There is a lot of overlap here with the Castile Soap Dilutions Cheat Sheet because the products can often be interchanged. It is largely a matter of personal preference, but the Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner is more clean-rinsing in hard water situations, and is slightly more effective on grease and tough stains. As with the Castile soaps, these recommended dilutions are not set in stone. You may have dirtier stuff, larger sinks, a larger washer, etc., and may need to tweak these amounts to your own situation.
Sal Suds, Sal Suds, how do I love thee?
I use it for…
Clothes, towels & sheets
Halloween costumes
Tile & bamboo floors
Carpet
Granite, quartz, marble, tile
Painted walls & shelves
Plastic trash cans
Makeup brushes
Dishes
Lunchboxes
Stainless steel water bottles
Brita water filter pitcher
Plastic cooler
Exterior of small kitchen appliances
Stainless steel appliances
China
Glass vases
Pottery
Cork trivets
Rubber oven mitts
Wood, bamboo & plastic cutting boards
Dog & cat bowls, carriers & collars
Windows
Cars, inside and out
Finished, sealed, or painted wood
My grill (aka bar-b-que)
Outdoor metal & plastic furniture
Plastic toys
Plastic storage bins
Paint brushes
Wicker baskets
Artificial greenery
Painted MDF
Microsuede
Toothbrushes & brush holder
Porcelain bathroom fixtures—toilet, tub, sink, handles, faucets
Metal doorknobs
Plastic light switches & covers
Diaper changing pads
Silicone parts of my breast pump
My plastic nasal irrigator
Nylon camping tents
Beach balls, rafts & pool toys
Fruits & veggies
Trumpets, saxophones & trombones
All this to say, I use Sal Suds A LOT! In fact, it might be more efficient to list what I don’t wash with it. The long and short of it is, if it’s not on this list, then I probably didn’t think of it. Sal Suds is safe for any surface or material that can get wet (but it’s not meant for people or animals—it can be drying). However, if you have something that’s iffy, do a spot test.
Dilutions
Dishes (Handwashing): ½ – 1 ½ tsp. (2.5 mL to 7.5 mL) Sal Suds in a large sink of water. Or 1 drop Sal Suds for one pot, more if needed.
- So I don’t use too much, I keep a bottle of diluted Sal Suds by my sink: ½ c. (120 mL) of Sal Suds in a quart (1 L) of water. A small squirt in a pot or a larger squirt for a sink.
- With All-Purpose Spray: Using a Sal Suds Spray to Clean Dishes
Laundry: 1 to 1 ½ Tbsp (15 to 22 mL) for a large load in a top loading washer. Optional: For extra whitening/brightening, add ½ c. (120 mL) baking soda to wash cycle and/or 1c. (240 mL) vinegar to rinse cycle. Double these amounts for standard (non-HE) washers.
Pretreating Laundry Stains: Pre-measure Sal Suds for load. Apply some or all directly to stain(s). Let sit 30 minutes or more. Add remaining Sal Suds to washer. For broad stain, spray with a solution of half Sal Suds/half water.
Handwashing Delicates: ½ capful (½ Tbsp. or 7.5 mL) Sal Suds in about 1 gallon (4 L) of water. Swish gently. Let soak 10 minutes. Swish again. Rinse with clean water. Gently press out excess water with a towel. Hang clothing or lay flat to dry.
Mopping (Wood, Laminate, Vinyl, Stone & Tile): 1 tsp. (5 mL) Sal Suds in 1 gallon (4 L) of hot water. Dunk mop (microfiber, preferably) and wring thoroughly. On wood and laminate, avoid excess water and mop up wet areas.
- For smaller areas, add 1/8 tsp. (0.6 mL) Sal Suds to a quart (1 L) of water in a squirt bottle.
- Mopping Floors with Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap and Sal Suds
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: 1.5 tsp. (7.5 mL) Sal Suds in 16 oz. (500 mL) water. Hint: Put water in the bottle first. Spray and wipe with a damp cloth. Optional: Add ¼ tsp. (1.25 mL) tea tree essential oil. Use on any surface that is safe in contact with water.
- Tips to make & use: GIY (Green It Yourself) All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
- Countertops & Tile: Spray and wipe with a damp cloth.
Cleaning Stone with Castile Soap and Sal Suds - Microsuede: Spray and scrub with a gentle circular motion.
Cleaning Microsuede - Wood: Painted or Sealed (not waxed)—Spray and wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Wood: Making It Shine
Window Wash: (aka Sal Suds Lite) ¼ tsp. (1.25 mL) in 16 oz. (500 mL) water in a spray bottle. Spray and squeegee. Follow with a spray of pure club soda, or half vinegar/half water, and squeegee.
Stainless Steel Appliances & Sink: Spray appliance with All-Purpose Spray. Wipe with a soft damp cloth in the direction of the grain. Spray sink and sprinkle with baking soda from a shaker. Scrub then rinse.
- Appliances: Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances with Dr. Bronner’s
- Sink: Cleaning A Stainless Steel Sink
Toilets: For best results, empty toilet. Spray bowl thoroughly with All-Purpose Spray, or sprinkle 2-3 drops of Sal Suds directly on toilet brush. Sprinkle baking soda on a brush, scrub bowl. Let sit 10 minutes. Turn water on. Flush.
Fruit & Veggie Wash: 1 drop of Sal Suds in a bowl of water. Dunk and swish the produce. Rinse in clear water.
Oral Appliances & CPAPs: Removable retainers, nightguards, etc. & dentures: Wet device. Add 1-2 drops of soap to a soft toothbrush. Brush gently, then rinse. CPAP mask, tubing, and headgear: Submerge in a warm water with a small squirt. Allow to sit 30 minutes, then wash, rinse, and towel dry. Allow to air dry thoroughly before reassembling.
Pressure Washer/Carpet Cleaner: In cleaning solution chamber, fill with water and add 1 drop of Sal Suds. Add 1c. (240 mL) vinegar to rinse water (optional). Use All-Purpose Spray on carpet spots (use sparingly).
Upholstery: Spray a wet (not dripping) cloth lightly with All-Purpose Spray. Gently rub cloth on the spot. Rinse area with a second wet cloth. Blot with a dry cloth to extract moisture. For large areas, use a carpet cleaner (above). Always spot test first.
Cars: ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) Sal Suds in 3 gallons (12 L) of water for exterior. Use All-Purpose Spray on interior surfaces and leather seats. Wipe with damp cloth.
- Exterior: Car Washing with Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
- Interior: Green Cleaning Car Interiors with Dr. Bronner’s
Patio Furniture: ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) Sal Suds in a bucket of warm water. Wash with sponge, microfiber cloth or stiff brush. Wipe with damp cloth.
Additional Uses
• Camping gear
• Musical instruments
• Paint & makeup brushes
• Grills
• Lunch boxes
• Water bottles
• Kids clothing
• Bedding
• Doorknobs
• Cutting boards
• Refrigerators (inside & out)
• Glass vases
• Pottery
And so much more!
Not sure when to use Sal Suds or when to use Castile Soap? Head over to my blog post, Sal Suds or Castile Soap—Which to Use?
If you have SLS concerns, check out this blog post: There is no Cancer Risk from SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
Further reading
- Sal Suds or Castile Soap – Which to Use?
- Bar Soap Dilutions Cheat Sheet
- Dilutions Cheat Sheet for Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap
- GIY All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
Sal Suds cleaner shows >60% biodegradation after 28 days per ISO 14593.
This dilution and many more are in my book, Soap & Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Home, Your Body, and Your Spirit with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, available now in hardback on DrBronner.com or at your favorite bookseller, and as an eBook and audiobook (read by me!) from wherever you download or listen.
I have a solution of Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree castile soap and water in a spray bottle, but notice my spray bottle stays clogged all of the time. Would the Sals Suds be a better product for something like that?
My terrazzo floors need pH neutral cleaners
Would your product be suitable?
Please advise
Cheers
Does it sanitize?
I absolutely love Sal Suds – use it for just about everything! I have been using it for laundry and it works wonderfully for everything except black clothing.
I usually use 2-3 tbs depending on the load and use white vinegar in the rinse. The clothes look wonderful when they first come out of the dryer but after a day there are white streaks or patches – it almost looks like grey mold but isn’t.
If I wash it it all comes out unless I use Sal Suds again. I’m wondering if anyone else had had this problem and how to solve it.
I am wondering if I have to dilute the Sal Suds in a gallon of water fist to stop this from happening. If it is related to anything else I can’t think for what that could be.
Colette
[…] Suds is rated an A+ on the EWG and there is also a great dilutions cheat sheet that can definitely come in […]
Hi Lisa, here I am running around with my jet wash and the Dr Bronner’s sal suds, large manholes lifted, it’s looking great. It has just come to mind, I have a lot of very large ground pots with mature plants, there are no trays under them. Do you think they will be alright if the suds have gone underneath them. It’s too late now, I know but I am just curious.
Many thanks. Maureen Mabbort.
Maur
Just wanted to share something we’ve discovered at our house – when using Sal Suds for washing dishes, we simply dilute (a little less heavily than the ratio given here) and put it in a foaming dish soap dispenser. No mess, no spray bottle (which my husband HATED for some reason.)
I don’t know why it took us 2 years to think of that but we love it now!
Hi Lisa, can you use Sal Suds to pretreat stains? Specifically grubby collars and armpits on business shirts? I’ve been using soap berries as an alternative to commercial washing powders, but it isn’t helping with stubborn stains 🙁
I also have the normal liquid soaps, can they be used as a pre soaker/stain remover?
Many thanks
I’m looking into making your Sal Suds All Purpose Spray and I was wondering what the ratio would be for a 16 oz bottle? I got a really nice glass, amber bottle off Amazon and that is what I would like to use for my cleaners. How much Sal Suds would I use for a 16 oz spray bottle? Thank you.
PS the contact form on the website isn’t working.
Hi Kirk – For a 16 oz. bottle, you would need to cut all the proportions in half. 1/2 Tbsp. of Sal Suds and 16 ounces of water.
Thanks for letting me know about the contact form. I’ll check it out.
Can the run off water continuing your products do well for gray water?
Hi Ana – Yep! A while back we had our products tested and certified for grey water system safety. I have those certificates if you’d like to see them. Send me an email to lisa@drbronner.com
Looking forward to trying Sal Suds. I’m trying to detoxify our home and bodies and be as petroleum and chemical free as possible.
Hi,
Is there any toxicity to pets in Sal Suds? I have cats and even though I try to rinse the areas I have cleaned, would the residue harm an animal if ingested?
Hi there – The Sal Suds is mild and non-toxic. Any residue left on surfaces would not be harmful to your pets, and even more especially if you’re diluting it and wiping it off.
Hi Lisa,
I’m going to piggyback a question here if I may. For the past 2 years I’ve been using a close to natural dish liquid that is very sudsy and also very effective in cutting grease. The problems are 1. it can dry my hands to the point that they crack and bleed, and 2. even after rinsing thoroughly, my hands always feel kind of soapy. This last bit is a little concerning as I don’t want our 2 year old ingesting dish liquid residue from his straw.
Here’s my question. How safe is it to dilute Sal Suds to wash dishes (I’m mostly concerned about our toddler).
I tried the Suds when I ran out of the other stuff, and I just love how squeaky clean dishes are with no lingering soapy residue.
Thanks…again
Hi Adi – I know you’ll have just read this below, but I’ll restate it for others. Sal Suds is very clean rinsing. There is no residue left behind, even in hard water. You can be assured that your toddler is safe with his utensils.
Hi Lisa,
I just received a bottle of Sal Suds that I ordered online. I have wood flooring and have been concerned about using the self cleaning mode on my oven. I’m afraid it will hurt the wood underneath it. Can I use Sal Suds to clean the inside of my oven? If so, how much Sal Suds to water should I use?
Hi Michelle – I agree that the self-cleaning mode on ovens is pretty scary. Temperatures can soar over 900 degrees. Try this instead (as a disclaimer: I’ve talked about this somewhere else around here, but I can’t find it, so I might say it slightly differently, but the gist is the same):
Fill a glass pan (like a 9×13) with an inch of water and a squirt of Sal Suds (let’s say 1/2 Tbsp., just to be specific). Bake this in the oven for an hour at 400. Turn off the oven, but keep the door closed and let it sit for an hour or two. The gunk on the inside should wipe off pretty easily.
This is using three types of cleaning at once: thermal, mechanical, and chemical that I talk about here: https://www.lisabronner.com/three-roads-to-%E2%80%9Cclean%E2%80%9D-thermal-mechanical-and-chemical/. Let me know how it goes!
Hi. Does it have to be glass? I’m concerned with about “cooking” the suds in a pan that will later be used to cook food. Could I use a disposable aluminum pan?
Thanks!
Hi Adi – You could use aluminum if you prefer. Go with what makes you the most comfortable. Sal Suds is very mild and very clean rinsing. Once you let the pan cool, rinse it out with water and there will be no residue left.
Awesome! Thanks a bunch Lisa
Is this basically the same product (ingredients) as Campsuds by Sierra Dawn?
Hi Julie – The short answer is, I have no idea. Here’s the thing – Sierra Dawn doesn’t actually share the ingredients in Campsuds. They make it sound like they do by saying “concentrated Campsuds is a blend of purified water, vegetable-based biodegradable anionic and non-ionic cleaning agents and natural fragrance oils”, but these are actually just broad categories of ingredients. “Vegetable-based biodegradable anionic and non-ionic cleaning agents” is such a wide range of possibilities. Just for fun, I grabbed a list from another website on surfactants (http://www.finishing.com/118/53.shtml):
ANIONIC TYPES
1. CARBOXYLATES 2. SULPHONATES 3. PETROLEUM SULPHONATES 3.ALKYLBENZENESULPHONATES 4. NAPHTHALENESULPHONATES 5. OLEFIN SULPHONATES 6. ALKYL SULPHATES 7. SULPHATES 8. SULPHATED NATURAL OILS & FATS.9. SULPHATED ESTERS 10. SULPHATED ALKANOLAMIDES 11. ALKYLPHENOLS, ETHOXYLATED & SULPHATED.
NONIONIC TYPE
1. ETHOXYLATED ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL 2.POLYOXYETHYLENE SURFACTANTS 3.CARBOXYLIC ESTERS 4. POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL ESTERS 5. ANHYDROSORBITOL ESTER & IT’S ETHOXYLATED DERIVATIVES 6. GLYCOL ESTERS OF FATTY ACIDS 7. CARBOXYLIC AMIDES 8. MONOALKANOLAMINE CONDENSATES 9. POLYOXYETHYLENE FATTY ACID AMIDES.
You can rule out the ones that say “petroleum”, but it still doesn’t narrow it down very much.
Sal Suds does contain the same broad categories of ingredients, but we list them all out specifically, “Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Abies Siberica (Siberian Fir) Needle Oil, Picea Glauca (Spruce) Leaf Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide”.
Hi, Lisa! Thank you for all of your information.
I was wondering if Sal Suds (which I love) can be used on wood tables? I noticed that your list says ‘finished wood’ but I am not sure what finished wood is? I used it in a pinch, today, on a Japanese wood table (stained black) and it looks shiny and beautiful, but I have generally used oils and not soap on my wood. I’m thrilled to read all of the comments and uses for this wonderful product! Thank you!
Hi Carolyn – I’m glad the info is helpful! Unfinished wood furniture is rare, with the notable exceptions being wood types like teak or cedar, but even teak usually is oiled. If your table is stained, it also has a protective coating over that. The Sal Suds would be great for cleaning that!
Thank you so much.
I admire your tremendous knowledge as to the chemical components, cleaning methods and ability to impart all of it to us in such a clear way. This is so very helpful.
I look forward to utilising all of your tips!
Can Sal Suds be used in Acrylic showers?
Hi Kelly – Yes! It’ll be great for that.
Thanks. Can you recommend how to dilute it?
The All Purpose Sal Suds Spray is what you want: 1 Tablespoon Sal Suds in a quart of water. Spray it on and use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe it off. If you need a little more scrubbing action, use a stiff, plastic bristled brush.
I absolutely love Dr Bronner’s sal suds. I can’t believe how it cleans. I have been addicted to housework for the past week. I bought my first bottle 1 week ago 32 fl oz and have just had another delivered today. Why?
Because everyone has been round with their containers trying it. I told my friends about it, one has taken 4 days off work to clean her house. She is calling me every half an hour, with updates of what she has cleaned and can’t believe it. I’ts like magic. I have used it on absolutely everything in my home, my windows are gleaming, my stainless steel sink looks like the day it was delivered, that was 15 years ago and believe me I have spent fortunes on different cleaners trying to get it to shine. I followed advice and bought some orange oil and my oak floors look beautiful. My husband thinks it’s amazing too. I can’t believe I have only just discovered this. I am spending the day tomorrow, throwing all my other cleaning products in the bin, that’s how long it will take.
Many thanks for the fortunes, I am about to save.
There is only one word for this cleaner. SUPERB
Hi Maureen – WOW! I think you just took over my job. Taking time off of work to clean the house?! That speaks volumes right there! I love that Sal Suds is making your life so much better. Mine, too!
All my best to you and your friends!
I know we can make castile soap into a gel with salt and putting salt on the bottom of the machine will control the suds but am open to anything that will make it a failproof natural dishwasher soap formula for plates, glasses and silveware since I wash pots/pans by hand.
Thaaaaaaaank you
Help with dishwashing soap formulas. Really need to make one that is natural and WORKS:)
Thank you Lalita
I have some stuffed chairs that need to be cleaned. Can I use Sal Suds to clean them? The fabrics are:
Body
– Blended cotton felt 60%
– Urethane foam 25%
Cushions
– Urethane foam 75%
– Polyester fiber 25%
Backs
– Polyester fiber 100%
Thank you.
Hi Dona – You’ll always want to do a spot test on some backside of the furniture to test for color-fastness, but in general, the Sal Suds works great upholstery. You do not want to saturate the fabric or else the interior cushion might not dry, so either spray the surface lightly and wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, or spray the cloth and wipe it on the fabric.
Thanks very much Lisa. I’ll buy it and try it!
Dona
For laundry must i put detergent and can i use softener.
Hi Rokiah – The Sal Suds works great as a laundry detergent. 2-3 Tablespoons (30-45 ml) per load. You can use fabric softener, or vinegar makes a great natural fabric softener. Add 1 cup (235 ml) to the rinse cycle.
Which dilution do you use on granite countertops?
Hi Natalya – I use my Sal Suds All Purpose spray on my countertops, which is 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds in a quart of water.
Thanks for this great guide to Sal Suds – I can’t wait to start using it for so many uses! Quick question- may this be used to clean the inside of an oven? If so, would I need to rinse afterwards? Just looking to see if this is a good option to get rid of grease and burnt build-up. Thank you!
Hi Lauren – I’m glad this is helpful! For the oven, if you spray it and wipe it with a damp cloth, you’ll be picking up the Sal Suds and effectively “rinsing” it. It’s not a “leave-on” product, but it wipes off very easily. I wash just responding to a comment on another post about oven cleaning. I haven’t tried it myself, but I think if you baked a pan of water with 1 Tbsp. of Sal Suds in it to boiling and then turned the oven off and let it sit till cool, it would probably do a superb job of cleaning the grime off.
We’ve just purchased Salsuds and love the smell and using it for general cleaning purposes. Can I use Salsuds for soap scum buildup in a tile shower? Also, will it work on hard water stains on shower doors? What about mildew stains in grout in the shower? What concentration is best for each of these purposes? Thanks so much!
Hi Judy – Sal Suds will work for all these tasks. I wrote a whole post about soap scum – https://www.lisabronner.com/scum-scum-go-away/ – basically it’s a combo of the Sal Suds All Purpose spray and a sprinkling of baking soda. That is great for hard water stains, too, which are pretty similar in composition to soap scum. It has to do with the dissolved solids in hard water. For mildew stains, I’d use a much more concentrated solution – maybe even make up a 50% Sal Suds solution – just a small amount of it, though, because that’s really unnecessary for other cleaning. Apply that to the mildew stains, then sprinkle with baking soda. Scrub it a bit with a scrub brush and then let it sit for a few minutes while you clean something else. Then give it a final quick scrub and rinse it off.
Hi! How can I use this as an oven cleaner?
Hi Akisha – I have a good number of ideas for this, but I haven’t yet tried one. I’ve been using the “self-cleaning” mode of my oven, but that really heats up and stinks up the house. Here are some thoughts I’ll try out when I have the time: sprinkle the gunk on the oven bottom with salt. Place a glass pan (I’m thinking 9×13) filled with water and 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds on the rack and heat the oven to 450 or so. Leave it on until the water boils in there for about 10 minutes. Then turn the oven off and let it sit for an hour. Open it up and see if stuff wipes off. I know that sounds a little lengthy, but it’s not really active work time. You could even use your oven’s time cook settings for it.
Another idea is to slice open a bunch of lemons and put them in the pan, cut side up, with a bit of water in the pan, and then bake them for 30 minutes or so, turn the oven off and let them sit. The acid of the lemon juice would evaporate and coat the oven. This one would probably smell really good, too.
I do intend to do this. If you get to it before me, let me know how it goes.
To the person that was concerned about using a plastic spray bottle with essential oils…
I re-purpose quart size glass Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar bottles for this. The sprayer from a plastic spray bottle of the same size will normally fit perfectly. 🙂
In the past I have used a mixture of castille soap, water, and essential oil to clean my floors. I just got my first bottle of Sal Suds yesterday so I’m curious to see how it performs.
Once per week I have a helper that speaks mostly Spanish. I can explain to her how to use the dilutions in the bottles easily, because they’re labeled…but I know that she would love to have it in her own home, too. I’ve written it down for her in short hand, but I can imagine that if you could get your one-page Cheat Sheet translated to Spanish, a lot of people would find it useful, especially people that have household help where English isn’t necessarily the first language!
Hi Ames – I definintely need to do that!! Thanks for mentioning it.
Hello Ames!
I read Your suggestion to Lisa and thought maybe Google could translate from English to Spanish.
I did a Google search specifically for Google Translate from English to Spanish: https://translate.google.com/
( I apologize to Lisa for posting a link, if it’s frowned upon)
I don’t speak or read Spanish, but I copied and pasted a section of the Dilutions and it seems to work.
I thought maybe to copy and paste the translation here for You, but that it would take up too much space on the page.
Do give it a try! Maybe ask Your Helper to read the Spanish version to You and double check the translation with the English version?
I hope this helps.
Good Luck! 🙂
Thanks, Elizabeth! It is still on my To-Do list to get a proper translation, but this is a great measure in the meantime!
Can this be used on ipe brazilian teak wood prefinished wood floors.
Hi Val – Yes, it would work well. As always, the issue with wood floors is that they don’t like to be excessively wet, so be sure that the mop is damp and not sopping.
wow, you are a wealth of information! i read somewhere that you add essential oil(s) to your sal suds/water combo. i have always been told that EOs, even mixed, should be in glass, not plastic containers. but it appears that you are mixing the suds/water and storing in a plastic spray bottle. you don’t have any issues? thanks for all this info!
Hi Fran – Pure essential oils definitely do best in glass, but at the extreme dilution of 20 drops in a quart of water, there is no problems with their eating through the plastic.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for answering my question above! I was washing my dishes the other day with Sal Suds and a friend asked “Will it kill germs”. Will it? This is important to me, especially with dish washing. Thanks!
Hi Emily – I’m sorry for not getting back to you sooner. The Sal Suds will absolutely get rid of germs.
Can Sal Suds be used on Carrera Marble and on manmade Ceasarstone countertops? These two products are in my home. Sorry if this has been answered…..so much to read here and I can’t find it if it has already been addressed. Excited to wash my clothes and pots and pans with this product!
Hi Emily – Yes, Sal Suds is safe on the marble as well as on the Ceasarstone countertop. The issue with marble is it is dissolved or etched by acids. Sal Suds is alkaline, though, so this is not a problem.
I have a friend who is spraying his fruit tree’s and vegetables in his garden with your
Sals Suds(tsp for a gallon) to get rid of pests. Is this strong enough and is it ok?
Hi Randy – I don’t think this is going to hurt the trees, but I don’t know that it will hurt the pests either. Sal Suds does not have the same bug killing ability as the castile soaps. Sal Suds is a mild detergent, and whatever it is in the soaps that affects insects (and I’m really not sure what element it is), is not in the Sal Suds. I have tried this out – spraying ants with my Sal Suds spray. Other than possibly drowning them, the spray doesn’t stop them. Suggest to your friend that he try the Castile soap instead. Perhaps check out this post: https://www.lisabronner.com/spraying-for-garden-pests/.
Hi Lisa, I have HE top load washing machine. It has a tray for liquid detergent – is it where you would put Sal Suds in?
Hi Elle – Yep! That would work great.
I’ve never seen this on the list for things you can clean with Sal Suds so I thought I would give it a go and see what the outcome was.
I am in the process of decorating our new house and after fainting at the cost of paint brushes and having to throw so many away after one use because you just cant get them clean without “pungent chemicals” I tried Sal Suds to clean my brushes and it worked amazingly well. I have now used the same two brushes to paint 4 coats on both ceiling, walls, skirting and crown molding in the dining room, numerous coats on the new wainscot in the hallway and skirting board and have just started on the toilet and closet and the brushes are still in great condition. The two brushes I purchased from the big box store were $17 each “day light robbery” and not only have I cut out the chemicals I would of used previously to clean them, I have also saved money by not having to purchase more brushes. I just add a tiny little drop of Sal Suds to my brush and give them a good old scrub and rinse and let them dry and they are good to go. In fact, they are in better condition than when I used the “chemicals”. Brilliant solution and a money saver.
Did you mean Tablespoon for this measurement?:
Dish washing by hand:
Pre-diluted: (my preference) ½ c. Sal Suds in a quart of water in a squirt bottle. Fill with water nearly to the top before adding Sal Suds.
Hi DivaDivine – The 1/2 cup is correct. I like a more concentrated solution for washing dishes because usually I dealing with oily pans or some such. You can adjust this concentration to your liking, though.
I’ve been told that without some sort of preservative, water in any mixture will develop bacteria if not used for single use purposes.
Hi Lisa – It would depend, I suppose, on the quality of the water, and the strength of the solution. However, if you’re mixing tap water, which is usually tremendously treated, with Sal Suds, which also fights bacteria, the solution is not going to grow anything for a while.
Can this product be used when using a dishwasher and if so, what are the measurements?
Hi Denise – No, we don’t endorse using Sal Suds in a dishwasher. However, I know there are a many a reader who will disagree with me here. I’ve found that it is too bubbly for my dishwasher.
Hi Lisa,
What do you use in your dishwasher? I am trying to find on your website but have just seen for hand washing only 🙂
Thanks in advance!!
I am wondering if Sal Suds is fragrance free. I have MCS and can only use fragrance free products and want earth-friendly solutions for cleaning. Thanks!
Hi Bre – Sal Suds has no fragrance added to it. However, two of the ingredients that make it effective do have a scent. They are Abies Siberica (Siberian Fir) Needle Oil, Picea Glauca (Spruce) Leaf Oil. It is very light, but I don’t know how this may affect you. Our unscented Baby Mild Pure Castile soap is more unscented.
Lisa,
Are those ingredients chemical or from plants?
and, what does “more unscented” mean?
Why don’t you make a fragrance free soap? I am sure it would be a big seller.
Bre
All of the ingredients in Sal Suds are synthesized from plants, which means they go through much more processing than merely pressing oils out. The Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, for example, is synthesized from coconuts. Regarding the “more unscented” Baby Mild, there is no essential oil added to scent that soap either, but olive oil, which is a main ingredient, in it has a natural scent which you may notice. It is an unscented soap in that no scent is added, but everything smells like something.
While I’m on the topic, let me put a thought out there: most products that are marketed as “fragrance-free” may still have a masking fragrance added to them, which is a chemical that is added to cancel out the naturally occurring scents of the other ingredients.
Is Sals Suds safe on marble countertops?
Hi Megan – Yep! Marble usually doesn’t like acid, but the Sal Suds is alkaline.
I’ve done a lot of searching for the right product to use on dishes in my sink. I don’t want any Palm oil in my products. I’ve tried to make my own dish soap but it forms a big glob and didn’t work very well. Any suggestions on the product that is least destructive to animals, habitat, planet and people and isn’t wildly expensive. Thanks.
Hi Lindsey – Both our pure castile soaps and our Sal Suds are made with the highest attention to the well-being of all that you mention. I definitely hear your concern about palm oil. We have that concern too, which is why we have set up our own palm oil operation in Ghana, with no clear-cutting of the rain forest and no habitat loss for primates (no orangutans live in Ghana). You can read more about our care there on our website: https://www.drbronner.com/ingredients/fair-trade-around-the-world/palm-oil/. However, if you still want to steer clear of palm oil, our Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner does not contain it. You can check it out here: https://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/SALSUDSCLEANER/SSLI16.html.
I have the best receipe for dish liquid you will love , I dissolve 1 tsp.. salt in 1/2 cup hot water, stir till dissolved then add 1/2 cup sal suds then add in 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 tsp. lemon juice a nice lasting dish liquid I put in old dawn bottle, makes your hands feel nice also. Stir all till nice and think
Hi, I love your products – I’ve been using the castile sopa since the 1970’s! 🙂 How should I dilute the Sal Suds to wash makeup brushes, and what is the best way to do it? I tried washing them with a castile dilution and it didn’t work well at all. Thanks so much, Kim
Hi Kim – I’ve been meaning to blog about that! Put a drop of Sal Suds on each brush and work it through the bristles gently. Then rinse them thoroughly in a bowl of water. Depending on which products they were for and how long it’s been since they were washed, you may need more than one drop. For example, if we’re talking a liquid foundation brush, you may need more Sal Suds than for a powdered eye shadow brush. Then take a towel and gently squeeze the water out of the bristles and let them air dry. You may need to fluff them a bit to get them to dry fully, if they’re really fluffy brushes.
How do you get set in (dried 🙁 red dye stains out of cloths . Thanks, I love your sal suds , making everyone I know cleaner 🙂
Hi Rhonda – If the red stain is from an actual fabric dye that is meant to adhere to fabric, getting it out is going to be pretty tough. In fact, one of the selling-points for Sal Suds in the laundry is that it won’t take dye out of fabric. I did use it this past weekend to get a smashed raspberry stain out of my daughter’s Easter dress, and it worked fabulously, as always. However, the best natural bleach is sunlight. If this is an item that can be left in strong sunlight for several days, the color will certainly fade a good bit, if not completely. But this will fade every color in the fabric, so consider carefully if this is what you want to do.
If the stain is not dye, try putting pure undiluted Sal Suds on it. Work it in with your fingers a bit, then let it soak in cold water for a day. Then launder it and see how it does. Good luck!
Thanks. I got it out of most of the items by presoaking with Sal Suds,Vinegar & salt. The light “pink” with sal suds and Free Oxi Clean. I had to buy the Oxi because I make my own laundry soap. I love my sal suds
Hi Lisa,
I am ready to switch to Dr. Bronner’s natural cleaning products and see how they do for me in my home. I am wondering if I can use Sal Suds in the sink after I have used/cleaned fresh meat instead of bleach? I am afraid of substituting anything for bleach. Looking for an answer, Michelle
Hi Michelle – Sal Suds is plenty powerful to clean up after meat. I use it regularly. I small squirt in the sink and some scrubbing with a sink brush is perfect. For an extra boost, I let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse it down with hot water.
I have laminate floors. I’ve been using diluted white vinegar in water. Can I use Sal Suds on laminate flooring? Pergo brand laminate specifies only a diluted white vinegar mixture. I’m sure that the laminate floor in my apartment isn’t Pergo, but I’ve been using what Pergo requires anyway.
Also, will the Sal Suds require a rinsing?
Hi Pauline – Vinegar works great on laminate, but if you have a dirtier floor than what vinegar can handle (I certainly do!), Sal Suds is a good option. You need a very mild dilution or else you’ll end up with a bunch of bubbles and you will need to rinse. If it’s diluted enough, you will not need to rinse. If you’re using a mop pad and bucket, a dilution of maybe 2 gallons of water and 1 tsp. of Sal Suds? Something around that, but feel free to tweak it for what works for you.
Hello Lisa!
I have been using Dr. Bronner’s castile soaps for a few years now; they’ve worked fabulously for washing my face, hair, as a body wash, etc. I have zero complaints about the soaps and just adore the fact that they’re Vegan and generally Animal friendly, you can’t get much better than that! Recently I have started to use reusable cloth menstrual pads since discovering the countless negative health side effects, not to mention the deleterious environmental impact, of using disposable menstrual products. At the risk of sharing too much information here, I have extremely heavy periods and I find I stain my cloth pads thoroughly. I was hoping and wondering that it would be possible to use Sal Suds to not only launder my cloth pads but also to treat the stains prior to laundering. Would doing this help remove stains? And also, since it is recommended to not use softeners and typical detergents, etc., when washing cloth pads because it will negatively effect their absorbency (like cloth diapers), is using Sal Suds safe for this purpose? Thank you ahead of time for any information. I am looking forward to ditching other brands of oxy-type cleaners and stain sticks if Sals Suds can be used effectively instead! And, I cannot wait to begin finally using Bronner’s soap to do laundry instead of the overpriced, non-Vegan garbage my family is accustomed to. Much love! -Sarah
Hi Sarah – I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying Dr. B’s and are in sync with so much of what we’re doing here! Great question about the reusable pads. Like you said, the principles in laundering them are similar to those for cloth diapers. You want to clean them thoroughly, remove stains, and keep them highly absorbent. Sal Suds is perfect for this. You can definitely pretreat stains by putting Sal Suds directly on them before laundering. Add the baking soda to the wash (about 1/2 c. in a large load – adjust that if you’re doing a smaller load) for extra whitening. Add the vinegar (1 c. in a large load) for extra rinsing and whitening. And then the best way to dry would be out in the sun for its own whitening powers.
I haven’t been asked this before, and I’m curious on your results with the Sal Suds. Let me know what you think.
Thank you so much for getting back to me Lisa! I so appreciate all the tips and information you shared regarding my questions, I am stoked to get started! I’m so happy that I don’t have to worry about finding some other product to fix the reusable pad predicament. Dr. Bronner’s truly is the best of the best for quite literally everything, and I could not thank you and your family enough! 🙂 Keep up the awesomeness. I’m going to order some Sal Suds right away. Take care!
Hi! I also use organic cotton menstrual pads and Sal’s Suds works great! After washing them in just water, I apply a couple drops of Sal’s directly to the most stained areas as well as a little bit of baking soda. I scrub in the sink, and then soak them in a bucket of warm water with about 1tbsp Sal’s Suds. Usually after they’ve soaked a few hours, the stains are much lighter.
Great tips, Kacy! I’m glad you shared!
Hi! I just thought I’d comment on this. We recently switched over to reusable cloth pads too. I put some Sal Suds & water into a foaming dispenser and use it to pre-treat the pads before washing. I find it amazing for this use and it was the primary reason I first purchased Sal Suds! I always recommend it when people ask how we clean ours.
Have you looked into using peroxide on the stains prior to washing? Peroxide will bubble away poop on diapers or blood on fabric. Then you could put on some Sal’s Suds and soak until laundring, maybe.
Does Sals soften hard water?
Hi Connie – Sal Suds works fabulously in hard water. It was designed for this purpose. However, it does not contain any water softening agents.
Does Sals smell like pine?
Hi Donna – Yes, but not overpoweringly so. It has fir needle oil and spruce leaf oil.
I’ll mention that I’ve been successfully been using Sals in my dishwashing machine for the past few years. Hard water (14 grains).
The basic formula that has worked for me is pretty simple:
1/4 tsp sals + 2 TBSP Washing Soda in the prewash cup
1/4 tsp sals + 1 TBSP Citric acid in the wash cup (I buy mine in bulk online for cheap)
Vinegar in the drying dispenser
At my previous residence I was able to use 1/2 tsp Sals (maybe due to different machine/water). Just need to pay attention to overfoaming which seems to prevent good circulation of water in the machine.
I have a ton of glassware and it comes out crystal clear.
Just begin to experiment with natural dishwasher soap formulas…citric acid can be GMO and does not come from limes and lemons anymore and washing soda should not be swallowed. I do use WS in my laundry though. Trying to understand the function of WS and CA and then I could replace with more edible ingredients like plain sals or castile and baking soda , salt , lemon juice and vinegar:)
Can you help me pleeeeeease
Lalita
Hi Lalita – Citric acid is used to lower pH and to cut water hardness. It is probably recommended in your dishwasher formulations in order to elminate water spots. Vinegar might be a substitute for that.
Washing soda, also known as sodium carbonate, is closely related molecularly to baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate. In use, however, washing soda is much more intense than baking soda. Baking soda has a high versatility in many things from an antacid to leavening bread to laundry deodorizer and much more. Washing soda cannot be ingested and is irritating to the skin. In laundry it is a powerful cleaning agent that can wear down clothes if it is used too much or on delicates. The pH of washing soda is much higher than baking soda. Washing soda is a more powerful stain remover.
What you need to watch out for here is how you’re combining your acids and your alkalis. Citric acid, lemon juice, and vinegar are natural acids. Baking soda, washing soda, and castile soap are natural alkalis. If you put one of these acids with one of these alkalis, they’re going to tackle each other rather than the dirty dishes. Sal Suds is a detergent and is somewhat outside of this equation.
I haven’t developed a recipe for dishes, but there are lots of suggestions out there.
Hi again
I was wondering, could I just pour Castile soap in a hand soap dispenser and use without adding any water, nor using a foaming dispenser?
Thanks again!
Hi Adianez – No, the castile soap does not work well in a regular soap dispenser. It will dry inside the pump and partially clog it, causing soap to shoot out of them pump, oftentimes up into the face. No amount of diluting it will prevent this from happening, eventually. Either keep it in its current bottle and just use a drop or two, or use a foaming pump at a dilution of 1:3.
Hi. I’ve been using diluted castile soap for years in a regular, non-foaming, soap dispenser without any problems. The only time I had any issues with castile soap getting clogged up was when using a plastic travel soap dispenser. If I were you I’d just try it in your dispenser. If it works, great. If not, go a different route. Hope this helps.
Thanks Roseanna. I will give it a try. What dilution ratios do you use when using it this way?
Lisa: I will definitely keep your advise in mind and if I notice signs of clogging I’ll go about it another way.
Thank you both!
I have been using my Bronner’s Rose or Lavender Castile in a foamer for a while. I follow the instructions on the foamer (which I found at Ace Hardware), which seems to be about 1 part soap to 3 parts water. If the foam is too thick or thin you can add more water or more soap. I haven’t had any clogging. I’m buying my Bronner’s by the quart now. 😀
Thanks Marjorie!
Thanks so much for the info. We don’t use bleach that often but I would like to go green so I’ll be doing away with those cleaners. I’m anxious to get my Sal Suds and tea tree!