Click here for my updated how-to blog post on All-Purpose sprays.
I just realized that I have never blogged about my Sal Suds All-Purpose Cleaner spray bottle despite the fact that it is my most reached for house-cleaning weapon. In fact, I think I disappoint some people when they ask me what I use on various household surfaces, because the answer is mostly “Sal Suds in a spray bottle.” They seem to be looking for something more exciting.
This is the jack of all trades in my house. It’s great on my finished wood table, granite counters, tile floors, pleather high chair, plastic toys, painted walls, microsuede bar stools, metal grill… In fact, I haven’t found much house stuff I wouldn’t use it on.
So here’s my ratio:
Fill a quart (1 L) spray bottle almost all the way with water. (This is the fancy trick, because if you put the Sal Suds in first, you’ll lose a lot in bubbles.) Then, add 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) of Sal Suds.
That’s all. If you put in more Sal Suds, you’ll have bubbles, bubbles everywhere.
Hi Lisa!
I love your products ❤️
Will Sal Suds tackle bathroom mold?
I live in South Carolina, and the mold and mildew is a problem in the bathroom!
Thanks so much!
Hi Jean- I have a spot in my shower where water collects that seems more prone to mold. I use the All Purpose Spray made with Tea Tree Castile soap and enhanced with Tea Tree essential oil, and scrub it with a good stiff brush. The GIY Soft Scrub with either Castile or Sal Suds would tackle this as well (Find that recipe here: https://www.lisabronner.com/giy-soft-scrub-with-dr-bronners/.). Something I’ve read about but haven’t yet tried is, after washing give it a spray with a dilution of 50% rubbing alcohol and 50% water. Alcohol is a natural disinfectant and also will expedite the evaporation of the water. As I’m sure you know, prevention is best, and so keeping the area dry and cleaning it often help a lot.
If I’m making a spray bottle mixture using Sal Suds and water, would I need to use a preservative if I add essential oils?
Hi Jessica- The chances of your Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray going bad is pretty low, and essential oils won’t make that happen any sooner. The issue is that bacteria in the air might eventually get into the solution, and the microbial properties of tea tree oil may keep some of that bacteria at bay. If you notice your solution is smelling off, then dump and remake.
[…] grease. They need soap or detergent to remove. For these instances, I spray the handprints with my Sal Suds All-Purpose spray (Castile Household Cleaner spray would work, too), and wipe it away with a microfiber cloth. Then, […]
[…] worked. It took someone outside the family to point me back to the basics: a hot cloth and my Sal Suds All Purpose Spray. Boy, did I feel sheepish for not figuring it out […]
We have pets and kids to mention a little of our mischief& mess making days, can hardly wait to see how well Sal suds cleans up, as Im looking to cut out the plethora of storebought cleaners for a variety of tasks, the bottles just sit idly much of the time, being used intermittently. Dr bronners tea tree castile liquid soap is my first experience with Dr Bronners products, and Im very pleased with how well it cleaned a piddle mess made by my old heeler. The scent of the tea tree is wonderful, I look forward to getting my next order in.
Hi Rhonda- It’s great to hear that you’re liking the Tea Tree Castile! For Sal Suds, be sure to check out our cheat sheet: https://www.lisabronner.com/sal-suds-dilution-cheat-sheet/
[…] Deciphering Soap and Bodycare Ingredients – Beware of the “-eth” Who Gave Soap a Bad Name Sal Suds in a Spray Bottle How to Make A Castile Soap Household Cleaner Spray Open Wide Falling Off the Green […]
[…] *This cleaner can be used on most surfaces. For complete details off of Dr. Bronner’s site on how you can use this all-purpose spray, click here. […]
[…] my Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray or my Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile All-Purpose Spray with added pure essential tea tree oil (1/2 […]
Hi i just got my first sal suds i have heard a lot of how good it cleans my question is how to dilute it for an all purpose cleaner on the bottle it says 1 1/2 teaspoons per gallon of water so what would it be for a 32 oz spray bottle?
Also can adding lemon essential oils improve how it works
Hi Susana- Congrats on your purchase of an exceedingly versatile cleaner! Add 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds to a quart-sized spray bottle of water. Key tip here: add the Sal Suds to the water to avoid a bubble overflow. Optional: add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of essential oil per spray bottle. You’ll want to take a look at the Sal Suds cheat sheet: https://www.lisabronner.com/sal-suds-dilution-cheat-sheet/
Dr Bronner I am very interested in Your Product Sal Suds I have read alot of reviews and my wife is pretty impressed she loves our house to be clean and smell good.. She has in 40 years bought Every darn cleaner known to mankind and wants something that is multipurpose Can you email a list of what you carry?? Quantity, Ounces, She so particular about some chemicals and using them on various items in house!! So knowing what she’s spraying on each surface is Crucial to her.. myself I don’t really pay any attention to it it’s just clean.. If you would please send a supply list you carry and allow her to know some of the chemicals in it so she can assure herself it won’t hurt finishes etc. Thank you so much.
Hi Brent- I applaud you and your wife for your desire to learn about the ingredients in your cleaning products. The easiest place to find our products and available sizes is on the Dr. Bronner’s online store on the website. Under each products is a list of ingredients. Click here for Sal Suds: https://shop.drbronner.com/sal-suds-biodegradable-cleaner, and here for the online store main page to access all products: https://shop.drbronner.com/.
What dilution rate for hard to get out stubborn stains
Hi Bill- It really depends on the surface type you are wanting to clean. You can certainly play with the concentration to make it stronger for that stain. Keep in mind that Sal Suds does need to be rinsed off (or out, if you’re dealing with fabric), add the Sal Suds to the water as it’s sudsy stuff, and always test in an inconspicuous area first.
[…] Sal Suds All-Purpose Household Spray – 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds in a quart of water (10-20 drops tea tree oil, optional). My house […]
[…] make my stainless steel sink sparkle, I turn again to my standbys, baking soda and Sal Suds All-Purpose spray. I made a handy shaker for my baking soda out of an old seasoning […]
[…] Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray Fill a spray bottle with a quart of water. Add 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds. (The water goes in first, or else you’ll be fighting the outpouring of bubbles if you try to fill it after the Sal Suds.) […]
The dilution listed at the top of the web page is 1 tablespoon per quart of water.
But on the Sal Suds bottle #1 says, “1 1/2 teaspoons per gallon of water for general house cleaning”. That’s half a tablespoon per gallon (3 tsp = 1 Tblsp). #6 does say, “For extra-heavy jobs, dilute by half.” That’s a huge jump. I think that would be for the rare (hopefully), very tough cleaning job.
Follow #1 from the bottle (using decimals):
1 gallon – 1.5 teaspoons or 0.5 tablespoon
2 gallons – 3.0 teaspoons or 1.0 tablespoon
3 gallons – 4.5 teaspoons or 1.5 tablespoons
1 quart – 1.5/4 = 0.38 teaspoon per quart or appx third of a teaspoon or appx an eighth of a tablespoon.
On the sal-suds-dilution-cheat-sheet page there is an entry for mopping 1/2 tablespoon per 3 gallons. HHHmmm…..
Regarding laundry, 2 -3 tablespoons of Sal Suds per load. Doing a search I found an example, top loaders only use approximately 18 – 23 gallons per cycle. If we take 18 gallons and use the numbers above, that would be 9 tablespoons or appx. 1/2 cup. Far from the 2-3 recommended. I think I’m missing something about concentrated cleaners 🙂
Tracy, is your “soap scum busters” different than https://www.lisabronner.com/scum-scum-go-away/? I tried it on our tub/shower and it cleaned about 75%, but I really had to scrub, and I did the entire process twice.
PS: I used this calculator: https://www.calculateme.com/volume/fluid-ounces/
Hi Mazzy – I appreciate how closely you are reading all our info, and for pointing out to me that we do have a few inconsistencies in our messaging. However, many of the dilutions to which you refer are for different purposes. For example, for mopping, we want a very diluted solution because too much Suds on the floor can be a headache to clean up, thus the 1/2 Tbsp for 3 gallons. With laundry, we also want a very diluted solution for a couple reasons: the solution is in contact with the clothing for a relatively longer period of time (10 minutes is my go-to for the wash cycle) so a lower amount of Suds will get around to more and also, our clothing is not nearly as dirty as let’s say a bathroom sink so you don’t need that sort of concentration (for stains/really dirty spots on clothing, put that 2-3 Tbsp. directly on them). I do see the inconsistency between what is on the bottle and what I’ve put on my blog and Cheat Sheet. I’ll plan a get-together with our labeling crew and see that we get those aligned. I like the 1 Tbsp. per quart in a spray bottle, but these are all starting points. Feel free to adapt to your cleaning needs.
Hi Lisa! I am the gal always trying to help you catch up on comments & answering some questions. 🙂 lol. I use Dr. Bronner’s EVERYWHERE and am a huge fan! Anyway, I had one fun, BIG tip for all the DIY cleaning ladies & gents out there.
We all know plastic is terrible for us & the environment. It’s also bad for cleaning solutions containing essential oils. It’s ok if you DO use plastic bottles but if you can avoid it it’s even better. I looked on Amazon and was shocked to see glass spray bottles selling for $10+ EACH! My cheap solution:
Go to your local grocery store and buy a 16oz bottle of Heinz white vinegar. It comes in a GLASS bottle and the top PERFECTLY fits any spray top you may have left over from old bottles of cleaning sprays. I empty the vinegar into my larger jug of vinegar and have a CHEAP CHEAP (we’re talking under $1.50 for the vinegar + bottle!) glass spray bottle that is reusable time after time! If you don’t have any spray tops around you can find some on Amazon (I like the ones from a seller named “Kare & Kind” you get a 4pk for $7.99 plus 4 really nice caps incase you want to save your solution + some labels! It is the cheapest I have found. Also, “Cornucopia Brands” sells a 6pk for $10.99 which is a bit pricey for me.
Hope this helps some of y’all looking to avoid plastic!!
Hi Tara – Thanks for sharing more of your great tips and tricks!
Hi, I have had Sals Suds in my closet for about 6 mos and never used it. I remember it being white in color. Now it’s clear. Did the color change or am I mistaken?
Hi Dan – The Sal Suds often turns white in shipping due to the cold. Six months ago it would have been winter and cooler (unless, of course, you live in the Southern Hemisphere!) so that is likely the cause. Even if the Sal Suds is white, it will still work just the same. If it happens again, putting it in a sink full of hot water would clear it up.
I have a residential cleaning business and make my own proprietary cleaning solutions. My #1 ingredient is Sals Suds! My laminate/tile/glass cleaner works better than any other, my wood/molding, all purpose and soap scum busters make cleaning a breeze. 1 Tbs is a lot of soap for most applications outside of heavy grime.
Thank you,
Clean Queen CNY
Xoxo Dr Bronners!
Hi “Queen” Tracy – I’m glad Dr. Bronner’s can make your job easier. Thanks for trusting us with your cleaning business!
Can I mix vodka with the Sal Suds for disinfecting purposes?
Hi Dakota – I don’t recommend it, as it can affect the foaming power of the soap and cause it to become cloudy. If you’d like to read up on that, as well as some things that do mix well with our Castile soap, I addressed that in this blog post: https://www.lisabronner.com/what-can-you-mix-with-castile-soap/
Hello there! New to using Sal Suds. Don’t have much feed back yet. Although, I did use it in a steam vac for my carpet, but didn’t really see a difference. I used ONE drop, as recommended. Anyway, all purpose spray…. along with the SS, can you put vinegar in the bottle, too? If one wants to make a gallon of laundry soap, what’s the ratio you’d use? I read it’s recommended to put vinegar in your rinse cycle. Isn’t the lid locked? I’m so confused about how you do. I don’t mean to sound dumb, but can someone give me further instructions, please? I’m anxious to try it on other things!!
Hi Nix – You are welcome to fiddle with my dilution recommendations to your liking. They are just suggestions. Putting vinegar in an All Purpose Spray along with the Sal Suds won’t help the Sal Suds. It isn’t bad, but it doesn’t add anything. For laundry, I know there are lot of combos recommended out there, but I just use 2-3 Tbsp of SAl Suds per load. I don’t mix anything up ahead of time. Many washers have a fabric softener compartment and that is where I add the vinegar at the beginning of the cycle. If you don’t have that, another option is at the end of the cycle, add the vinegar and then set the machine for one more rinse.
Does Sal Suds properly disinfect like say if the flu virus is going around our household? I stay clear of bleach, but have often used Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes to sanitize door knobs and toys. Would Sal Suds do the same? Any other recommendations to sanitize things around the house against illness if Sal Suds isn’t the answer? Thanks! Leigh
Hi Leigh – While Sal Suds isn’t a pesticide (anything that says “antibacterial” is actually code for “pesticide”), it does a great job of getting rid of germs. You can make wipes out of it for door knobs and such, which is a really great way to ward off sickness. I have a how-to video here: https://www.lisabronner.com/giy-housecleaning-wipes-with-dr-bronners/.
Can you use this on marble?
Hi Lisa – Yes, Sal Suds is safe on marble. The issue with marble, and other soft stones, is that they can be etched by acidic solutions. Sal Suds is alkaline, and when diluted has a pH near neutral.
Started using Sal Suds for the first time. At last streak free bench top. Thank you for all the information. Can you use this product to clean stainless steel please.
Hi Florence – Yes, it works great on stainless steel. I wrote a post specifically about that which might be of help to you: https://www.lisabronner.com/cleaning-stainless-steel-appliances/.
There is a large discrepancy between Lisa’s formula for general use spray and the bottle’s. Lisa, you use 1 Tablespoon per 32 Oz
The bottle says
1 1/2 teaspoons per 128 Oz.
Can anyone please comment on their experiences?
Also, if I purchased my bottle previous to the quality concern issue, could I have a bad bottle? Wondering because I have three kids under five and want to make sure things are both clean and nontoxic.
Thanks.
Hi Robert – Thank you so much for point out that discrepency. The dilution on the label would be great for a bucket of water and a rag for whole whole cleaning, indoor and out. My spray bottle with the 1 Tbsp. is better for countertops and bathrooms. We’ll get that straightened out.
I’m thinking of using Sal Suds to clean some vinyl siding, but the wash and rinse water is likely to drip onto my garden beds. Will it harm them?
Hi Annette – I am very sorry to have missed your question from February. No, it will not hurt your plants. The Sal Suds is fully biodegradable. If a whole lot falls on your plants, the bubbles might dry whitish but isn’t harmful. If there’s a lot on them, just give them a quick rinse with a hose. However, if you’ve diluted the Sal Suds – like a small squirt in a bucket of water – you won’t even see this on the plants.
Can Sal Suds be used to clean a guinea pig cage and if so how much and how diluted?
Hi Marcia – I am very sorry for my lack of response here too! Yes, Sal Suds could certainly clean a guinea pig cage. Would you use a small bucket with a rag, or would you use a spray bottle? If it’s the bucket, I’d put a very small squirt in the bucket and add a couple quarts of warm water. If you use a spray bottle, go with the dilution in the post and wipe with a damp rag.
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.
Would you use this spray to wipe down a large wood cutting board? Since it’s too big to fit in the sink to rinse the cleaner completely off, there could still be a bit of sal suds residue left behind. Is it safe for consumption? Also would it disinfect enough? The board is mainly used for veggies, cheese, and sometimes cooked meat. No raw.
Hi Lisa,
can i add pure tea tree oil to the mixture as disinfectant? Thanks
Hi all. Great site…I found some good info…now if I could just remember it all! I do have a few questions, though. I currently use a borax/washing soda/Fels Naptha formulation to do laundry and mop floors (for floors and white clothes I add a little bleach), thinking not only was I saving money, it was relatively safe (OK, I could’ve sworn I just heard 100 people let out a very loud groan). Lesson learned. I would like to try the Sal Suds for these 2 chores and more. Now to the questions. I wash the uniforms of a mechanic…nasty, greasy (not just motor oil-I’m talking about axle grease, transmission fluid, etc.) smelly uniforms. I don’t pre-treat cause the nastiness is all over. At present, when I wash them, the smell of oil is still there no matter how many times I wash them, leading me to believe they are NOT getting clean. Will Sal Suds get the oily residue out? I have a front-loader. How much Sal Suds should I use compared to a load of normal dirty clothes? What can I add to get the whites clean, instead of bleach? Now on to the floors. I have dogs that are…incontinent, for lack of a better word. Pee all over my kitchen (tile) floor all the time. My problem is everything I’ve tried doesn’t clean very well, and makes the mop smell really disgusting after a short time. Will Sal Suds disinfect and deodorize without me having to change mop water several times a day? How much should I use for 2 gallons of water? Thanks to all in advance.
Is it possible to mix with hydrogen peroxide in the same bottle? Was hoping to make a one bottle bleach alternative spray for the bathroom tile. Also in what ratio would you suggest doing this?
Hi Alexis – I haven’t used hydrogen peroxide, but you’ve piqued my curiosity. However, I don’t have a recommendation for you yet.
Can another reader weigh in here?
It may be more of a problem, and cause a complicated situation than you want to deal with. Hydrogen Peroxide is as strong an oxider as chlorine bleach but in different ways. For the most part it is safer to use, and without toxic effects of by-products. Personally would use separate spray bottles, or use a sprayer that could be placed into the original peroxide container for these reasons:
1) Peroxide in liquid form is not stable and always trying to break down. For this reason it is sold in brown light blocking containers. Light will quickly cause it to break down into it’s by-products of water and oxygen.
2) Many mixtures with other chemicals are safe but cause expansion. Peroxide can be safely mixed with baking soda, will foam, but of course not should not be in a closed container where pressure could build and burst the container. You will need to check all the ingredients of any products and make sure there is no residue in your sprayer.
3) The sprayer would need to be light blocking and air tight to prevent deterioration of the peroxide. Chemically it is H2O2 or 2 hydrogen molecules and 2 oxygen molecules. This is a forced and unstable condition that gives peroxide it’s chacteristics. It is always trying to shed an oxygen molecule, leaving 1 oxygen to float away and H2o water.
There are other reasons but I think it is really easier in this case not to bother. Especially when you don’t have to rinse it off if you don’t want. Spray it on and walk away would be the easiest, I think.
I hope this helps
Wow, Dee! What awesome information! Thank you very much for taking the time to write all this.
your welcome
I have a wonderful dog named Ben that thinks the cushions on my couch are a napkin for cleaning his face after meals. They are slipcovered and I wash them to try to keep them at least presentable. After a few years of pre-soaking and hand scrubbing with minimal results I give up and buy new slipcovers.
I have recently switched my cleaning to Bronner products and decided to give one last effort to my very grimy cushions. I sprayed them with my Sal Suds all purpose solution….and threw them in the washing machine. I didn’t even let them sit very long…not expecting much.
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! They are completely clean…I mean CLEAN…not just better but no more deeply ingrained grime. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your great products 🙂
Ben…do your worst…I’ve got it covered!
Ha! Fantastic!
After using this cleaner (say on counters), do you need to wash it off? Can I just spray, wait, and wipe off with a paper towel or rag?
Thanks!
Hi Amanda – Yes, I just spray, wait, and wipe with a damp microfiber cloth (or whatever you choose). No rinsing needed.
Can you add essential oils or rubbing alcohol to this recipe?
Yep!
Oh, that is a problem. It isn’t one microfiber can not help with, at least not at first. I can’t handle cigarette smoke but did once move into a place previously occupied by a heavy smoker. It was repainted but nothing was done to remove the layers of tar, nicotine and other things in the smoke that had built up everywhere else.
Smoke clings to everything, from ceiling to floor. When there is enough you can see that it is brown and sticky so dust sticks to the smoke and layers start to pile up. This is why you are seeing streaks. You have started removal, and that is good news.
This is a job for Sal Suds because it is best at dissolving greasy, oily, and in this case tar. It will deodorize at the same time. To break up the sticky stuff that has already built up, you may need a stronger solution of Sal Suds. The Sal Suds may need to stay on the surfaces for up to five minutes before wiping, depending on how much buildup you have now.
If it were me, I would start with a regular dilution of Sal Suds left on the surface for up to five minutes. If that does not work, then begin increasing the strength of the dilution by one teaspoon, using the same amount of time on the surface before wiping. Work cautiously at first. Of course it will take more rinsing to wipe away stronger dilutions. Be careful with painted surfaces. Any cleaner mixed strong enough or left long enough to remove heavy duty staining, may damage paint or may remove the finish from cabinets or furniture.
Mix small batches*. A dilution required to remove smoke from upper cabinets, walls, and ceiling registers may be stronger than what is needed for counter level.
If you have inexpensive blinds it may be worth thinking of replacing those. If they can not be replaced, take them down one at a time, put in the bathtub and spray liberally with Sal Suds. Leave for five minutes and then scrub before rinsing. You might need to do this a few times to get in the crevices. Afterwards you can rehang them if there is a way to put something underneath to catch drips or lay them flat on a plastic sheet to dry. There is a cool trick of placing a shower curtain tension bar at the back of the shower to hang baskets from for easy storage. I bet that is another option.
Smoke sticks to all walls, curtains (or blinds), furniture and so on. Getting all the smoke out may require carpet cleaning or (worst case) replacement.
This can be a big job. I had to begin small. We used a day to get just the glass in one room clean. Rather than spending a day washing the glass from light fixtures, all those went in the dishwasher. Before, the light fixtures were brown and fuzzy. So were the windows.
Towels had to be put down before cleaning wood and appliances because brown sludge would drip off onto everything. It took a long time but eventually the job got done. That was really a worst case scenario.
I am betting you are not facing that sort of job.
*small batches – easiest way for anyone needing it, pour out 1 cup of regular dilution Sal Suds into another container, add 1/3 teaspoon to increase dilution if needed.
Or 1 liter/15 ml regular dilution, pour out 250 ml and add 1.5 ml to increase dilution.
based on 1 tablespoon/quart. 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons and 1 quart = 4 cups
based on 1 tablespoon = 15 ml and 1 quart = 946 ml ratio remains approximate using 15 ml to 1 liter base solution
this info or conflicting info may be elsewhere on the site. If conflicting metric dilutions are posted, of course use those posted by the people who know (Lisa).
dee & krystal,
wish i’d seen this before purchase. sad sigh. 🙁 doesn’t say “split” fiber on tags, label or site…hoping it was not a bad-buy.
Ritz® Microfiber Dish Cloth + Bar Mops/towels: https://www.google.com/search?q=ritz+micofiber&gws_rd=ssl
can you tell if they’ll work, or if they just added “microfiber” to sell more?
double jinx: “Some washers and dryers have so much fabric softener buildup they will still be ruined.” mine @ apartment complex, so probably…pre-cleaned in+out with clorex wipes…cold water, sal suds+baking soda, vinegar rinse. cool dryer,
thanks!
robin
It has been awhile since my first post, so I looked up the cloths again. I saw several highly rated brands on different sites, all described by fibers per square inch and none listed as split fiber. Maybe the issue of mislabeled or misleading cloths has been fixed. The Ritz cloths you mentioned are well rated on Amazon, the only question is if they have been clogged with fabric softener. If so, it can not be removed or stripped because it binds chemically to the parts of the fiber that absorb.
The Ritz cloths are expensive too so if the don’t work anymore, look on Amazon, Walmart, and others sites. I saw plenty of 15 to 30 count packs at $.50 to 1.00 for each.
When mine get messy, I run a sink of plain water (sometimes a few drops of Sal Suds), agitate them by hand, rinse, wring and hang dry.
Can I mix Sal sUds with vinegar
Thanks Dee and Krystal for your input. I will check Costco here and will try your method Dee of folding the cloths for added use.
Sorry, in other words, I would use the microfiber with plain water for the streaks and if you have wrung them out well, so they are almost dry, you will be left with a shine on appliances, windows and other surfaces without needing additional products.
Chris, it sounds as if you are happy with the cleaning using Sal Suds now, I was adding a way for you to remove those streaks with plain water among many other uses.
If I remember, I bought mine online which probably means Amazon. I think I got a pack of thirty or so for about $15 but can not remember exactly. To be sure, you can get affordable cloths without breaking the bank. If you care for them they last a long time as well.
So if I understand I should spray with the Sal Suds solution and wipe with the cloth? Do I use a second cloth the way you explained afterwards if I see some streaks? Do you remember where you bought yours? I have some but it may not be of the same quality. Thanks for your prompt reply.
Costco carries the 30 pack for $15
Chris do you use microfiber cloths? Try using those with plain water (wring well first) to remove any streaks. Make sure to buy microfiber that says “split” fiber or it isn’t really microfiber. If you look around you can get many for not a lot of money so don’t pay $10 for 3 little cloths. If I remember, I paid $15 for 30 cloths. That will last anyone a very long time if used right.
I use these for most light cleaning all over the house. They pick up dust without scattering it all over the room. Wring until almost dry and use for streak free window, picture glass, tv screen, computer screen cleaning without chemicals.
The method is to fold the cloth into fourths, turn it over when streaks begin to show, then turn over and use both sides of the fold. Refold until you have used all eight areas of the towel. Then rinse in clear water, wring until almost dry and it is ready to use again.
Rinse, wring well, and hang over a towel rack, they should be completely dry in an hour or so. Never put the cloths in the laundry with fabric softener. Some washers and dryers have so much fabric softener buildup they will still be ruined. Fabric softener clogs the split fibers and the cloth will not absorb water. Instead it becomes water repellant.
Okay, that’s all I know. Have you tried microfiber cloths to wipe away the streaks? 🙂
Use vinegar in the washer rinse cycle- it removes any detergent buildup instead of adding more. It works beautifully AND is great for sensitive skin- my son has serious problems with eczema and this is recommended by his dermatologists. This has probably been said here before but it is such an important thing to do.
Thanks for your suggestions. I will try them. Love the Sal Suds.
dee & krystal,
wish i’d seen this before purchase. sad sigh. :(doesn’t say “split” fiber on tags, label or site…hoping it was not a bad-buy.
Ritz® Microfiber Dish Cloth + Bar Mops/towels: https://www.google.com/search?q=ritz+micofiber&gws_rd=ssl
can you tell if they’ll work, or if they just added “microfiber” to sell more?
double jinx: “Some washers and dryers have so much fabric softener buildup they will still be ruined.” mine @ apartment complex, so probably…pre-cleaned in+out with clorex wipes…cold water, sal suds+baking soda, vinegar rinse. cool dryer,
thanks!
robin
I’ve Dr. the sal suds in water to clean my stainless steel. It leaves marks behind. How would one use the cleaner for stainless steel appliances so that it doesn’t leave cloudy marks behind?
Hi Chris! I LOVE to clean my stainless steel with a little bit of Sal Suds to get off all the grease etc. Then I follow it with a simple & cheap DIY cleaner: 1 cup vinegar & 1 Cup distilled of filtered water, (or you can use just plain white vinegar.) For a little extra disinfecting & scent I like to add 20 drops lemon essential oil, 10 grapefruit & 15 orange. But that’s just because I don’t care for the smell of vinegar. Don’t worry though once dried the smell is gone! Vinegar is AMAZING for stainless steel, chrome, nickel, brushed nickel etc. It shines like nobody’s business when you’re done. Also you can spray it on your appliances directly or onto a cloth, then I finish by using a microfiber cloth to make sure I have gotten any residue or gunk for sure!
Sal Suds + White Vinegar + microfiber= shiny & clean appliances!
Hi Tara – Thanks for the excellent tips!
Hi Laina – If my mirror is greasy or somehow really dirty, I’d use Sal Suds. However, if it just has water spots and maybe a few fingerprints, I’d just go with a half vinegar/half water solution with a squeegee or microfiber cloth.
All the best,
Lisa
Do you clean mirrors with Sal Suds? Is it the same 1 TB per 1 quart water? Thanks!!!
I am so sorry for my delay in responding to these comments. I hope my responses will still be of some help.
Andrea – 1 Tbsp. (or 3 tsp.) Sal Suds in a quart sprayer is a good concentration. You can add pure essential tea tree oil for an extra antibacterial boost – 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. per spray bottle. For toilets (and I should put up a post about this!) I like to empty the bowl by turning off the water at the back of the toilet and flushing the toilet. Then, spray the bowl down thoroughly with the Sal Suds solution. Take a good toilet brush and sprinkle baking soda on it. Use it to scour the bowl down well. Then let it sit for about 10 minutes. Turn the water back on and flush! You’re doing great with the castile soap. I use it foaming pumps as well and I use it on my face. The Sal Suds is a little more effective and a lot more clean rinsing than the castile soap. The castile tends to react with hard water and can leave a film that is noticeable on shiny surfaces. I use both, but the Sal Suds around the house more.
Diane – Thank you for your support! I had never thought of using the alcohol, but I can see that it would work since it is a good solubulizer. Excellent tips and reminders for around the house. I did discuss mixing Sal Suds and alcohol with a chemist. There would be no adverse reaction.
Gina – The longer the Sal Suds is in contact with a surface, the more disinfecting it will do. Ten minutes is recommended for full disinfecting. You don’t want to let it dry, though, which would produce the streaks. Unless the surface is really nasty, I generally spray and then wipe. If we’re talking bathrooms or surfaces that may have touched raw meat, then I’d let the solution sit a bit.
Lisz – I keep my Sal Suds in a quart bottle diluted at about 1:4. That’s really so that I don’t use too much and waste it. I have friends who put it in a pump and they don’t dilute it. You don’t need much, though. Yes, SAl Suds can be used in an HE washer. We recommend 1-2 Tbsp. per large load.
Hillary – Just like the SLS/SLES confusion (sodium lauryl sulfate vs. sodium laureth sulfate), there is a lot of mixing up of coco-betaine and cocoamidopropyl betaine. Unless you’re talking to a stickler like at Dr. Bronner’s, people interchange these two components in discussion and in use. If you were to order coco-betaine from most suppliers, they would actually send you cocoamidopropyl betaine. Cocoamidopropyl betaine is the problematic one, partially because the “amidopropyl” component indicates additional petroleum fraction. Coco-betaine is made from coconut fatty acids. I know it sounds like I’m splitting hairs here, but molecularly they’re very different. I have a Word document here that one of our chemist friends wrote for me about this. If you’d like it, email me at lisa@drbronner.com.
Jane – Awesome! Glad that you’re in sync with all that we’re doing here and that Dr. B products have made your life easier!
Whew! Made it through! Let me know if I can answer any more questions!
all the best,
Lisa
“Just like the SLS/SLES confusion (sodium lauryl sulfate vs. sodium laureth sulfate), there is a lot of mixing up of coco-betaine and cocoamidopropyl betaine.”
You can blame things like search engines for that: you only get results for COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE when you search for COCO-BETAINE. All of the results claim that COCO-BETAINE is short for COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE.
Actual information about the chemicals: https://realizebeauty.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/yes-coco-betaine-and-cocamidopropyl-betaine-are-different-chemicals/
EWG giving it their best rating: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701533/COCO-BETAINE/
Within the last 4-5 months i have begun making my own non-toxic cleaning and personal care products. I have tried a few Dr. Bonner products and find that they are fantastic – much better than the commercial variety of these products. In fact, I just had to say that I have an oven that has shiny black surfaces, and I have always had a hard time getting the streaks off after wiping them down. That is, until I used Sal Suds for my dish soap. I just wring out my rag, wipe down the greasy surfaces, and wipe over with a dry cloth. No more re-doing and re-doing it to get rid of the streaks! I have also used this as a floor cleaner, and not only does it work wonderfully, but it makes getting scuff marks off a charm – just another swipe with my mop, and presto – they are gone!
I also love the company’s commitment to environmentally and socially friendly products, and so will be purchasing as much as i can from your company! Thank you for making my job easier!! 🙂
Hi Lisa,
Sals Suds has Coca -Betaine in it – a toxic substance in the right conditions and not good for the environment. Can you speak to this?
Hi Lisa
I just bought Sal Suds for the kitchen. As I wash my dishes by hand, do you recommend diluting Sal Suds in a soap dispenser? If so, what ratio do you recommend?
Also, can Sal Suds be used as a laundry detergent for an HE machine? Again, if so, what ratio do you recommend?
Thank you!
HI Lisa,
In general when cleaning with the all purpose Sal Suds spray, should you let sit a few minutes to let it work, or wipe right away. I was doing my kitchen and sprayed all contertops and then stainless appliances and then went back to wipe. The stainless dishwasher was the last thing I wiped and you can see the run streaks of the sal suds. I’m not sure if I should have done that.
thanks,
Gina