Category
Dr. Bronner's

Sal Suds Dilution Cheat Sheet

Sal Suds - Dr. Bronner's product

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.  

Download Now!

Sal Suds Cheat Sheet

Sal Suds, Sal Suds, How do I love thee?

DOWNLOAD

Download Now!

Hoja de Dilución

Sal Suds Limpiador Multiusos Biodegradable

DOWNLOAD

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Zero Waste Cleaning for Beginners – Ashley Jane the Vegan says:

[…] cleaning product. So far we are only using it to mop but the cleaning uses are endless. Here is a great dilution cheat sheet for every use you can imagine and […]

Malorye Stone says:

Hey Lisa! I tested Sal Suds out in my Maytag dishwasher, and the best dilution I found is 1/8 of a teaspoon. I started with 1/2 teaspoon, but I had to do a few rinse cycles to get rid of suds. 1/8 teaspoon is the perfect amount for our dishwasher. I just wanted to share 🙂

Craig Scdoris says:

What is the dilution ratio for Sal Suds in a foaming soap dispenser for washing dishes?
Thank you an advance.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Craig – I’ve never tried this, but generally we use 1/4 or 1/2 the recommended amount of CAstile if we’re replacing it with Sal Suds. Try a 1:6 or 1:9 ratio of Sal Suds to water.

Sarah says:

I’m also having the problem with solidifying. I tried warming and it is still thick, white, and cloudy. Any other suggestions? My suds are only 3 months old. Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sarah – As it sounds like you know, your Sal Suds is cold. It will still work perfectly fine – just like coconut oil works great either when it is white and thick, or clear and liquid. If you do want to clear it up, put the bottle in really hot (but not boiling) water in a bowl or sink for 15 minutes or so.

Noorah says:

Do you know if it is sold in Sweden at all? I haven’t managed to find it.

Also, what is the best way to get rid of brown (rust) stains in the shower? The iron level in my water is very high and stains my zink, toilet and shower.

Thank you!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Noorah – Yes, we do distribute in Sweden. Some of the places where you can find it there are Åhléns Department Store, Hälsokraft (health food) and online through Lyko and Bangehead. If these don’t help you, let me know specifically where you are, and I can pinpoint other options. For rust stains in the shower, I recommend making this GIY Soft Scrub: https://www.lisabronner.com/giy-soft-scrub-with-dr-bronners/.

Noorah says:

Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your reply. I can find the castille soap quite easily, but not Sal suds anywhere, unfortunately.
Do you know if that is sold here too?

Thanks again!

Emily says:

Does this work to clean the grates on a gas stove? If so, what is the ratio you would use?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Emily – Yes, I clean my stove grates with Sal Suds. I usually put a couple inches of hot water in the sink with 1/2 tsp of Sal Suds. Let them soak for a few minutes and then scrub them. They come out beautifully.

brenda meyer says:

Left the jug of sal suds in a cold room. It is very thick and white. What to do?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Brenda – If you bring it into a warm room, it will reliquify. To speed up the process, you can set it in a bowl of warm water.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Colleen – Funny you should ask. I can tell you from very recent experience that yes, Sal Suds works fantastically to get cat urine off of carpets. The spots I found were dry, so I wet them with a wet cloth, then sprayed them with the Sal Suds spray (I didn’t want to use the spray to saturate the spot on its own because that would put way too much Sal Suds into the carpet and be a pain to get out). Then I scrubbed the carpet with the wet cloth. I got a second wet cloth and scrubbed the carpet some more to make sure I removed all the Sal Suds. The spots are gone and the smell is too.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Crystal – I use very heavy duty spray bottles that I buy at home improvement stores. They’re not very pretty, but they last.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi J – Sal Suds has a slight pine scent to it from the fir needle oil and the spruce leaf oil. You can definitely add your own essential oils to it.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Carina – Yes, I think the Sal Suds would be very effective on the sheets. The sheets probably are pretty saturated with various oils, which will take more Sal Suds than usual to get out. Usually I recommend 2-3 Tablespoons of Sal Suds per large load, but for these, you might want to increase it to 1/4 c. (which is 4 Tablespoons). Set it on the longest washing setting you have – on mine it’s 14 minutes – and use hot water.

Marjorie Zimmerman says:

I’m sure Sal Suds is a great product for the job, but I would also like to recommend the addition of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda for oily laundry. I hope it’s ok to say that here! I think it is a “clean” product and a good companion to our Bronner’s product arsenals.

Carina says:

Thank you so much for answering 🙂 I ordered mine yesterday. I assume sal suds is instead of regular laundry powder, am I correct?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Carina – Yes, I use Sal Suds alone in my laundry in general. I only add the baking soda and vinegar if there are really dirty loads, like smelly towels.

Carina says:

Totally amazing, I got the smell out of most of my sheets and that save me many hundreds of dollars! Thank you so much 🙂

Sheila says:

My open gallon of Sal Suds has semi solidified! I’ve never had this happen before, any idea why now? It’s stored the same as always…..

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sheila – Did it turn white when it solidified? If so, it’s just cold. If you bring it into a warm room it will re-liquify after a few hours, or you could hasten the process by setting it a bucket of warm water.

For obvious reasons, don’t microwave the Sal Suds or put it in the oven. (I have to say that.)

Atomic1 says:

The gallons I purchased early in 2017 are doing the same thing. It seems like the product manufactured then has a higher solidification temperature. I’m finding the product i purchased then turns solid in the low 70’s. Whereas other bottles are fine.

Lee Wallman says:

Thank you for your helpful kind remarks. After reading more of your blogs, I realized that you have not yet analyzed and found a recommended DISHWASHING MACHINE soap. I may just try a very diluted Sal Suds and lemon juice for dishwashing machine for now. I am aware that it needs to be diluted a lot, otherwise, bubbles will overflow and seep out onto the floor. If it seems satisfactory, I will let you know.

Krista says:

Please let us know how that works! I’m excited to find a dishwashing liquid.

Lee Wallman says:

I have reviewed DISHWASHING MACHINE soap recipes on line using Sal Suds. They use Sal Suds, lemon juice and white vinegar. I thought I heard that vinegar neutralizes the effectiveness of Dr. Bronner’s soaps. Castile soap is basic and vinegar is acidic. Would this also include Sal Suds? Other suggestions were to use the white vinegar in the rinse aid compartment. Do you have any suggestions as to a streak free Sal Suds dishwasher soap? Or, perhaps a different recipe for dishwashing soap?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lee – Figuring out a dishwasher solution is something I haven’t tackled yet. There are a good number of reader comments about it throughout my blog, and even more online. I can’t recommend a particular combination that works. Regarding the vinegar, you are correct that vinegar unsaponifies the castile soap. However, Sal Suds, as a detergent, does not react with vinegar the same way. Unfortunately, my chemistry knowledge doesn’t go far enough to explain why – my guess is that something about the synthetic detergent molecule is stronger/more stable/clearly less reactive than a soap molecule.

Carola says:

Hi. My experience is that when Sal Suds is ‘cut’ with vinegar, it works as an excellent dishwasher detergent and does not overflow the dishwasher with soap….. 🙂

Vickey says:

Carola, what ratio do you use to cut the Sal Suds with the vinegar? I’d love to use this combo in our dishwasher, save $ and those silly tab wrappers.

Kelly Standiford says:

Hello Lisa – first of all I absolutely LOVE Dr. Bronner’s products. I use the soap in the shower, toothpaste and have started using Sals Suds. However, my skin does not care for baking soda. (the optional ingredient for laundry soap) would arrowroot work or can I just use the sals suds?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Kelly – Most of the time I do not use baking soda. I just use the Sal Suds. The baking soda just adds a little scrubbing and whitening action to really grimy loads. I only use it when I’m washing my housecleaning rags. You’ll be fine without it.

Michele says:

Can Sal Suds be used to mop hardwood floors? Is so, at what dilution per gallon of water?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Michele – Yes, the Sal Suds works great on hardwood floors. Use 1/2 Tbsp. of Sal Suds in your mopping bucket. Dip in your mop and wring out well. Or instead of a traditional mop, I use a microfiber pad on hardwood floor mop head.

DALTON GRANT says:

I just put an order in on Sal Suds, but I want to know if this can be used on mirrors and if so, what is a good recipe?
Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Dalton – Yes, the Sal Suds will work on washing grimy mirrors. I wrote more about it here: https://www.lisabronner.com/cleaning-interior-windows-and-mirrors/. A very light dilution will work – like 1/2 Tbsp. Sal Suds in a quart of water. This is necessary if you have handprints or other grime on your mirrors. If you just have water spots on your mirrors, you can take care of those with either pure club soda in a spray bottle or a solution of half vinegar/half water.

Simple, Amazing non-toxic floor cleaner says:

[…] Why I use sal suds: made by Dr Bronners – a great company – it is a concentrated, natural product that really works. You only need a very small quantity to go a long way (like really only half a Tbsp in this case) and best of all, it’s completely natural!  I love to use Sal Suds in my counter sprays and basically as a replacement for most household cleansers…to wash dishes, do laundry…you name it! To read more about Sal Suds and why I love them so, click here […]

DB R says:

Can you tell me if Sal Suds is safe for Septic Systems? Each month, I add a “probiotic” to my system to maintain septic health and don’t want to upset the balance. Thank you!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi there – Yes, it is safe on septic systems. We had biodegradability analyses done for the purpose of grey water systems, and the concerns are similar. Sal Suds does fully biodegrade.

Nancy says:

I’m looking for a cleaner to use on my concrete floor in my basement. Are any of your products safe to use on concrete? Do they need to be rinsed?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Nancy – The Sal Suds would work well. Dilute it as for mopping and you would not need to rinse.

Leigh Walters says:

Hi Lisa, Thanks for answering my questions from December. I appreciate it! Sal Suds seems to be the winner in most cleaning applications because it is more clean rinsing. Are there any cleaning application where Castile Soap is better over Sal Suds then or should I just switch everything to Sal Suds? (I’m talking about cleaning uses, not laundry or body uses)

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Leigh – The only time I specifically reach for Castile is if I’m battling ants or other bugs. For some reason, true soap kills bugs. It’s kind of strange since it does not contain a pesticide, but there’s something about them that stops them in their tracks. I wrote about it here: https://www.lisabronner.com/it-actually-works/. So if you have ants on your counter, or any where else, the castile spray kills them, erases their scent trails, and provides no hazard to people or pets at the same time.

Colleen Waite says:

Hi Lisa, do you know if Sal’s Suds is sold in the Grand Rapids, MI area? Thanks

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Colleen – Yes, I’m sure it is. It would be in the household cleaner section of a natural or health store. It wouldn’t be near the castile soaps, which would be in the personal care system. If all else fails, you could order it online.

Dustin Blythe says:

Hi. I live in South Bend Indiana, just to your south. We have Sal Suds at local health food stores, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods and Fresh Thyme.

Erica Beache says:

Hi Lisa,
What is the shelf life of the liquid soaps including Sals Suds?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Erica – Our stated shelf life is 3 years, but if you keep them in a cool, dark place (like a cabinet) they last much much longer.

Must-Have Cleaning Essentials - Gather and Flourish says:

[…] when diluted in a spray bottle and it can be used for washing laundry, or mopping floors, etc. Here is a list of uses and a dilution cheat sheet! Kristin Marr at Live Simply also has a great recipe […]

Judy says:

Hi, I received a Bissell Crosswave mulit surface cleaner as a gift, but I DO NOT want to use the formula that comes with it, would Sal Suds be a good option? If so would you know how much cleaner I should use.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Judy – I am not familiar with this particular product, but since it’s made by the same company as my carpet cleaner, I’d recommend the same dilution of 1 drop of Sal Suds mixed with water in the solution compartment. If this isn’t enough, then increase the Sal Suds but not by very much. You don’t want to have to go back and wipe anything. Also keep in mind that by not using their brand of cleaner, you might void the warranty. I was Ok with that, though.

Lauren says:

Hi Lisa,

Do I need to use distilled water or boiled water to make the dish soap? Also, how long does it last for? Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lauren – If you have distilled or R.O. or some other kind of filtered water handy, that’s great. If not, regular tap water is just fine. I’ve never had this strong a concentration go bad before I’ve used it up, so I don’t know for sure, but I’ll just guess at a couple of months??

Adrienne Cianfrocca says:

Hi! I recently found some Sals Suds at my local health food store and I am very excited to use it. I found a recipe for making dish soap with vinegar, water and some kosher salt to thicken. It also called for lemon juice or citric acid but I don’t have any on hand at the moment.

I filled up my “in sink” dispenser and I found that the soap works well. But, I’ve noticed that the first pump of the soap is a always discolored blue. The pump is brushed nickel, is this a harmless reaction or should I not be soap this way? Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Adrienne – My first guess is that it’s the salt that’s corroding the metal of the pump. I’ve never known Sal Suds to corrode metal, but it’s not entirely impossible. Salt, however, is pretty corrosive. It’s a harmless reaction, but overtime, your pump may be eaten away.

Ed says:

I managed to get some Sal’s Suds at a Vitamin Shop in LA on March 1 (it was sold out everywhere else). Is it possible the Sal’s bottle I purchased was part of the “quality control issue”? Or were all of those recalled? Have an infant so a little more sensitive about this stuff than usual. Thanks in advance.
Ed

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Ed – I realize this is from a while back, but in case others have the same question, I’ll still answer. The Sal Suds we held back never shipped out. We test every batch before shipment and there were some off readings for a couple batches which we tracked to a different way some of the raw ingredients were processed. But none of this product ever reached store shelves.

Cara Kendall says:

Hi Lisa,
I am really quite confused as I was under the impression that Dr bronners supplies cleaning products that are a healthy natural alternative to the harsh chemicals on the market. I was going through the ingredients list of Sal Suds and to my surprise found that the 2nd ingredient was Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, also known as SLS! This is a known skin & eye irritant, It pollutes our groundwater, It is actually a pesticide and herbicide, It emits toxic fumes when heated, It has corrosive properties, Long-term permeation of the body’s tissues, it has Nitrate and other solvent contamination, Manufacturing process is highly polluting, It helps other chemicals get into your body……..WHY? Especially when you can use many other healthy alternatives to manufacture your product??

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Cara – I am terribly sorry at my delay in responding to your concern. It is great to hear how carefully you are reading your product labels. That is something that not enough consumers do. I wrote a post specifically about some of your SLS concerns – https://www.lisabronner.com/there-is-no-cancer-risk-from-sls-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/. The long story short, is that many of your concerns are confusing SLS with SLES, which is sodium laureth sulfate. I know it’s only a syllable as far as the name is concerned, but chemically speaking, it’s a world of difference. SLES has undergone ethoxylation, which adds the risk of contamination of 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, both of which are known human carcinogens. The toxicitiy, corrosiveness, and body absorption you’ve heard of may stem from the SLS/SLES confusion.

SLS is not a biocide of any sort. It is a surfactant which means it grabs hold of water with one end and grime/dirt/nasty stuff with the other end and rinses them away. SLS can be drying and thus irritating to the skin, and the pH of course is too high for the eyes, which means it should not be in personal care products. It is, nonetheless, found in many, many conventional shampoos, toothpastes, and body washes. Our CAstile soaps, which are formulated primarily for personal care use, even though, they have many many other uses, contain the best ingredients for our skin.

Sal Suds is completely biodegradable. We’ve had it certified for use in grey water systems. I’d be happy to send you those reports if you’d like to email me at lisa@drbronner.com.

For more info, check out the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Cleaning Site. Here’s what their review of Sal Suds: http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/496-DrBronnersSalSudsLiquidCleaner.

Gail S Pennington says:

Is it safe to use Sal Suds on a dogs coat in between shampoos?

Thanking you in advance,
Gail

mark pirkl says:

I would like to use Sal Suds in my animal hospital for general cleaning. We use other special cleaners that are approved for Parvo virus. I use Sal Suds at my home. However, at my clinic I need to have an OSHA approved secondary label that I can put on a spray bottler with dilution information. Do you produce a secondary label?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Mark – We haven’t heard of that, but I could give you a Safety Data Sheet, if that would help?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Dustin – In some batches that never were sent out we noticed some off readings during the routine QC. So there was a back log until we sorted it out. It turned out there had been a change in how some of the raw materials were processed. WE have fixed it now and supply is back up and running.

Lisa Bronner says:

Time for true confessions, folks. It is February 9, 2017, and I have missed several months of comments for the simple reasons that things went a little crazy around here. I very much apologize. I am tackling them now for the sake of those faithful and new readers who might actually read them all. I am going to start with the most recent. Bear with me.

Maureen Mabbort says:

Thanks Lisa. It will be great to have you back. I actually managed to get one 16fl oz Sal Suds on Amazon last week. I looked on it as a gift from God as he knew I was so desperate. Lol. There was another seller selling two 32 fl oz for £108 the postage was £4 95 so it was somewhere here in the U.K. I will look later to see if they sold.
Forever faithful
Maureen

Lisa Bronner says:

The Sal Suds has been a trial, but we think we tracked down the issue and are back in full production. It will take a bit for the supply to reach all retailers, but it’s coming. Thank you for your patience!

Susan says:

When will Sal Suds be available again? It was marked ‘sold out’ in January and is still sold out when I checked today. I’m out and miss this wonderful product!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Susan – We had a quality control issue that we have now resolved. We are in full production again and you should see it in your stores soon. We will restock our own webstore after we have stocked other retailers, so you will probably see it elsewhere first.

Björn says:

Looks like a great blog! 🙂

I have been looking for homemade recipes to clean things like the bathroom and get rid of bacteria, proteins and others.
I have come across this Sal Suds as an ingredient in several mixes but it seems to be out of stock everywhere?

Where do you guys get your hands on it?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi there – We had to stop production for a bit because of a quality issue, but it’s resolved now and we are resupplying retailers. Where are you located?

Kate says:

When diluted is the biodegradable sals suds ph neutral? Just wanting to know if it is safe for natural stone, porcelain, chrome fixtures and quartz. If so, how much dilution – Thank you. Also is it safe for painted walls and does it need to be rinsed

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Kate – Diluting the Sal Suds does also dilute the pH. I just tested the pH of my Sal Suds Spray (1 Tbsp. of Sal Suds in 1 quart of water) , and my home litmus strips showed it as a neutral pH. It is safe for natural stones. If you wipe with a damp cloth, you do not need to do an extra rinsing step.

Paige J says:

What is the formula/instruction for the HE washing machines? I am scared to put it in the washer and it cause clogging. Please advise 🙂

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Paige – HE machines take half the amount – around 1 Tablespoon, or 15 ml of Sal Suds.

Ginny says:

Is it ok if a jug of Sal Suds gets completely frozen? I ordered Sal Suds online but when I received it, it was solid as a rock. Just wondering if that affects its chemistry in any way?

Tamara Duckworth says:

Can you tell me at what temperature Sal Suds solidifies?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Tamara – At about 68, you’ll notice the Sal Suds gets white and thicker. It would solidify in the upper 50’s.

Ginny says:

Is there any particular reason Sal Suds seems to be out of stock everywhere? Has it been discontinued?

Cat says:

I love sal suds. I’ve used it since 2000.

Any data on its effectiveness on the herpes viruses, ebstein barr virus? I’d like to know what I’m washing my dishes with and what’s it’s doing.

Dustin Blythe says:

Just curious, wondering what Lisa and others think: When using Sal Suds for laundry, do you add washing soda, baking soda, salt or anything else or do you find that Sal Suds works just as well alone? I had made a gallon of laundry soap with the above ingredients combined, and had no complaints, but ran out and did not make more. I ended up using straight Sal Suds and was curious what others thought. I know using it in a solution might save money in the long run, but otherwise is there a difference? Do the ingredients in Sal Suds effectively render the other additives moot?

Leigh says:

One more question too….is castile or sal suds better for cleaning toilets and bath tub scum?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Leigh – I would use Sal Suds for both of these. It is more clean rinsing than the Castile, but this is only noticeable on shiny surfaces, such as those we find in the bathroom. It’s also even more concentrated than the Castile, so you’d need less.

Leigh says:

Is sal suds or castile soap better for cleaning car interiors (I’m thinking vinyl dash, leather seats, and spot touching some carpet stains)? I would just want to spray on a microfiber cloth and go to town if possible. Whichever one is better….would I use one of your general purpose spray recipes, or is there a difference dilution I should use in a spray bottle? Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Leigh – I’m so sorry for the delay here! Either would do the job great. I can’t think of a reason I would grab one over the other in this application. I would use whichever one was handiest. The All Purpose spray dilutions with a microfiber cloth is exactly what you need.

John says:

Lisa, whats the word on the shortage of sals suds? We’ve converted everything over to sals and now cant get it, the bronners website says out of stock and they’re saying they hope to have more in a month or so.

Kate says:

What is the ph of the cleaner. Does it change when diluted. I am looking for a cleaner safe on porcelain tile and chrome and acrylic

bridgette says:

Hi Lisa,

You mentioned “half cup” for the dishwashing dilution. May I know how much is that? I understand the amount can vary when it comes to baking, depending on the ingredients being measured out.
Thanks!

Jo says:

Hi! The trick is that cups measure volume, not weight… so here is the standard equivalents:
1 cup is 240ml
1 tablespoon is 15ml
1 teaspoon is 5ml
And so on for the half measures, thirds and quarters…

Sari says:

Dear Lisa Bronner,

I would like to ask for pre diluted washing dish by hand, which is 1/2 cup for a quart of water and using squirt bottle.

My question is, when we wash the dishes, do we mix this pre diluted with water again or that’s the final mix to wash dish straight away?

Thanks!
Sari.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sari – That’s what you would use total – like to spray down dishes and scrub them. If you wanted to fill a sink, you could estimate the size of the sink and calculate accordingly. Feel free to adjust this, though. My dilutions are starting points. Use less if it does the job. More if there’s a lot of grease, etc.

About Lisa Bronner

My grandfather was Dr. Bronner, my family makes soap, and I share ways to use it plus tips on greener living.

Learn about my book, Soap & Soul!

Learn More

Print Now!

Sal Suds Cheat Sheet

Sal Suds, Sal Suds, How do I love thee?

DOWNLOAD

Print Now!

Hoja de Dilución

Sal Suds Limpiador Multiusos Biodegradable

DOWNLOAD