping label.

Shipping

How long will my parcel take to arrive?

We endeavour to pack and ship all your goodies within 1 business day of order confirmation. From there, we hand the reigns to Australia Post who typically take 3 to 5 business days but may take longer for regional shipments.

All orders will include a tracking number which will be sent to you upon confirming dispatch.

We do not offer express shipping as this network typically uses planes that emit a bit too much CO2 for us to sleep well at night.

Ingredients

What are the ingredients in Skipper products?

Our full ingredients list can be found here.

Ingredients are also listed on individual product pages in the ingredients tab.

Do Skipper products have expiry dates?

We recommend using your skipper products within 12 months, and for tablets that have been dissolved, we recommend using them within 3 months.

Impact

How is Skipper tackling the war on waste?

Skipper is an environmental enterprise. This means contrary to traditional companies, we prioritise our impact over our profits.

In our past life, when we were known as Tirtyl, our community helped prevent the consumption of over 3 million plastic bottles by adopting tablet alternatives.

In doing so, we made donations to Plastic Bank to collect over 102,000kg of ocean-bound plastic waste - the equivalent of over 5.5 million plastic bottles in our first two years.

Now, as Skipper, we are shifting focus from plastic collection to prevention to make lasting change by tackling the root cause of the issue.

We could collect billions of bottles, but we know there’s more plastic being dumped than what can be collected, and it’s increasing.

This prevention includes funding closed-loop waste infrastructure in developing communities and advocating for policy change within influential government & corporate bodies.

Check out our ‘Force for Good’ video on our impact program here.

How does Skipper calculate CO2 offset requirements?

We use the life cycle assessment (LCA), cradle-to-grave methodology to calculate the CO2 demand from all elements of our products. Read more about our methodology here.

This includes:

  • Raw Material Extraction.
  • Manufacturing & Processing.
  • Transportation.
  • Usage & Retail.
  • Waste Disposal.


After taking into account the deduction through our renewable power usage, we offset any remaining CO2 emissions through Greenfleet Australia.

Packaging

Where is your packaging sourced from and what is it made from?
  • Box Packaging: FSC Certified Pulp and water-based inks
  • Bottles: Glass or partially recycled HDPE plastic 
  • Foaming Pump: Multiple plastics and a metal spring. Recyclable with Terracycle
  • Storage Tin: Tinplate, partially recycled
  • Tablet Wrapper: Kraft paper, PLA lining, and compostable metalized adhesives.


Wrappers for the body wash, face wash, and universal cleaner are home compostable. Wrappers for the hand wash tablets are industrially compostable.

What if I don’t have a compost bin for my tablet wrappers?

Different countries have different systems.

In Australia and the United States, you can place your wrappers in the general waste (landfill) bin. Contrary to plastic which will not degrade for 80-150 years, these compostable wrappers will degrade in 3-24 months depending on the temperature. Whilst the wrapper is technically recyclable, it’s considered too small to be economically recycled at this point in time.

In France, it’s recommended to place the wrappers in your recycling bin.

Can Skipper packaging go in FOGO bins?

A FOGO bin enables you to commercially compost, many councils are now offering home collection services. However, what you are allowed to put in them will vary from council to council.

Don’t “wish cycle”! You may be keen to fill up your green bin or FOGO bin to contribute to the composting of organic waste. But even small amounts of contaminating material such as plastic or metal can lead to the whole load being rejected by the composting facility and ending up in landfill. Follow your local council's guide on what can and can’t go in the bin. When in doubt, put it in the rubbish bin or recycling.

Cardboard packaging is still advised to be recycled in the traditional yellow recycling bin.

Are your packaging and tablet wrappers Worm farm safe?

Yes, in moderation. All our packaging (and inks) are compostable but not very nutritional. Don’t overload the worm farm with too much material, and be sure to tear wrappers and packaging into smaller pieces.

Skipper Body

Hand Wash

How do I use Skipper’s Hand Wash?

Check out our how-to video here:

Can I buy foaming hand soap tablets without the dispenser?

If you already have a foaming hand soap dispenser, we encourage you to re-use it! Just make sure it is in fact a foaming dispenser as a regular soap dispenser will not work.

Click here to shop our cost-effective refill packs.

Is Skipper's hand wash antibacterial?

Our foaming hand soap is not antibacterial and for good reason. The FDA has advised that consumers avoid antibacterial soaps. Check out our blog on the issue.

Our hand soaps include effective surfactants to wash away germs, leaving your hands both clean and moisturised.

Is Skipper’s hand wash hypoallergenic?

Our hand soaps have tested to be generally safe for people with sensitive skin including eczema, in particular our fragrance-free hand soap.

In rare instances where skin irritation occurs, we advise you to stop using the product. If you are known to have severe reactions to hand wash, we recommend exercising caution when trying new hand washes including ours.

For more information, refer to our full ingredients list here. 

Is my tap water suitable for tablets?

The research & development team performed extensive tests using a variety of tap water from the United States & Australia and found no issues. However, if you use bore water or do not trust your tap water, we recommend using your regular drinking water or boiling the tap water for 2 minutes, letting it cool slightly, and then dissolving your tablet.

How long does a hand soap tablet last?

1 tablet lasts the average household 4 weeks with frequent use.

Each tablet creates 250ml of foaming hand soap and delivers up to 150 hand washes per tablet. 

Does your hand wash contain any known allergens?

Coconut: Our hand wash contains coconut derivatives and is therefore considered non-COC. Our hand soaps include the ingredient Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate (a surfactant that cleanses skin) which is derived from coconuts.

Aloe Vera: Our hand wash includes a small amount of powdered Aloe Vera. While the benefits of Aloe Vera are well documented, a very small amount of people may have contact allergies with aloe. 

Is Skipper Hand Soap "soap-free"?

Yes! Skipper tablets, perhaps surprisingly, are best classified as “soap-free”. Our R&D team tested a huge variety of formulations and found pure soap formulations triggered more reactions to sensitive skin, and left many hands feeling dry. For this reason, we picked ingredients that are classified as soap-free, leaving your hands feeling moisturised rather than dry.

Body Wash

How do I use Skipper’s Body Wash?

Check out our how-to video here:

Is the Skipper Body Wash suitable for sensitive or dry skin?

Our body wash has been formulated with sensitive skin in mind, however, if you experience severe reactions to regular body wash, we would recommend exercising usual caution.

Is the Skipper Body Wash "soap-free"?

Yes! Skipper Tablets, perhaps surprisingly, are best classified as “soap-free”. Our R&D team tested a huge variety of formulations and found pure soap formulations triggered more reactions to sensitive skin, and left skin feeling dry. For this reason, we picked ingredients that are classified as soap-free, leaving your hands and body feeling moisturised rather than dry.

How many pumps should I be using per wash?

The average adult will use 6-8 pumps per wash. Whilst this is more than a traditional gel, each pump is mixed with air to produce foam, and therefore each pump uses less liquid per pump. Furthermore, the per unit cost of our 500ml foaming body wash is far less than a comparable quality gel soap.

Face Wash

How do I use Skipper’s face wash? 

Check out our how-to video here:

Is the Skipper face wash suitable for all skin types?

Yes! Skipper’s face wash Works a charm with all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Does the face wash remove makeup?

It will remove light makeup. For heavier makeup, we suggest pairing the face wash with a reusable makeup remover pad.

How long will one face wash tablet last?

With daily use, it should last around 1-2 months.

Skipper Home

Laundry Sheets

How do I use Skipper’s laundry sheets?

Check out our how-to video here:

Are laundry sheets safe on colours?

Skipper laundry sheets are a replacement for your old-fashioned detergents and should not cause damage or fade your coloured clothes. They do not contain chlorine or liquid non-chlorine bleach. However, we always recommend that you check your clothing label and washing instructions to be certain our Laundry Detergent Sheets will work for you.

Can I use Skipper laundry sheets for silk and delicates?

Remember to always reference the label of your clothing, however, we do recommend that you hand wash wool, silk and delicates. Dissolve half a sheet in water before adding the garment.

Can I use Skipper laundry sheets for wool?

Our laundry sheets are not suitable for your woollies! They contain enzymes that may damage the proteins in the wool. We recommend using a very mild soap or detergent.

What is the best way to store my laundry sheets?

Skipper laundry sheets are best stored in the tin provided in your Laundry Sheet Kit. If you’re taking a few sheets travelling and don’t want to bring the tin, ensure they are kept in an airtight container. Keep them in a cool, dry environment; humidity can cause them to stick together. 

Are the laundry sheets safe for sensitive skin?

We've formulated the product with sensitive skin in mind. However, everyone is unique so as with all allergies and sensitivities, we recommend consulting with a professional and spot-testing before any use. We encourage those with sensitive skin to opt for our unscented laundry sheets.

Are Skipper laundry sheets compatible with all machines?

We have formulated our sheets to have a low concentration of suds so they work effectively in all machines, including high-efficiency (HE) washing machines and front-loaders. Contrary to what the large multinational companies may want you to believe, the amount of suds does not correlate with effectiveness.

Universal Cleaner

How do I use Skipper’s universal cleaner?

Check out our how-to video here:

How long will one bottle of universal cleaner last?

This all depends on how much you like to clean! For an average household of 4 people, one bottle of universal cleaner should last 1 - 2 months.

Is universal cleaner a disinfectant?

Universal cleaner is a surface cleaner, not a disinfectant. This means it can be used to effectively wipe dirt and bacteria from your surfaces, but it won't kill bacteria on contact. For this reason, we recommend washing your Tirtyl Towels with hot water after each use.

What surfaces can I use universal cleaner on?

Universal cleaner is effective across almost all of your hard household surfaces, including wood, laminates, tiles, stone, stainless steel and more. It can also be used on glass, but be aware that it might leave some light streaks, which can be removed with a Skipper towel or microfibre cloth. For removing limescale, we recommend using vinegar.

Are there any surfaces I can't use universal cleaner on?

As with professional commercial formulas, it's an alkaline-based cleaner which means it can be used pretty much anywhere. Be careful and do spot-testing with some aluminium surfaces (not to be confused with stainless steel where it works a treat).

While we have tested on marble without issues, we don't recommend using this product for marble as it's just not worth the risk of damaging an expensive benchtop. If you do decide to give it a go, we recommend spot testing.

Can I use universal cleaner in a spray mop?

Yes you can! Just fill your spray mop bottle with universal cleaner solution (diluted with half water). Alternatively, you can spray the product directly onto the ground.

Dishwasher Tablets

Do I remove the wrapper from the Dishwashing Tablets?

No, keep the wrappers on your Dishwashing Tablets! They are bio-degradable and will dissolve when you turn on the cycle. The dish tabs wrapper is made of PVA (sometimes called PVOH). If you’re interested in learning more about the biodegradability of PVA you can check out this study here.

Do I need to add rinse-aid?

This depends on your water hardness. The simple definition of water hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water. Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, largely calcium and magnesium. If your glassware is looking a little cloudy or your machine has white marks inside, chances are you have “hard” water. While there are many rinse aids on the market, we advise using regular vinegar as the most cost-effective option.

Why don’t you sell dishwashing sheets?

Dishwashing sheets do not reach our quality standards and choice voted them no better than using plain water.

Toilet Blocks

How do the toilet blocks work?

Carefully lift the lid on your cistern and drop the toilet block on the opposite side of the inlet. When you flush the toilet, it will flush light foamy blue and will help keep your toilet fresh and clean for up to 3 weeks. You’ll still need to occasionally scrub the bowl with a toilet brush, but less often.

What do I do with the wrapper? Is it biodegradable?

Yes it is! Please leave the wrapper on as it is 100% biodegradable and not intended to be removed.

My toilet does not have a cistern… where do I put the toilet block?

Some modern builds have the cistern built into the wall, but you can still access it! You need to remove the cover plate on the wall and drop the block into the reservoir of water. Watch this video here, showing how to access your cistern.

How long does the toilet block last?

The toilet block will dissolve in the cistern slowly for around 3 weeks, depending on toilet usage, water temperature and toilet design. Once fully dissolved you can replace it with another block.

Does the toilet block contain bleach or chlorine?

Skipper toilet blocks do not contain any bleach, chlorine or optical whiteners. For the full list of ingredients see here.

Does the blue colour stain my toilet?

We’ve added a small amount of blue colour but it will not stain your toilet. It’s there to subtly mask any stains for guests and to act as a visual queue for when to replace your block. When there is no colour remaining, it’s time to refill.

Are the toilet blocks septic safe?

All our products are grey water and septic safe, with readily biodegradable ingredients, but it is always best practice to check against your manufacturer's guides as new systems and technologies may vary slightly. As with all septic systems, it is a balancing act, and all septic manufacturers will recommend spacing your cleaning and washing days to not overload your system.

This includes our toilet blocks, they have no bleach or chlorine, and the surfactants are readily biodegradable. The chemist who formulated them is actually on a septic system.

Microfibre Cloths

What material is the Skipper Towel made of?

The Skipper towels are made of recycled polyester and polyamide (nylon). We’ve explored a range of material options (bamboo, cotton, hemp) but microfibre performs so much better. With this in mind, we developed a towel using recycled polyester (from clothing and plastic bottles).

What surfaces can I use my Skipper Towel on?

The Skipper towels are perfect for windows, glass and benches… and any hard surface really!

How do I wash my Skipper Towel?

They are machine washable on low heat to reuse over and over again (we encourage the use of a guppy friend bag or laundry filter to catch any fibres). Darker colours can bleed so be sure not to mix them up with your whites. Do not use bleach as it can break down the fibres and make them fragile and less absorbent. High heat (from dryers or boiling water) can melt the fibers lessening the cleaning ability and making them rough.

How do I dispose of my Skipper Towel?

Unfortunately, most plastics (except HDPE) cannot be recycled more than 2 or 3 times. The towels already contain recycled polyester so they cannot be recycled again. At present, there are no recyclers in Australia taking microfiber garments and cloths.

Dish Cloths

What material is the Skipper Cloth made of?

The Skipper cloth is 100% plant-based and made from plant cellulose and cotton.

What surfaces can I use my Skipper Cloth on?

You can use your Skipper Cloth on almost any smooth surface in your home (including your dishes!) but be aware they may leave light streaks on glass. We recommend using the Skipper Microfibre Towel for glass. Using them on grout or rough surfaces may cause damage to the cloth.

Is the Skipper Cloth reusable?

You can use them over and over! In fact, 1 Skipper cloth is the equivalent of 15 rolls of paper towel. Simply wash and reuse.

To clean, simply rinse your Skipper Cloth with hot water after every use and dry over tap or normal drying spot. When it starts to get dirty, chuck it in the washing machine or dishwasher to refresh.

How do I dispose of my Skipper Cloth?

When your Skipper Cloth has seen better days, add it to your home compost or to you general rubbish where it will biodegrade. Don't put it in the recycling bin!