This article explains why this problem occurs and how to easily solve it.
LiLiKiWi is an edutainment care brand, created to help children become safely independent, thanks to certified organic products made with 100% natural ingredients. Our fun and practical cleansing foam is perfect for playful bath times where children enjoy creating foam beards.
Why does the pump get clogged?
Our cleansing foam contains only 5 natural ingredients, ensuring a gentle and safe formula, even if accidentally ingested (especially during bath time play). However, this extremely natural formula, without solubilizers, can lead to the formation of precipitates.
What forms does precipitation take, and where does it come from?
An HPLC-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) analysis revealed that the precipitates are mainly composed of glycerin, the washing base (Decyl glucoside), and strawberry flavor, which do not completely dissolve in water.
Why do this precipitation appear?
Compared to synthetic formulations, 100% natural formulas are less stable. In our foam, the natural flavor does not dissolve well in water, especially at temperatures below 20°C. These deposits generally form 4 to 5 months after manufacturing.
When do these deposits become a problem?
During the first use, the precipitation is too small to clog the pump filter. However, during refilling, the pump can directly draw in these deposits, which accumulate in the filter and make its use difficult.
Does precipitation affect product quality?
No, precipitation represents only 1% of the volume of a 250 ml refill pouch. Furthermore, our pouches are filled between 250 and 260 ml, which guarantees the correct amount of product. After filtration with a simple coffee filter, stability and microbiological quality tests show that everything remains compliant.
Why not use solubilizers?
Solubilizers, even natural ones, can cause eye irritation. To offer a gentle product suitable for children, we have chosen not to include them in our cleansing foam, to avoid any risk to the eyes.
How to prevent the pump from clogging?
We recommend filtering the refill using a coffee filter. This helps eliminate precipitates and prolong the life of the pump.
How to unclog a blocked pump?
If you use the pump without filtration and the pump is already clogged, here's how to unclog it:
1. Locate the filter under the pump and gently remove the precipitates.
2. Be careful not to lose the small internal ball, which is essential for the proper functioning of the foaming pump. It must remain in place to ensure abundant foam.
Our efforts to improve the formula
We understand that this can be frustrating. For three years, we have been working on improving our formulation to avoid these blockages, but we have not yet found a definitive solution.
An upcoming alternative?
We are considering creating a more stable cleansing gel version with a classic pump, which will avoid these clogging problems. However, there will be no foam and to recreate this playful aspect, the use of a shower pouf will be necessary.
What do you think? Your feedback interests us!