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Dr. Bronner's

Green Laundry Care With Dr. Bronner’s

Green Laundry Care with Dr. Bronner's

Profoundly grateful. Every time I load my washer, I feel it. I am so very, very appreciative for all the people whose ingenuity and curiosity led to the invention of the modern-day washing machine.

The whole process of washing my clothes takes roughly 5 active minutes of my time. I realize when I add in “thinking about the laundry,” “getting distracted while doing the laundry,” and “rewashing the laundry because I left it wet in the washer for a week,” then the process gets longer. But as far as my active participation in one load, there’s just a couple minutes to start it and a few minutes to hang clothes to dry or transfer to the dryer. As of yet, there’s no automated way to fold the laundry and put it away so we’re still pretty much just as mechanical as our 19th century counterparts. And while I am missing out on the cardio and muscle-toning aspects of washing king-sized bedsheets by hand, I can start a load while the coffee is brewing and feel productive while reading the morning paper.

If I had a pie chart of how I use the most Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds in my home, the greatest wedge would be laundry. Not because I use a lot per load, but rather because I do a lot of laundry. With five humans, two cats, one dog, and acres of dirt, that’s to be expected.

My laundry cabinet has both Sal Suds and Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap, but I reach for Sal Suds more often because it’s a bit tougher on stains and more effective in my hard water. I got started using Sal Suds on my clothes not because my dad invented it (sorry, Pop), but because as I learned about problematic ingredients in cleaning products, I realized that any of them left on fabrics in the wash were going to spend a whole lot of time in contact with my skin, and my family’s skin. That adds up to a lot of exposure. In the video, I go into greater detail about these ingredients, but the end result was my wanting “clean” laundry cleaners, which the Pure-Castile soap and Sal Suds are.

My laundry regimen

It’s pretty is simple. For clothing, I use about 1½ Tbsp. (15-22 mL) of Sal Suds or 3-4 Tbsp. (45-60 mL) of Pure-Castile Liquid soap for each large load in my regular washer. Double these amounts in standard washing machines.

When I’m washing something grubbier, like towels, I might throw in a 1/4 cup (60 mL) of baking soda and with the Castile, because I have hard water, I’ll add ½ cup (120 mL) of vinegar to the rinse water via the fabric softener compartment. Again, double these amounts in standard washing machines. Both the Sal Suds and Castile soap biodegrade readily and are safe for septic and greywater systems.

For the inevitable ketchup/grass/last night’s dinner on clothing, I pre-treat the stain by dabbing a small amount of Sal Suds directly on to it before washing. For broader stains, like ring-around-the-collar, I spray them with my Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray.

That’s it. I feel I should apologize for being so simple, but my laundry comes clean, the colors stay vibrantly in place, and my clothes don’t wear down unduly. I’m good with that.

Then comes the drying

Drying our clothes is probably the single harshest thing we do to them, or at least it is once we’re old enough to find that sliding on our knees on asphalt is no longer fun. The dryer shortens the life-span of our clothes, not to mention takes a tremendous amount of energy. Air-drying clothes is best for the clothes, best for your energy bills, and best for the environment.

Dr. Bronner’s in HE washing machines

While I’ve had many testimonials over the years from customers and colleagues alike about how well Dr. Bronner’s Castile and Sal Suds works in HE (high efficiency) washing machines, we now have the testing to verify this! This is important because HE washing machines use less water and as such, require detergents formulated to have low foam.

The products underwent testing by a third-party research firm and met test criteria for “acceptable HE detergent” when used at the recommended dilutions of either 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds or 2-3 Tbsp. Castile for a large load. Testing parameters included:

  • The soap/detergent suds cannot fill the machine past 1/3 of the window at any time.
  • The average cycle time cannot exceed the estimated cycle time by 15 minutes. This would indicate the machine senses excess product/suds and increases the rinse time.
  • Machine cannot initiate a “suds lock error” which would be another indicator of an abundance of suds.
  • To pass as “an acceptable HE detergent”, the test is done 4 times and must meet the criteria each time.

The three foundational pillars of my house

All this talk about laundry is part of what I rather recently realized are the three foundational pillars of my house: bed, laundry, and dishes. These three tasks control my productivity, my house’s order, and my peace of mind. When my day rolls out in front of me each morning, with its roughly 1202 undone tasks, I get overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I am a naturally indecisive person – or as I prefer to say, someone who can see the value in many different possibilities. It’s paralyzing. Now I have a starting place. Make my bed, start the laundry, load the dishwasher.

Here’s why. If I do bed/laundry/dishes, then everything else falls into place, or at least it seems to, which is good enough for me. If I neglect bed/laundry/dishes and start elsewhere, then nothing seems done anywhere, regardless of what I might accomplish. At the end of the day, it looks like all I did was lay around.

I’m past the days when life seemed composed entirely of one giant pile of dirty laundry, like some sort of domestic haystack, with kids of varying sizes sliding down it. I don’t mind doing the laundry, but am far happier to have the time with the kids.

Further reading

Sal Suds cleaner shows >60% biodegradation after 28 days per ISO 14593.

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Sal Suds Cheat Sheet

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

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Castile Soap Cheat Sheet

Dilute! Dilute! OK! But how much? Print this guide!

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Julia says:

I always use the Bronner’s products in my home. Sal’s suds in the laundry and cleaning the house. Castille and bar soap in the shower. Moisturizer for body care. I love them all. I even got friends and family to use them as well. The best part is I don’t have to pump my cesspool anymore because of soap buildup. Yay!! Moneysaver. I also invested in an Oxidize It system to wash my clothes with ozone water. Game changer. Finish it up with some wool dryer balls. Eliminate dryer sheets. Drop the mic. Lol. Stay well my friends.

Beth says:

I use plain Salsuds for all of my laundry cycles. In which situations would I add baking soda to the drum and / or vinegar in the rinse container?

All the time? For delicates or avoid delicates? For dirtier items only?

I like to keep all my clothes as clean and clear as possible, fresh, soft, without residue, but I don’t wish to degrade them any faster than necessary, since these are adult, light-wear clothes—not like clothes for kids’ sports, or dealing with dogs 🙂

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Beth- More often than not I use just Sal Suds, but when I’m washing something grubbier, like towels or rags, I add baking soda directly into the drum. Avoid for delicates as it could rough up fabric. Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, so I use that for towels and such too.

Beth says:

I just purchased a gallon of SalSuds for laundry. Can I add essential oils to it? If so, how much?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Beth- It does depend on the essential oil as some are stronger than others. Start with about 1 1/4 tsp. and then add more to your preference. I look for USDA organic certification and 100% pure essential oil to verify integrity and purity.

Estelle says:

Sal Suds is nothing short of a Miracle!!! That is ALL I use for my hand dishwashing. It cuts grease like a boss, is gentle and thoroughly rinses in Hot or Cold water. A little goes a looooong way. Plus it’s Eco friendly. What more could you ask for? Oh, yes, Laundry. Let’s not forget that! Yes, it’s truly a Miracle product. I don’t know what I would do without all of my Dr. Bronners products. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them. And thank you for all of the informative emails.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Estelle- It’s great to hear Sal Suds works so well for you!

Angelica says:

I would like to know if its fine to use castile soap with hard water
I have sald suds but I really want to use castile soap

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Angelica- Yes, many people with hard water prefer Castile Soap. Hard water isn’t often noticed when the surface is wiped dry, so drying counters or other surfaces after cleaning is the most helpful. Additionally, make the All-Purpose Spray or any other solutions with distilled or filtered water to minimize the hard water impact. If you do notice soap scum build up, it’s fairly easy to remove. See a deep dive on this topic in my blog post: https://www.lisabronner.com/scum-scum-go-away/

Jacqueline says:

Hello Lisa,

I got so excited about trying Dr. Bronners Rose Castile Soap that I didn’t fully research. I made the mistake of combining Castile soap and vinegar to my laundry top fill machine and it made a clumpy consistency. How do I remove this from my clothes? In instances like these is another rinse and spin cycle necessary to remove the residue.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Jacqueline- I’m so sorry this happened to you. The soap/vinegar combo has released oils from the soap, so the best way to remedy is to rewash with more soap. I would add baking soda and add a presoak time to the cycle.

Kayleigh says:

Hi Lisa,

Do you have any dilution suggestions for making a large batch? Specifically, a 32oz batch. Or, do you find that this only complicates things?

I am so thankful for your website–it is incredibly insightful and helpful! I am continuously amazed at the uses I get out of my Dr. Bronner’s products 🙂

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Kayleigh- It’s great to hear my website is helpful to you. I don’t dilute either Castile Soap or Sal Suds for laundry. I bought a pump online for the gallon Sal Suds, which dispenses 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) per pump and found that to work well. You certainly can mix the water and soap ahead of time. For example, if you had a 1 quart empty bottle, add 3 cups of water and 1 cup of Sal Suds. Then use ½ cup of this mixture per load.

Joanne says:

Hi Lisa,
We have a “High Efficiency” washer so I only buy detergents marked as such. Are Sal Suds & Castile soap safe to use in High Efficiency washers?

thank you for all of your posts!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Joanne- We hear from many customers who use either Sal Suds or Castile Soap without issue in their HE machines. HE washers use less water than standard machines, so the recommended amounts are half that of standard machines – 1-1.5 Tbsp. Sal Suds or 1/4 cup Castile Soap. If you have hard water, you may be happier with Sal Suds as it’s slightly more clean rinsing.

Amanda Chandler says:

Hi Lisa,

I have a top load HE washer. I don’t have a fabric softener compartment. How do I use the vinegar with the soap for softening clothes?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Amanda- You can add it in during the rinse cycle, in which case I recommend pouring into the tub water instead of directly on to clothing. I’ve heard from some consumers that a Downy Ball automatic fabric softener dispenser works, although I’ve not personally used one. Maybe someone here can share their experience. Use 1/2 cup vinegar in HE machines.

Pamela says:

I recommend checking your machine’s manual. I owned my machines for 10 years before doing so and learned a couple of things. My Maytag Neptune manual specifically mentions NOT to use a Downy Ball. Not sure why, but that’s how it reads. How much vinegar you use could be limited by the size of the fabric softener dispenser, like mine. All the best!

Emily says:

Hi Lisa, I’m really excited to start using Dr. Bronner’s products and have been extremely impressed with all of the resources available. I have a load & go washing machine which holds a reservoir of detergent so that I can go multiple loads without having to fill the detergent each time. I’ve looked into my machine’s owners manual and I have the ability to change the detergent concentration level, which the machine uses to determine how much to add to each load (it goes from 2x to 8x concentration). I’m wondering if Sals Suds or the Castile Soap would be safe to add to the load & go dispenser and at what concentration I should set my machine. I also saw some else ask about pre-mixing a detergent with water and wondered if that would be a safer option? Thanks for any help!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Emily- For this type of washer, I recommend Sal Suds instead of Castile Soap. I’m envisioning the Sal Suds evaporating and drying out if left in the soap dispenser for an extended period of time, which would be a hassle. So I think the idea of diluting the Sal Suds is a good one. Start by diluting the Sal Suds in half (1:1 with water) and give a try on the 2x concentration. In my research I didn’t come across how much detergent is actually dispensed, so if the clothes have a sudsy residue, cut the concentration down to 4x. Let me know how it goes!

Ronnie says:

Hi Lisa, for my HE Washer, can you tell me how much I should use for laundry? Also, should I put the Sal Suds in the dispenser or inside the tub? I generally use an oxi-cleaner and vinegar with my laundry soap and was wondering if I can use my oxicleaner and vinegar with Sal Suds? The brand I use is Ecos OxoBrite. Just want to make sure it does not have a chemical reaction.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Ronnie- Use 1-1.5 Tbsp. Sal Suds in your HE machine, added to the dispenser just as you would a conventional laundry detergent. Sal Suds and vinegar will not react with each other but it is not helpful to mix them. Sal Suds has an alkaline pH of 11–11.5 and vinegar has an acidic pH of 2–3. The vinegar would lower the pH of Sal Suds, making it a less effective cleaner. Sal Suds works great on its own to remove dirt and germs. Vinegar is a great natural fabric softener though. Use 1/2 cup in the fabric softener compartment.

Oxygen bleach powder, of which OxoBrite is an example, isn’t good with Sal Suds. This is a combo of washing soda (sodium carbonate) and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is pretty unstable, and the alkalinity of Sal Suds would just break it down. It would be a waste. For whitening and brightening, add ¼ cup baking soda to a load.

Laurs says:

Are Sal Suds safe to use in our grey water system? We water all our plants with our laundry water. Thanks

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Laurs- Sal Suds is biodegradable and won’t harm plants or grass in small doses. Depending on how often you’re doing laundry, rotate around where you pour out the water and alternate with non-soapy water so you’re not dousing the same plants with soapy water repeatedly. It doesn’t sound like you’re using vinegar or baking soda in your wash, which your plants most certainly would not like.

Hanna says:

I saw you recommend someone to use Sals Suds by itself as a detergent instead of using the Castile soap? I had the same concern as someone else who asked this question who was worried about the cost. I saw your reply and I’m clarifying so you could potentially just use 2 to 3 tablespoons of sals suds as a detergent? Also could you just add 2 to 3 tablespoons of sals to a clean detergent sound on the EWG app?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Hanna- Yes, 2-3 Tbsp. Sal Suds for a regular load (1-1.5 Tbsp. in an HE machine) does laundry beautifully. That’s been my regimen for years. I don’t know why you’d want to add Sal Suds to a laundry detergent, but don’t recommend doing so.

Sol says:

Hi Lisa, what do you think about spritzing the dr bronners hand sanitizer or a naturally made room spray on clothes while they are air-drying? I’m interested to know options to scent clothes while they are air-drying. Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sol – Very interesting question! Theoretically, this would work to scent the clothes. I haven’t tried it, though I have used the hand sanitizer for a quick hack to freshen musty clothes. As a long term use, though, here are a couple considerations: It might be a little inefficient, but that would be personal preference. My biggest concern is that the alcohol could discolor certain fabrics and dyes. Another option to scent clothes is to use squares of flannel in your drawers with several drops of your favorite essential oils on them. This would also keep the oils off of direct contact with your clothes. I hope you find something that works for you!

Sandy says:

Your dilution cheat sheet for the castile is the same as the Sal Suds. Can I get the castile cheat sheet somewhere else? Thank you.

Em says:

We use a laundry to landscape system. Is Sal Suds used in laundry safe for grey water that irrigates veggies and fruit trees?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Em- Sal Suds is biodegradable and won’t harm plants or grass in small doses. Depending on how often you’re doing laundry, rotate around where you pour out the water and alternate with non-soapy water so you’re not dousing the same plants with soapy water repeatedly. It doesn’t sound like you’re using vinegar or baking soda in your wash, which your plants most certainly would not like.

Amanda says:

Hi there! I work in the food industry, and I have odors and stains that will not come out of my clothing. I have tried almost everything on the market except your products. I suffer from eczema, so my skins sensitive. I was wondering what you reccomend me using for a front loader HE machine. I want to make a gallon of detergent and put it into a glass jug with a spout for easy measuring.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Amanda- I recommend the Sal Suds for this. It’s exceedingly clean-rinsing so at not to leave any irritating residue behind, and tackles any manner of dirt and grime. Use 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons in an HE machine. For an extra deodorizing and whitening boost, use 1/4 cup baking soda in the wash, and 1/2 cup vinegar in the rinse compartment. I pour Sal Suds undiluted directly in the load. You don’t need to predilute this.

Bridgette Raynette Robinson says:

Where are your products sold. I’m in Memphis I purchased the peppermint castor oil. I love it

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Marsha- Unfortunately I do not have a recommendation. But the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) is a great resource for researching products. The site ranks products based on ingredients, environmental impact, and such.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Dorothy- Castile Soap are both great for hand washing dishes – but unfortunately, we don’t recommend it in the dishwasher. It is so bubbly that it can leak out the seams. Check out the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) for a recommendation. They rank products based on ingredients, environmental impact, and such.

Rachel Savard says:

Sorry, repeating myself because I don’t see my post. What product would be best for organic bedding and baby clothes?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Rachel- Sal Suds is great on baby clothes. It is mild, exceedingly clean rinsing, and doesn’t leave residue behind to irritate sensitive skin. For these same reasons, Sal Suds is generally safe to use on bedding, but first check the manufacturer’s care instructions. They know their products best. Some comforters must be dry cleaned. Others can be washed with a mild detergent. If yours is the latter, Sal Suds will work.

Rachel Savard says:

I’m use to the lavender castile for general cleaning – absolutely my favourite!! Unsurpassed in function and smell!! But if I’m buying quality, organic linens that say I need to use plant based laundry detergents then what product do you suggest. And what about baby clothes?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Rachel- The Lavender Castile works for all this, and is a plant-based soap. The line between soap and detergent is fuzzy in some ways, and some would classify soap as under the broad category of “detergent” and would use the term “synthetic detergent” for detergents that aren’t plant based, but even that doesn’t really clarify because, for example, our Sal Suds has ingredients that are plant derived but go through more processing and so are considered synthesized. It’s a really hard definition to pin down. Perhaps a better term would be surfactant, but that’s less generally understood. All that to say, Castile is a plant-based surfactant. I think it fits the definition of what your linens are asking for. The Castile works great on baby clothes, too. If you have hard water, use 1 cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. If you do want a more detergent cleaner, use Sal Suds, which is plant based but also synthesized – it is slightly more powerful and doesn’t have the issue of reacting with hard water, which makes it more clean rinsing in such situations.

Newt says:

Hi. I use a communal laundry in an apartment building. Is this process safe for the washing machines? Also, I read that some diy laundry detergents leave residue on clothes and in machines, damaging both over time (I have not heard this about the Dr. Bronner’s products, just heard this in general with the grated soap recipes), Will the process you described avoid that? I would love to try this because it looks like it will be less expensive than the store bought laundry.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Newt- Both Castile Soap and Sal Suds are safe for commercial and shared laundry machines. Sal Suds in particular is clean rinsing and performs better in hard water conditions. It would be less expensive, because it is more concentrated. Bar soap works in hot and warm water only, and is not recommended for HE machines.

Stephanie says:

You say to use 1/3c to 1/2c of Castile soap per load. Is this full strength or diluted? If full, that seems like it’s going to be expensive to use. If I should dilute it, can you please tell me what the correct dilution should be? Thank you.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Stephanie- Those measurements are used undiluted. Laundry with organic soap is pricier. Taking advantage of sales (on our webstore or elsewhere) or shopping around for lower pricing can defray the cost. Alternatively, give Sal Suds a try. It’s more concentrated than Castile Soap and a little bit goes a long way. Use 2-3T Sal Suds for a regular machine, or half that in an HE machine.

Sharon says:

It’s a shame that Sal Suds is so expensive in UK, so not viable for laundry cleaning sadly.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sharon- I hear what you’re saying. It may help to consider that Sal Suds is quite concentrated, and is comparable in price per load to other products in this category. From the 946 mL bottle, you could wash 64 large loads, which is less than £0.30 per load. Or this same bottle could make 128 refills of All-Purpose Cleaning Spray and a cost of £0.15 per bottle.

Linda says:

In an HE washer, do you add sals suds to the detergent drawer or in the washer? Thanks

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Linda- Add it right into the detergent drawer or compartment.

iiesha says:

Hi Lisa!!

I have a question! Can I add baking soda to my gallon of laundry detergent? So for now I used what you suggest 1 quart of sal suds and 3 quarts water to make the gallon. I want to know if I can go ahead and add baking soda to the mix?

Also while i’m asking a question can I add vinegar to my sal suds all purpose cleaner to make sort of a disinfectant?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Iiesha – Baking soda is not water soluble, so you will find if you add it to your Sal Suds/water mixture, it will sink to the bottom. You’d have to shake it up each time, which would then produce a ton of bubbles. It would be best to keep your baking soda beside your jug and just add a scoop directly to your washer as needed.

Adding vinegar to Sal Suds is not a great idea. It will not improve the cleaning efficacy of the Sal Suds. Vinegar, as an acid, will impact the pH of the Sal Suds, which is an alkaline. Vinegar also is not that strong of a disinfectant. If you are looking to disinfect, wash surfaces first with Sal Suds and water, and then consider using an alcohol based wipe or spray.

Michelle says:

So excited….I received my gallon of sal suds by Fedex this morning. It was a Christmas gift to myself.
It was very cold and it is semi frozen. It is very thick and white. Is this supposed to be white or will it come to room temperature and be clear and pourable?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Michelle- I may be biased, but I think that’s an excellent gift to oneself! Solid white Sal Suds is an indication that the product has gotten cold. It is still safe and effective. To return it to liquid, reheat the bottle gently in a bowl of hot (not boiling) water.

Karla McNeal says:

Hi. I am terribly allergic to most laundry detergents. They make me ITCHY! Even the ones that are supposedly made for sensitive skin still give me issues.
Has anyone ever commented if castille or the sal suds were an option for sensitive skin?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Karla – Yes, I’ve heard this from many, many people. The Unscented Castile is a popular option for those with sensitive skin because it has so few ingredients, and they are all very gentle. The Sal Suds also works great for sensitive skin because it is even more exceedingly clean rinsing.

Jennie says:

I recently splattered carrot juice on a brand new white t-shirt. I wasn’t hopeful that 100% of the stain would come out, but it did! I soaked the shirt in water, put a drop of Sal Suds on it and scrubbed with a soft brush. I am HOOKED of Sal Suds as my stain remover from now on!

Abby says:

Hello! Would diluting Sal Suds with water make the product last even longer? If so, what ratio would need to be used? Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Abby- You can certainly mix the water and Sal Suds ahead of time. For example, if you had a 1 quart empty bottle, add 3 cups of water and 1 cup of Sal Suds. Then use ½ cup of this mixture per load.

Cerinda says:

Great info, Lisa! For best results using the castle soap on delicates in cold water in a front-loading HE machine (whew!), do you put the undiluted soap in the dispenser? dilute it? do you have to pour it directly on the clothing?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Cerinda- With delicates, simply add the Castile to dispenser like you would with a regular wash.

Jane says:

I use your soap all the time & I love it. My question is what can I use in the dryer to give my clothes a fresher smell?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Jane- One cup vinegar in the washer’s rinse cycle (or 1/2 cup for HE machines) leaves clothes smelling like – well, clean clothes. To add a little scent, throw an herbal sachet into the dryer. I’ve seen them at Trader Joe’s and on Etsy. While I’ve not personally made them, here’s a tutorial to make your own. Just be sure to sew sachets closed so they remain sealed in the dryer. https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/herbs/diy-lavender-dryer-sachets

Virgie says:

Hi Lisa,
Can I spray vinegar on my dirty clothes before to put them in the HE washing machine with Sal Suds?
Thank you in advance.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Virgie- While I haven’t done this, that should be fine.

Brinn says:

Hi Lisa,

Reading through your posts, I read the recipe for a larger container of liquid soap. The recipe called for 1 quart of Sals Suds and 3 quarts of water. I have Castile soap. Would I use the same ratio of Castile to water?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Brinn- Generally, I recommend using twice as much Castile as Sal Suds in formulations. The Sal Suds is more concentrated. So, if you want to predilute the Castile for laundry, mix 2 quarts Castile with 2 quarts water. Use 2/3 to 1 cup of this per load.

Mindy says:

Hi Lisa, do you know if Sal Suds is safe to use when handwashing cashmere sweaters?

If yes, would the ratio be the same as what’s listed for handwashing delicate items in the Sal Suds Cheat Sheet (1/2 capful SS to 1G water)? Or should it be adjusted for cashmere items?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Mindy- If the Cashmere is washable, yes that dilution of Sal Suds will work well. Not all Cashmere is washable though, so check the label first.

Lynn Braff says:

Hi. I’d like to make a gallon of detergent. Currently, I have been using Dr. Brunners 3TBS, Washing Soda 3TBS and Borax 3TBS. Because of the controversy about the safety of Borax, I was thinking of changing to Sal Suds. Do you think the mixture of Castile soap, washing soda and sal suds would work? If yes, how much sal suds should I add to a gallon of water?

Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lynn- There’s no interaction between Castile Soap and Sal Suds, but it’s unnecessary to use both as they are doing the same thing. You can certainly mix the water and Sal Suds ahead of time. To make one gallon, add 1 quart Sal Suds to 3 quarts water. Then use ½ cup of this mixture per load. Take care in using washing soda as it can wear down fabrics over time. Save that for the really grungy loads, or use 1/4 cup baking soda instead.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Heather- When used in hard water conditions, Castile Soap can cause fabrics to lose softness and absorbency. Vinegar counteracts this. If you’re using Sal Suds, or don’t have that experience, you can skip the vinegar rinse.

Michele Sharik says:

Lisa, you wrote: ” I bought a pump for my gallon Sal Suds online. It dispenses 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) per pump. ”

What pump did you buy? or what specifics can you say that will help to find a pump that fits?

Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Michele- I’m stretching my mind back here. I’ve had my pump for over 10 years and don’t know the origin. The Dr. Bronner’s gallon is a standard size. It takes a 38-400 cap – 38 mm wide with a 400 pitch.

LYNDSEY HOOVER says:

Hi lisa! So my husband is highly sensitive to alot of things. To point where he gets whelps or it burns his skin. So I have tried making new recipes to help relieve the cost every month of getting the expensive laundry detergent and fabric softner. We have a HE washer top load. So if I wanted to make 1-2Gallons so I wouldn’t have to make so often how much should I use to make it? I also foster dogs for rescues and have to preteen boys. so laundry is my live in home it seems lol. I am a asthmatic as well I have sal suds and dr bronner’s lavender atm. First time buying so just trying to figure it all out for best results.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lindsey- I’m sorry to have missed your question! Sal Suds is extremely clean rinsing and does not leave residue on fabrics to irritate sensitive skin. I add the soap directly into the soap dispenser, undiluted. No mixing needed! For a natural, inexpensive fabric softener, use 1/2 cup white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment. And for grubby loads – thinking of your foster pups here – add 1/4 cup to the wash for extra scrubbing and deodorizing of fabrics.

sarah baker says:

i was using straight vinegar for laundry. loved that it cleaned. loved that there was no residual detergant on clothes therefore no static cling on clothes in the dryer. unfortunately i think i ruined by washer. it was only 2.5 years old and the same parts were replaced 3 times from rust… wash plate, transmission and basket 🙁 i read several sights that say vinegar is safe… and just as many that say it will ruin the vales and seals. just dont wanna risk it again. anyone else have this issue??

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sarah – I’m guessing the acidity of the vinegar – pH around 2.5 – has been eating away at your washer’s components. It makes sense that it shortened the life of your washer. As much as you’ve enjoyed the results, it might be better for the longevity of your washer to use a soap or non-toxic detergent.

Jessica says:

Can you use the Bronner’s bar soap to hand wash laundry in the sink? I’m thinking about using it while traveling, and I won’t have to worry about taking liquids on board a plane if I take the bar soap.

Bo says:

Hello! Last year when I had moved into a new condo that doesn’t allow units to install our own washing machines (there is a laundry room on every other floor) I purchased a little hand-cranked manual washer (the WonderWash I believe its called). I haven’t used it yet, just out of intimidation that I would do it wrong. I decided to finally give it a shot, and was wondering if it would be possible to use Sal Suds instead of conventional laundry powder (which is what is recommended). And if it is possible, what you would recommend as for ratios/amounts. Thank you very much!

Oh, actually, sorry, as a follow-up to that, I tried washing some of my son’s cotton t-shirts by hand last week just in a bucket with a squirt of Sal Suds. Some traces of toothpaste still remained afterwards. I possibly might need to relearn how to hand wash (or get a better washboard) but I was wondering if perhaps I did not rinse out the Sal Suds correctly? Thank you once again!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi there- This sounds like a great device! I had to look it up and it’s super cute, too! I think Sal Suds would work great in it. I was reading the washing capacity from their website – Washing capacity: 7-8 dress shirts/ 10 T-shirts/ 2 pairs of jeans. I would start with my general recommendation for hand washing clothes, which is about 1 tsp. Sal Suds per gallon of water. If this is too much, feel free to cut back. If there are specific stains, like toothpaste, go ahead and put some of the measured Sal Suds directly on that before adding it to the washer. I’m curious as to your results! Let me know!

Christie Clark says:

LOVING your products!!!! So happy I found them. I have teens at home washing their own laundry, thank goodness! However, explaining that only 2-3 Tbsp of soap should be used will be a challenge I’m not sure I want to get into. Can the Sal Suds/Water be mixed ahead of time in small batches and they measure out 1/2-1c. for their laundry?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Christie- Yes, you can certainly mix the water and Sal Suds ahead of time. For example, if you had a 1 quart empty bottle, add 3 cups of water and 1 cup of Sal Suds. Then use ½ cup of this mixture per load. For my kids, I bought a pump for my gallon Sal Suds online. It dispenses 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) per pump. So I tell them to use 1 to 1 ½ pumps.

Georgia says:

Hi, I am trying to find the best gentle soap for cleaning vintage textiles. I love the look of the ingredients in these products and will switch for my normal laundry.
Do you think the Sals Suds or Castille soap will be gentle enough for delicate garments, like vintage silk dresses? Also how do they work with woolens?
Other places like the Smithsonian Museum have recommended Neutrogena original face soap or gentle baby shampoo as gentle laundry washes, but some of these aren’t vegan or don’t seem very ‘eco’.
Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Georgia- Two questions to start with are, can the fabrics get wet and are they colorfast? Cotton and linen can probably get wet. To test them for colorfastness, rub a damp q-tip on an inconspicuous spot and see if any dye comes off. Silk is the tricky one. Silk is a natural fiber, protein based like our hair. It can usually get wet without deforming. It’s the drying that causes the difficulty. If silk dries with any wrinkles or misshapen, the only solution is to rewet it. Silk also is often not colorfast if it is deeply dyed, so do the colorfast test on it first if need be. If you’ve gotten a “yes” to those two questions, you’re ready to handwash. Use cool water with soap – I recommend the Unscented Castile (light blue bottle). Use about a capful in a sink of water. Set the fabrics in the soapy water and let them soak for 10 minutes or so. Gently swish them around in the water and then rinse them thoroughly in cool water. Do not wring them but let them drip dry or place them on a white towel to dry. Avoid using detergents, vinegar, ammonia, or bleach. Here’s a website I stumbled across awhile back that looks like it has some good advice: http://www.thaisilks.com/images/sales/WashSilk.pdf. Care for wool is similar. As long as the label says is can be washed, then use a mild dilution of Sal Suds or Castile Soap. Whichever you use, hand wash is the best way to go. Wool changes size and shape so easily.

Georgia says:

Thank you Lisa, so helpful! Your advice is very similar to others in the vintage business. I finally understand the difference between detergents and soap.
So am I correct in saying that Sals Suds is a detergent that will be appropriate for washing cottons and linens (possibly woolens too), while your Castile Soap is (obviously) a pure soap and more appropriate for washing silk? (once they have passed the colourfast test.)
Thanks again

Ps I just cleaned my shower with Sals suds, white vinegar and baking soda and it was so easy and smells great! 🙂

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Georgia- In general laundry, the Castile and Sal Suds are pretty interchangeable. However, in considering the Smithsonian recommendation, Sal Suds is more similar to Neutrogena or baby shampoo. As you said, Sal Suds is a detergent, as are Neutrogena and the baby shampoo. I trust their research on this and they likely have reasons for not recommending a true soap. However, on woolens, I have found the Castile to work well. You could likely go either way on woolens.

Mary says:

I have not (yet) switched to Sal Suds for my laundry. I can tell there is build up on my clothing (umm… gross.). Will Sal Suds strip the build up off or should I strip my clothing using something else before starting with Sal Suds? Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Mary – I haven’t had that situation, but I really think Sal Suds would be able to get rid of the dingy build up. In addition to the Sal Suds perhaps add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the loads for some extra scrubbing/whitening action.

Deana says:

Hi Lisa,

I noticed the Sal Suds description states it can be used in hot or cold water for laundry. I could not find any info on the Castile Soap regarding this. I am curious if Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap is effective in both hot and cold water for laundry as well.

Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Deana – Ooh! Great question! Yes, the Castile works just as well hot or cold in the laundry. I’ll look into getting that info out there! Thanks for the heads up!

Wende says:

I love my Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds. A transformation happened when I switched to it in my front loading washer.

I’ve never used fabric softeners, only a “free and clear” type of liquid detergent, plus borax and sometimes baking soda.

I didn’t know that most liquid det. gets a slick goo when it’s mixed with water. Dr Bronner’s doesn’t, so THE STINK IS GONE!
Also, when I checked the filter after several weeks, there wasn’t the slimy yuck of previous years, just a piece of lint. That’s all.

I also didn’t realize that my old detergent caused contact dermatitis. Now the bumps on the backs of my arms are GONE! They’d been there for decades.

Wow! Thanks, Dr Bronner’s!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Wende- Thanks for that testimonial. It’s great to hear Sal Suds is working for you!

Kim Cassady says:

Do you add the baking soda in with the sal’s suds in the same slot at the same time? Or do you add the baking soda directly to the drum with the clothes?

Also, any suggestions for getting tough stains out of carpet or an area rug!

Mary says:

Hello,
My laundry machine requires me to pour the detergent directly into the wash. I just bought the rose Dr. Bronners castile soap. Would I pour this soap and vinegar directly into the wash? Also what measurements would i use if so.
Thank you so much!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Mary- You don’t want to pour the two in together on top of clothes. The vinegar will react with Castile Soap, causing it to unsaponify (more on that here: https://www.lisabronner.com/what-can-you-mix-with-castile-soap/). Castile Soap is perfectly safe to pour the soap over fabrics. In my top loader, I put 1 cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle compartment. If your machine doesn’t have one, you can leave the vinegar out. Or, if needed for odors, run the full wash cycle then add vinegar and run a rinse-only cycle. Some readers tell me they put vinegar in a fabric softener ball, although I haven’t tried this method.

Anna says:

Hi Lisa, I have a question about the bubbles, I have HE washer (front load) and I don’t see any bubbles while doing laundry, however it is clean and doesn’t have any scent. Does it mean Sal Suds is still working? Or should I be adding more? I have hard water here, I did the test with castile soap and the water was very cloudy.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Anna- I love bubbles, but they really are a false indicator. Although we often associate bubbles with cleaning power, there is no actual connection. HE machines use so much less water that the bubbles (which are soap and water, not soap alone) don’t form as much. If you’re seeing and smelling clean clothes, you’re good.

About Lisa Bronner

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

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Sal Suds Cheat Sheet

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