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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 Tbsp. (15 mL) Sal Suds in a quart (1 L) of 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) ½ tsp. (2.5 mL) in a quart (1 L) of water. 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.  

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Sal Suds Cheat Sheet

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

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Hoja de Dilución

Sal Suds Limpiador Multiusos Biodegradable

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Meishya says:

Hi – I am looking for a better/natural stain remover solution for my toddler’s clothing, and am interested in trying Sal Suds. Do you have a recommendation for how I should dilute for stain removing purposes, and how long I should do pretreatment for before throwing into a laundry cycle? I saw one person recommend equal parts baking soda and castile soap and scrubbing the paste into the stain, and am wondering if doing this with Sal Suds would be more effective or if you have other suggestions?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Meishya- While my kids are now past the toddler stage, I speak from experience when I say that Sal Suds does an excellent job at stain-fighting. It can be applied directly onto the spot about 30 minutes before washing. I cover this in more detail here: https://www.lisabronner.com/pretreating-laundry-stains-with-dr-bronners/ I’ve not tried scrubbing baking soda into a spot. Because of it’s scouring nature, it could roughen up fabric, so test this on an inconspicuous spot. Adding 1/2 cup baking soda (half that for an HE washer) to a load does whiten whites and give an extra cleaning boost.

Stephanie says:

Hello, I just used sals suds to clean the interior of my car. After reading I realize I used wayyyyyy too much suds in my dilution (a big squeeze into a small spat bottle of water+vinegar). Is there any danger to using too much?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Stephanie- Sal Suds is great for cleaning car interiors, but as you’ve found, it is very concentrated. There is no danger from using too much, but if you like, wipe the dash and other hard surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth to remove excess residue. You don’t want to leave Sal Suds in the fabric or carpets though, because it will attract more dirt. To test for excess soap in the carpet or fabric, wet it and rub. If you see bubbles, you’ll want to go over it with clean water to remove excess Sal Suds. Here’s my blog post with tips for washing car interiors: https://www.lisabronner.com/green-cleaning-car-interiors-with-dr-bronners/

Molly Boren says:

What do you recommend for cleaning high chairs, toys, pacifiers, and baby stuff? I have twins on the way and I’m trying to switch my cleaning products to something more natural.

Thanks!!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Molly- Sal Suds does an excellent job on all these things. Because it is free from colorants and fragrances and is exceedingly clean rinsing, it’s an excellent cleaner for just about any baby item. When it comes time to wash your sweet babies though, use the Unscented Castile soap, which is gentle on baby’s skin: https://www.lisabronner.com/using-castile-baby-mild-soap-on-babies/

Karen Mitchell says:

Where’s the “cheat sheet” ??? This isn’t a sheet. Disappointed!

Jenny Rodgers says:

This was so super informative. Thank you. I’ve used Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soaps my entire life for everything. I adore your brand and your products. However, I’ve never tried the Sal’s Suds and that is why I am writing. Can you tell me what the Sal’s smells like? I love the way the Liquid Castiles make my home smell so fresh and vibrant (and clean) after using. Does the Sal’s do the same? Thanks so much!
A lifetime customer,
Jenny

Cleaning Stone with Castile Soap & Sal Suds says:

[…] of all types.  For a Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray, use 1 Tbsp. of Sal Suds in 1 quart of water.  For mopping, use ½ Tbsp. Sal Suds in a 3-gallon mop […]

Erin Joseph says:

Hi! Just want to make sure I am understanding the shelf life correctly…..
With diluted Castile soap, it’s about 2 weeks?
With Sal Suds, it’s about a couple months?

Thanks so much! Love your products!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Erin- I have found that the Castile All Purpose Spray here lasts at least a month, probably longer, but I go through it pretty quickly. I’ve never heard of the Sal Suds spray going bad, but again, I use it up within a month or two. In either case, if it is smelling “off” to you, then dump and remake.

Erin Joseph says:

Ok thanks! What about diluted Castile soap that is being used as hand soap? I heard 2 weeks.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Erin- The same would apply. At least a month, probably longer. In a foaming pump dispenser dilute at a ratio of 1 part soap to 3 parts water. In a regular pump it tends to clog and squirt out in unexpected directions, even if diluted.

Andrea says:

Hello – I see you have a dilution ratio for dish washing by hand…do you not recommend Sal’s Suds for a dish washing machine? If not, do you have another recommendation for a DIY dishwasher detergent?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Andrea- Sal Suds is so bubbly that is can seep out of the seals on the door, so we don’t recommend it. For a recommendation, check the Environment Working Group (EWG.com) database.

Shaena says:

So many people say use enzymes to really get rid of dry and new cat urine. I’ve had my hands rub against or in both dried and new cat urine. If washing my hands with soap (bronner’s) gets rid of both kinds, why not use the same thing on carpet, clothes, etc. with it, too? Does this (or the Castile) do well with cleaning up and getting rid of new and dried cat urine and smell? If so, what is the dilution rate?

Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Shaena- I don’t know about enzymes, but I can tell you from experience that 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.

Emily says:

Hi Lisa!
Just curious how long an all purpose cleaner stay good for? Just wondering on what size of bottle to make up.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Emily- I make it in a quart-sized spray bottle and have never had it go bad. So, I’d say a couple of months. Let your nose tell you – if it smells “off” it’s time to whip up a new bottle.

Sal Suds or Castile Soap - Which One Should You Use? says:

[…] Enter Sal Suds.  This is our biodegradable household cleaner developed by my dad. Sal Suds doesn’t react with hard water.  It rinses cleanly and leave surfaces sparkling.  No more film on the tub or towels!  For it’s multitude of uses, see the Sal Suds Dilution Cheat Sheet. […]

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Jeannette – Sal Suds does a fantastic job of hand washing dishes, but I don’t recommend it for the dishwasher. Sal Suds is so bubbly that it can seep out of the seals on the door. I have heard some customers say they haven’t had a problem with it, but when my brother gave it a try, his dishwasher didn’t like it. For a recommendation, refer to the Environment Working Group (EWG.com) database.

Cheryl says:

I used Sal’s Suds for the first time to wash a huge batch of dishes last night. I put some of it in a foaming pump bottle along with water. I usually scrub the dishes til they’re nice and sudsy before rinsing in extremely hot water. It took several pumps for each dish and supreme effort for me to get a sufficient amount of suds. As I dried the dishes, I ran my finger along each dish and realized that Sal’s Suds did not rinse clean, but left a film. So I added vinegar to the foaming pump bottle to cut through whatever was causing the film. To no avail.

I notice that my glass bowls which were washed with Bronner’s castile soap were crystal clear, whereas the dishes done with Sal’s Suds were cloudy.

Will the film of Sal’s Suds biodegrade anytime soon, or must I redo all of my dishes with castile soap?

Also, why does a product which has “suds” in the name make it so difficult to generate suds? Thanks.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Cheryl – I’m very sorry this happened to you! And also a little stumped here. What you’re describing is typical of the Castile soap rather than Sal Suds. Sal Suds is more foaming and clean rinsing than the Castile soap, and also handles grease quite well. Castile soap can leave a film on surfaces, which is caused by an interaction between the soap and minerals in hard water. I think you’re on the right track with a vinegar rinse to clear away the film. I suggest diluting it with water. While there is no harmful interaction when mixing vinegar and Sal Suds, the vinegar does break down the Sal Suds. The recommended dilution for Sal Suds in a foaming pump is one part soap to 10 parts water. As for the name, my dad invented Sal Suds. The “suds” comes from its bubbly nature, but we don’t know the meaning behind the word “sal”.

Katie E says:

Hi Lisa, I have been on the hunt for a natural cleaner for my Physical Therapy office. Is the Sal Suds safe to use on vinyl? Will it, or could it, fade the color or break down the fabric? Was also wondering the same thing for the Castile Soap…. Additionally I have been seeing some recipes that add vinegar to the solution. What does this do? Why would this be beneficial? Is it necessary? or unnecessary? Did I read that vinegar should NOT be added or used with your Castile Soap in mixtures? Why?

Thank you!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Katie – You can most certainly use Sal Suds on your vinyl and just about anything else that can get wet. Use the All-Purpose Spray of 1T added to a quart of water. The Castile spray would be good too, that’s 1/4 cup and 1 quart of water. The issue for vinyl is the water. Be sure not to overwet, and dry well with absorbent cloths such as microfiber. Vinegar is a mild acid, great for cleaning windows and soap scum. But you heard right – the two should not be mixed. The vinegar causes the soap to unsaponify. (Here’s my blog post on this topic: https://www.lisabronner.com/a-word-of-caution-about-vinegar-and-castile-soap/.) If you want an extra antibacterial boost in your spray solution, a better route is to add a couple of drops of tea tree essential oil to the spray.

Annette says:

Hi Lisa, I realize that this question has probably been asked and answered many times over – but I was wondering if Sal Suds can be used as a general all purpose cleaner on kitchen countertops? and does it need to be rinsed? And if it does work well on daily countertop use, what would be the dilution that you would suggest for this purpose? Thank you.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Annette – The Sal Suds All-Purpose Spray – 1 Tbsp Sal Suds added to a quart of water – works great on counter tops! After spraying, just wipe with a damp cloth. I like microfiber, but whatever you have will do the trick.

Lindsey says:

Can I use this in front load washing machines? And if soWhat is the recommended amount?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lindsey – Yes! Sal Suds works great in the laundry. For your washing machine, use 1-1/2 Tbsp. Sal Suds for a large load. For extra whitening, use 1/4 cup baking soda in the wash cycle. If you’re adding vinegar to the rinse cycle, adjust to 1/2 cup.

Karena says:

How did I miss that you are not supposed to use bleach with Sal Suds? I don’t use bleach often in my laundry, but when I do, I have never noticed any problems. (Actually, I use a very dilute (2Tbs/gal) bleach solution in EVERY load – this keeps my front-loader from acquiring odors, and doesn’t seem to have any effect on my clothes.) And in case anyone cares, I use 4-6 teaspoons of Sal Suds per load in my HE front-loader.

Heidi Johnson says:

Someone else had mentioned they know not to use Sal Suds with bleach. Is there some other whitener that would be appropriate for laundry? What happens if you use bleach?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Heidi – Add 1/2 c. (1/4 c. for HE) of baking soda, for extra whitening and brightening in your laundry. Our chemistry and R&D consultant, Dr. Vartan Libaridian, hasn’t run the full testing of bleach and Sal Suds together, but he suspects the bleach wouldn’t be beneficial. And baking soda is certainly the more natural of the two.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Elsie – You sure can! You don’t want an acidic solution on marble as it can etch. But Sal Suds is alkaline, and when diluted has a pH near neutral, so it is safe.

Cindy Cruz says:

Can this solution be used for indoor polished concrete flooring? Also, is it safe for pets?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Cindy- It sure can! Just be sure to use a low concentration so no residue remains that might make the floor slick. Sal Suds is safe for cleaning around pets, but not bathing them. Our Castile soap works great for that.

Pam says:

I’m new to Sal Suds! Can I use it to make a daily shower spray that is effective with hard water and safe for natural stone?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Pam- Welcome to Sal Suds! Sal Suds needs to be rinsed off for it to really do its job. It works by grabbing on to dirt and germs and then rinsing them away with water. The best daily spray is vinegar, which you won’t want to use that with a softer natural stone as it can etch. To prevent hard water build up (aka soap scum), your best bet is to squeegee or dry your shower so there are no dissolved salts sitting there that would later cling to the surfaces when the water evaporates. If you’re interested in reading more about soap scum, see my blog post about it. https://www.lisabronner.com/scum-scum-go-away/

Curt Rivadeneira says:

Dear Lisa,

I live in Albuquerque and am planning to get into xeriscaping. I have a small portable clothes washing machine which I use Sal Suds in. I have to manually drain the machine and dump the water. My question is, can I water plants with the water I drain out of my machine if I only use Sal Suds as a detergent? Thanks!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Curt- Talk about being “water wise!” You’re right in thinking that Sal Suds is biodegradable and it is safe for plants in small doses. But, that might be too high of a concentration for your plants. If you want to give it a try, rotate around and alternate with non-soapy water so you’re not dousing the same plants with the soapy water repeatedly. And maybe don’t try this on your favorite plants. It doesn’t sound like you’re using vinegar or baking soda in your wash, which your plants most certainly would not like. Let me know how it goes.

Maggie says:

Hi! I am just getting on board with Sal Suds and Castile soap and am really excited. I have a Hoover Floor-mate (a scrubbing machine to clean floors) and would like to use the Sal Suds in the machine instead of the Hoover brand. Do you think that is a good idea?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Maggie – Welcome! I’m glad you’re putting our soaps to work! I’m not familiar with this particular machine, but if it has a rinsing capability or method of picking up the Sal Suds as it grabs the dirt, then yes. And just one drop in the solution compartment is all you need.

Olivia says:

Hi Lisa,
When using Sal Suds to make an all-purpose spray, can I add vinegar to the recipe to boost cleaning and germ fighting? Additionally, when used as an all-purpose spray across my kitchen countertops do I need to rinse it off after wiping the spray off?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Olivia – There is no issue mixing Sal Suds and vinegar – although you wouldn’t want to mix vinegar and our Castile soap. However, Sal Suds does a great job all on it’s own and you don’t really need to add anything to it. Just spray the all-purpose spray and wipe with a damp cloth. It really is that simple!

Annette Mazzacane says:

Hi!
I am sure this is posted somewhere but I couldn’t find it… Is Sal Suds safe to use on granite? Is there anything else I need to add to it (besides water according to the dilution chart) so that it will disinfect bathroom countertops and toilets?
Thank you

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Annette – Yes, The Sal Suds All-Purpose dilution will clean all those things! Just spray and wipe with a clean, damp cloth. For toilets, spray the bowl and the brush and give it a few minutes before flushing.

marlene says:

where can I obtain the Sal Suds. I live in Ontario Canada, Alliston. Is there a place to help?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Marlene – Many organic markets or “natural foods” stores carry Dr. Bronner’s products. You can also reach out to a distributor in your area who will be able to tell you what stores in your area carry our products. You can locate the distributor serving your area on our website here: https://www.drbronner.com/wholesale/international/

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Barbara – The recipe I use to clean leather is from a Karen Logan book, Clean House, Clean Planet. Mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar. Put it in a squirt bottle (not a spray bottle). Use it sparingly so that the leather doesn’t get greasy. Buff dry with a damp cloth. If your leather is really dirty, you can use a mild Sal Suds solution of 1 Tbsp. in a quart of water, but if that’s too sudsy, cut it down. Spot test either method in an inconspicuous area.

audrey says:

hi lisa
i’ve been researching natural cleaners as i am interested in an all purpose gentle cleaner for our home-as well as pairing down on cleaning products
does sal suds work on eliminating mold or preventing mold in the shower/bath tub/tile?
and/or do i need to add “clorox clean-up” periodically for whitening or mold prevention?
if so can sal suds and clorox clean-up be used together?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Audrey – Glad you found us! Sal Suds is an excellent all purpose cleaner for nearly every surface. However, there is not a dilution that will kill mold as quickly and with no scrubbing as a conventional product such as Clorox, but the GIY Soft Scrub with either Sal Suds or Castile soap (I recommend Tea Tree in this case) and some elbow grease does a good job of tackling it. Here’s a step by step recipe: https://www.lisabronner.com/giy-soft-scrub-with-dr-bronners/. As I’m sure you know, prevention is best, and so keeping the area dry and cleaning it often will help.

Sondra Maze Ladd says:

Hi, Lisa! Would Sal Suds be safe to use in generic foaming liquid hand soap dispensers? The Castile soap works great for this purpose, but I find that it doesn’t remove grease from my hands when I’m working in the kitchen. I was hoping that if it were sufficiently diluted, Sal Suds would be both be safe and grease-cutting. Thanks!
These are the kind of soap dispensers I’m talking about: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018SUABWU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

Kate says:

Hi Lisa,

I want to use a natural cleaner attached to our garden hose to clean our patio and house siding – can Sal’s work for that? Do you recommend a certain dilution and will it need a rinse afterward?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Kate – Sal Suds will work great on your siding. It is clean rinsing, biodegradable and won’t harm any landscaping. Just a drop mixed with water in the solution compartment of your pressure washer will do a great job. At that dilution, it shouldn’t need any rinsing. I also have a post about cleaning outdoor furniture with Sal Suds if you want a little more about cleaning outdoors. https://www.lisabronner.com/2971-2/

Colleen Waite says:

I use the all purpose spray for my tile shower every week. It is awesome at getting the hunk out of the grout.

Lisa Bronner says:

Thanks for the great testimonial, Colleen!

Lisa C. says:

Hi! I’m pretty new at all of this…May I use SalSuds Biodegradable Cleaner to clean grout and Travertine stone(before resealing and as a regular cleaner?
Thank you!
Lisa

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lisa – Welcome! Yes, the Sal Suds All Purpose Spray (dilution) is fine to use on Travertine and grout.

Ann Ludwig says:

Hi Lisa –

I am just beginning to use SalSuds for hand dishwashing and for laundry. I know not to use it with bleach. But I wonder if I can use it with commercial spot removers like Shout. I will switch to Sal Suds for pre-spotting but I have quite a bit of Shout to use up. Thank you.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Ann- Glad you’re using and liking the Sal Suds! Once you finish up your Shout, Sal Suds is a great spot remover, but in the meantime there is no interaction between the two.

Scott irvine says:

Hi Lisa , I’m a chef and at home I Often use cast iron. The pots and pans I use are enamel coated lecruset.
They tend to get stained externally and it takes some elbow grease and lots of bon ami or bar keepers friend to get the stains out. Would sal suds help or do better for this task?

Thanks In advance,
Scott

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Scott – Well, some would argue that stains are a sign of a well-used, well-loved pot! A paste of Sal Suds, baking soda and little water would work on your enameled pots. Also try boiling water in the pot with little bit of baking soda and then letting it soak. Avoid cleaning with steel wool though.

Sarah says:

Lisa,

Do you have a solution recommendation for a spray to use on laminate floors? I need a quick and available cleaner for small messes. Thank you.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Sarah – I sure do – Sal Suds! For small messes, I just use my pre-mixed Sal Suds solution, spray and wipe up with a damp rag. For a large area, mix up a very mild dilution and there’s need to rinse. Conversely, too much Sal Suds will make for a lot of bubbles – fun outside with kiddos, but not so much in the house. If you’re using a mop pad and bucket, a dilution of about 2 gallons of water and 1 tsp. of Sal Suds. Add the water to your bucket first and then the Sal Suds to avoid a bubble overflow. Whether a big area or small, be sure to mop up any excess water as pooled water can cause laminate to swell up.

Linda Richey says:

Lisa,
can you safely clean laminate floors with Sal Suds? I use it on my wood floors, but wasn’t sure if I should on laminate. Thanks, Linda

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Linda – Yes, you can use Sal Suds on laminate just as you would on wood floors. Isn’t that nice? Just be sure to wring your mop out well before using and mop up any puddles as excess water can cause wood and laminate to swell.

Shauna says:

Do you make any adjustments for soft water? I’m especially interested for hand dishwashing but if you know adjustments for other situations I’m opened hearing them!

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Shauna – Nope, no adjustments needed if you have soft water. Hard water can affect the rinsability of soap, but there’s no issue with soft water.

john says:

Hi Lisa,

I would like to use Sal Suds as an HE laundry detergent. If I want to make a quart bottle to keep by the washing machine…how much Sal Suds to how much water?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi John – Since each load should get 1 tbsp of Sal Suds, Mix 1 cup of Sal Suds with 3 cups of water in your quart bottle, and then add 1/4 cup of the mixture to each load.

Carol Green says:

If Sal Suds is clean rinsing, then why is it necessary to use vinegar in the laundry rinse cycle?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Carol – Vinegar acts as a fabric softener for people who like that. I don’t use it either.

Dominicke Gordon says:

Can I use diluted sal sud on my plants as a pesticide?

Lisa says:

When using Sal Suds and Castile soap for laundry and stains, do I use equal amounts? Also in my HE washer, do I just use the Sal Suds or mix it with the Castile soap?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lisa – You only need one or the other. There’s no benefit to mixing them. I generally use the Sal Suds instead of the Castile in laundry, and if I had an HE machine, I would only use Sal Suds – about 1 Tbsp.

Lisa Bronner says:

HI Laura – Yes, it works great on aluminum!

Lynette says:

Hello Lisa! 🙂

Can you tell me…Can I used the Sal Suds in the dishwasher? We use all of SAL’s products in our house – laundry, diluted spray, shower wash etc….Over the past few months I have been using a blend of WASHING SODA, Salt, and Essential Oil for the dishwasher – well, the dishes come out with a film on them…ugh! The glasses are spotty. So…this morning I used my SALS to wash ALL the dishes by hand – which are shiny and looking so clean….and then I wondered – can I use liquid SALS in the dishwasher? What are your thoughts?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Lynette – Sal Suds does a fantastic job of hand washing dishes. The issue with a dishwasher is the bubbles. Sal Suds is so bubbly that it can seep out of the seals on the door. I have heard some customers say they haven’t had a problem with it, but when my brother gave it a try, his dishwasher didn’t like it. Dishwasher soap is high on my list of products I would like to see us make. We haven’t figured it out yet.

Amy says:

I use it in my dishwasher and will NEVER (willingly) return to regular dishwashing detergent! I put two drops in with some baking soda and citric acid, my dishes look better than they did with detergent and jet dry!

Lacey says:

Hi Amy, can you please tell me the amounts of baking soda and citric acid you use along with the 2 drops SAL’s in your dishwasher?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Pam – Yes, Sal Suds works great on wood floors. Very effective yet gentle. The issue with wood, as I’m sure you know, is not letting them get too wet, but that’s more about the water than the Sal Suds. Make up your solution (1/2 Tbsp. of Sal Suds in 3 gallons of water), submerge your mop, and then wring it out until damp dry.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Jackie – I apologize for my delayed response. Yes, Sal Suds is a great option on marble. The concern with marble is that it can be etched by acidic solutions. However, Sal Suds is alkaline, so it is safe.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Tammy – I’m so sorry for my delayed response. For what purpose are you diluting the Sal Suds? For an All-Purpose Spray, add 1/4 c. to your 1.1 gallon jug.

Mackenzie says:

Would you use this for things like cleaning up raw chicken or killing cold & flu germs?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Mackenzie – Yes, I use this for both cleaning raw meats and for getting rid of germs.

Roseanna says:

Great question Mackenzie! So Lisa, I wouldn’t need to use any other germ fighting, antibacterial/antimicrobial cleaner after using Sal Suds? How is it for cleaning up feces from pet messes? I’m not a germaphobe but I am VERY germ aware and don’t want to feel like things haven’t been thoroughly cleaned.

Kc says:

Hi!
Just wondering if I were to use Sal-Suds or regular Castile Soap for a counter spray, do I have to rinse the counters afterwards?

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Kc – If you wipe with damp cloth, you don’t need to rinse again. If you notice bubbles still on your counter after you’ve wipes, you might have made your solution too concentrated.

Lisa Bronner says:

Hi Ashley – I’m guessing this is an HE machine. While I don’t have one myself, if I did, I would use the Sal Suds. The issue with HE machines is that they need a concentrated detergent, which Sal Suds is, and it needs to be exceedingly clean-rinsing, which Sal Suds is. I would start with 1 – 2 Tablespoons and adjust to your liking.

Jamie says:

I have an HE machine and tried 1 tablespoon of Sal Suds. It worked great! We have dogs, cats, five kids (stains galore), and hard well water. I was really happy with Sal Suds as laundry detergent. I actually came to the site to try to find the gallon to buy that for laundry. Unfortunately it seems to be out of stock everywhere and it looks like I’m going to have to pay about $12 more for four 32 ounce containers than I would for one gallon container. It is about 33 cents in Sal Suds to was a full load of laundry. That’s about 20 cents more than with our normal detergent but it was hard switching back to our liquid detergent when our small bottle of Sal Suds ran out. Almost immediately I noticed the clothes didn’t seem or smell as clean as with the Sal Suds. There is definitely a residue being left by our “normal” liquid detergent that the Sal Suds took away.

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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