The tea tree one changed my life! At forty my skin is baby soft and no more lotions! No more acne soaps, everything but toothpaste is cleaned by your soaps. We switched to a high efficiency washer for a green approach to water conservation. Thanks for the correct amount of soap.
@@Noname-177 for facial use I would use their sugar soaps as the regular tea tree soaps is a bit too powerful for me but I still use it sometimes just put a bit in your hands with some water and clean away. It can dry you out but it cleans very well, naturally. I’ve been using the Castile soap in the washer it works well. I recommend using vinegar and BS like she recommended for a name brand (tide, etc) clean without the harsh chemicals.
Thank you for this! I have been using this product for over 15 years. Started using this as a college student. We are becoming more conscious of what we put in and on our bodies.
I use Dr. Bronner's with a laundry ball I bought from H2O at Home. I only use about 20 ml, 30 if the clothing is especially dirty, and sometimes add some baking soda, and find this works great. I think 1/3 cup would be way too much. My skin and my nose are so sensitive and most other laundry products are irritating and I love knowing I'm not using unnecessary chemicals. I do most household and body washing with Dr. Bronner's also. Great product!
@@ryanhoyt2210 We have an unused back bedroom w/a suspended ceiling! I hang everything in there . Some things go on hangers from the suspended ceiling frame, some things go over a couple racks . I have a ceiling fan in there which helps stir the air. That room is where I dry laundry during the too-cold-to-dry-outdoors months. And by the way, I haven't had a dryer since late 1994 !!
@@KRstar78 sure!...but that doesn't change the fact that they are harder on fabrics than line drying them or that using a clothesline uses 0 energy...no gas, no electricity. That is the ultimate in energy efficiency! All of the lint in the lint catcher is fabric pulled out ...the dryer is breaking down fabrics. I am well aware that dryers are more efficient than ever but that is a separate issue from the breaking down of fabric. Happy Thanksgiving!
I dry my clothes in Maine all year long with and old fashioned wooden drying rack, curtian rods in doorways, a dhower rod between the cabinets in my laundry room and those over the door racks and use the shower rod , not only does it save money, is better for my clothing and adds moisture during the winter months. When my 6 k7ds were little I had 2 very long clothes lines
Lisa, THANK YOU for this. What a lovely, clear, helpful video. I knew all this, but I am grateful for others to learn how best to care for their health and the clarity of our waters and ecosystem. Bless you all, Claire
I am touched you would reply, so...here's more great news: I washed my car with Sal Suds yesterday! Loved that guidance you gave, thanks so much!@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner
I've been using dr. Bronner's Castile soap for years along with baking soda and vinegar I will now have to try sal suds - and I am blessed to have a laundry line in my backyard I dry everything in the hot sun. Thank you for sharing your knowledge have a blessed beautiful day 🌼
Thanks, Lisa! I really like your goal in mind to keep everything as environmentally friendly as possible. I will take your products over commercial-brand chemical cleaners any day of the week!
Thank you for this video. I’m staying at my new boyfriends house, and I cannot find laundry detergent anywhere. All I see is that stuff called Fabuloso. Thank goodness I brought my own Dr. Bronner’s soap over yesterday. Watching this video now and will use that in replacement of regular laundry detergent! Thank you! Love your products!
Dear Lisa. Greetings from the Netherlands. We just discovered dr. Bronner’s a few weeks ago and are fast fast loving it. So far only the baby and lavender scented Castile soap, but learning quickly. Please remain motivated to keep up your wonderful work and philosophy. Will keep watching the channel to keep discovering new applications. Kindest regards, William and Marissa
I have been using Dr. Bronners for YEARS for my babies in baths. But now as my family has grown and left I use it as a booster on my laundry. I love Sals Suds for any and everything except body. Do not care for the messages and one world gov. message but love the products. Also the bar soaps at sinks are great. 🤗
Hi Nikolai- I'm so happy to hear the Sal Suds is working out well for you! I know you'll like the Castile Soap just as well. Find my Usage & Dilutions Cheat Sheets for both product on my website at, bit.ly/CheatSheetsGG.
I did not think much of laundry soap (except the smelly ones) until I used oxiclean thinking h2o2 would be my all cleaner product. After washing my underwears with oxiclean I got some terrible itchy skin rashes that I thought was the end of me. So now I am so leery about laundry soaps. And many are being made in China CCP that are made with very cheap ingredients like they always do to get more profits. WHo knows what these ingredients are and if they have a truthful labels. Never knew about the sal -suds product until watching this video. I will give it a try... Thanks for youtube and for creating this video.
Im in the process of building an off grid home and minimal impact piece of property. Im going to need to process my water. Traditional below ground septic and drainfield wont work as i have very fine clay soil. Been using dr. Bronners for 25 years. Looking forward to the cloths washing soap use and my projects cleaning the wash water.
Hi Natalie- You could check out the Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds which makes a slightly more fantastic laundry wash. Use 2-3 Tbsp. per load, or half that in an HE machine.
@@natalielear4902 Hi Natalie- Our products are usually sold in natural and health food stores, and you can also purchase Sal Suds online through our Australian distributor at www.drbronner.com.au/.
She says use 1/2 that much for those front loaders. I have a portable and the half rate still works for my sweat clothes. I don't use oil in kitchen so never have any grease to cut, but oil takes more soap.
Hi..I have used Dr Bronner's soaps since the 1980's, but today, 2020, I bought my first bottle of Sal Suds! I am going to mix some concoctions in my Mason jars of laundry and dish soap , using the Sal Suds.. Makes me excited to do housework !
Excellent! If you haven't already found my Sal Suds Cheat Sheet with the multitude of Sal Suds uses and dilutions, here's the link: www.lisabronner.com/sal-suds-dilution-cheat-sheet/
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner thank you! I was checking Sal Suds on the EWG site, and found it to be awesome that it scores an A.. Also, I found it interesting that in 2012, Sal Suds contained Spruce Oil, but the 2016 and newer version of Sal Suds was changed and no longer contains Spruce Oil.. Is that correct information?
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner I just ordered a gallon on your DrBronners shopping site..Thank you for the 15% off of my first purchase from the site, it saved me some money! I've used almost 1/4 of my 32 oz bottle of Sal Suds already and so excited to get my gallon delivered..I'm using it for all dishes/laundry and cleaning..I LOVE it!
Ive been using peppermint castile soap for showers for over 20 years....Im traveling and was looking to see if I could use it in a laundry machine. Of course you can! Thank you!
Valuable information. Thank you - asthma causes of a relative of mine discovered. I will use that when consulting clients in the organic shop I have been working in.
I'm really late on this but this explains why my asthma has been acting up, we started using tide pods with downy in them on everything. Sheets clothes etc. Gonna use Dr.Bronners from now on
If this isn't the right thing for you there aresome solutions everyone swears by. Instead pf dryer sheets,you can use either rags or better yet wool balls with a couple drops of essential oils in them. It's very inexpensive.
Sal Suds is my all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, and laundry soap. It smells great and rinses clean. For skin care, it’s Dr. Bronner’s bar soap. Unbeatable products! Thank you!
My mother just finished a laundry load using only Sals Suds after I got her a small bottle to experiment with (I use the Castile Citrus to shower with and like it better than many body washes). 90 year old Mom is picky about everything but afterward she said it seemed to do a better job than her usual powder brand, and left the clothes feeling softer with no real scent. So far so good so she'll continue with the experiment. If works out I'll get her the gallon size. We'll see...
Hi there- Thank you for reminding me that I should include metric in my recommendations for our many international customers. This is an older video, filmed before I did so consistently. However, the metric measurement are in the written description which I hope is helpful!
Could you mix the Sal Suds and Castile without having ill effect? Then you could still get fresh scent from one of the amazing Castile’s and then the big cleaning and stain removing factor from the Sal Suds
Hi there- There is no interaction in mixing them. Sal Suds has it's own fresh pine scent. Another option is create your own custom scent by adding a few drops of essential oils of your choosing to Sal Suds!
I have been making my own soap with Fels Napha, washing soda, baking soda, glycerin, boras and Oxy clean. It cleans very well, 1 tlb or two. I find it hard to believe that little amount cleans, but it does. It is also very inexpensive and you can get most of the ingredients at dollar tree. I am adjusting to just this issue, feeling my clothes need a scent for me to know they are clean and fresh. I will keep re training myself because I know that it is better for my family not to use commercial detergent, and our clothes are clean. I have to shake the jug my soap is in and I often think what a small effort it is to delete one more ingredient that I don't even know what it is but keeps commercial detergent from separating. Thanks for the video, I have used Bronner's my whole adult life and will start using it as well for my laundry.
HI. I use microfiber towels to clean, buff and detail my car. I ruined my old ones because I used a fabric softener sheet. I bought new ones and want to know if you have any suggestions on which of your products to use...I have the two exact products in your video. Thank You!
Hi there- I find that Sal Suds does an excellent job cleaning microfiber cloths. If they are extra grubby, I throw a bit of baking soda into the wash for some extra scrubbing power. In an HE (high efficiency) washing machine, use 1 to 1 ½ Tbsp (15 to 22 mL) Sal Suds and optionally, ½ c. (120 mL) baking soda. Double these amounts for standard washing machine.
Hi Lisa! Would it still be ok to use Castile soap if you have hard water? I wonder if the hard water would impact the effectiveness of the soap or something... thanks!
Hi D.- Each are effective cleaners all on their own, so use separately. When using Castile Soap for laundry, I do recommend using 1 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle (1/2 cup in HE washing machines) to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
@@Ohkeh640 Hi there- Use 1/4 cup Castile Soap. In hard water conditions I recommend also using 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle to keep fabrics soft and absorbent. The vinegar dissipates, leaving clothes smelling like... well, clean clothes.
So I'm looking into making my own laundry detergant. I've heard using this alone causes oil to build up on clothes over time and in the washer itself. I love Dr. Bronners products but the other recipes I'm seeing use washing soda and borax. I'm a big plain vinegar and baking soda girl for cleaning around the house so although I love the idea of using those, I'm just concerned about the oil buildup? Loved your presentation and will continue to use your products! Oh and another thought! The recipes I saw said 3/4 cup makes 3 gallons but you used what you dud for one load? I'd love to hear why that is please. Thank you :)
Hi there- Oils used in soapmaking are turned into soap during the saponification, or soap-making, process. None remain in the final product. But, a true soap like Castile does interact with the minerals in hard water, and over time those minerals cause fabrics to lose softness and absorbency. Vinegar in the rinse cycle mitigates this. Sal Suds, our biodegradable cleaner, doesn't have this interaction, which is why it's my laundry go-to. With a DIY laundry recipe, keep in mind some ingredients don't mix well with Castile, which I cover over on my blog: www.lisabronner.com/what-can-you-mix-with-castile-soap/
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner fantastic Lisa thank you ! You can count me in as a buyer, oh an organic piney Sal suds for laundry how aromatic ! GOD bless!
I have front load washer and read that a detergent/soap that is low suds and low residue should be used. I wanted to use Sal Suds however I've read from other posts that Sal Suds is "super sudsy." Although I can see you are demonstrating on a front loader, is Sal Suds fine to use in a small quantity on a front loader? If so, is it recommended that the soap be applied in the liquid compartment of the soap dispenser on the washer or applied directly to the clothes in the drum?
Hi Rosie- We hear from many consumers who use Sal Suds in their HE machines with no issue. Sal Suds is a concentrated detergent, so a little goes a long way. In an HE machine use 1-1.5 Tbsp. in the dispenser, in the same manner you would your conventional detergent.
Hi Lisa, i'm looking to switch to using just dr bronners as a laundry detergent, do i simply use only that? and do i use sal suds and the castile soap separate from one another? last question, is it ok to use the castile soap and baking soda for a white load?
Hi Aleks- Most of the time I simply use just that! Castile is great on laundry, but Sal Suds is slightly better at whitening whites and works better in hard water, so I use that most often. For a regular load, 3 Tbsp. (30-45 mL) for a large load in a top loading washer (half that for an HE). Often I use Sal Suds alone, but for whites or particularly grimy loads, I use baking soda in the wash and vinegar in the rinse cycle.
You may be using too much soap or if you used baking soda, you may have used too much of that as well. Also, when was the last night you washed your washing machine? I know it’s time to clean it when it doesn’t seem to be washing clothes as good and leaving residue.
Yes, it really does! If you have hard water, you might be happier with Sal Suds as it's more clean-rinsing in hard water conditions. Castile Soap works excellently as well, but I recommend vinegar in the rinse cycle to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
I saw one user make their own liquid castile soap by grating a bar of Dr. Bronner's bar soap and melting it in one gallon of water. Is this too diluted to use as a laundry detergent? Would a person still use 40-60 mL (half of a third cup to 1/4 cup) for an HE washer? One user also added 2 T glycerin.
Hi Diane- This solution is slightly less concentrated than our liquid Castile soap, so use a little more of it. Glycerin is a lubricant and moisturizer. You can leave it out of this mixture.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner , whould n that ( the use of a grated bar) create the same issues, as we ve been informed, about the use of , green,, home made soap,( grated and diluting in water),,, that it doesn t rince off, properly, due to the fact, that bars of soap, are diferently "constracted" and not easy to wash off clothes,, ??? Leading in a long term resedue build up, on our clothes???
I washed my hair and it darken it because of the high ph factor my hair was salt and pepper real pretty and now it has gotten darken. Do not use if you has white of salt and pepper hair.
You say to use 1/2 the amount of sal suds in an HE washer. But is that for a large, medium, or small load? I don't want to use too much especially with having a water softener. Do you have a laundry cheat sheet for top load (reg) and HE conversions?
Hi Hazel- That's for a large load. Scale back slightly for smaller loads. Sal Suds is exceedlingly concentrated and a little goes a long way. My Sal Suds Usage Cheat Sheet may help, bit.ly/SalSudsDilutions
Question. If you add the baking soda at the beginning, do you still need the vinegar at the end? What about Super washing soda or borax in place of the baking soda?
Hi Abigail- More often than not, I use Sal Suds alone. Vinegar is a natural deodorize while baking soda is great for whitening whites and freshening really grubby loads. Washing soda and borax can be used in place of baking soda, but are hard on fabrics if used over time.
Hi there- Sal Suds, our household cleaner is formulated with SLS because of its keen ability to cut through grease and grime and to generate suds. Studies have consistently shown that SLS is safe to use in low concentrations and in products that are meant to be rinsed off - both of which are true of Sal Suds. SLS can be a skin irritant for some people because it can be so drying. It is so good at picking up oils that it pulls them right out of our skin. You won’t find SLS in any of our personal care products, and personal care products (shampoos, soaps, toothpaste and such) that include it should be avoided. If you have concerns about Sal Suds, our all-natural Castile soap does an excellent job of household cleaning as well. For a deeper dive into SLS, refer to my blog post here: www.lisabronner.com/there-is-no-cancer-risk-from-sls-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/
I'm not sure about the other scents, but I notice that the orange scented castille has "palm kernel oil," which is a direct cause of the endangerment and potential extinction of orangutans in their habitats. I'm not a soap expert, but it seems to me that there should be alternates?
Hi there- I definitely hear your concern about palm kernel oil. We have that concern too, which is why our organic palm kernel oil is sourced from Ecuador with no clear-cutting of the rain forest and no habitat loss for primates (no orangutans live in Ecuador). Our palm kernel oil comes from small-holder farms in Ecuador, where Oil Palms have been grown for decades, and where they are now harvested by second and third generation farming families. The palms are interspersed throughout the regional forests, blending in with the surroundings to provide a very healthy environment for plant and animal life. You can read more about how we source our palm oils in my article, Making Ethical Palm Oil a Reality, over on my blog: www.lisabronner.com/making-ethical-palm-oil-a-reality/
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thank you for the info. My son and I will be using what laundry soap we have left and then using laundry balls and Dr. Bronner's Castille to wash our clothes from now on.
Hi Dani & Tashrya- Sal Suds is formulated with SLS because of its keen ability to cut through grease and grime and to generate suds. Studies show that SLS is safe to use in low concentrations and in products that are meant to be rinsed off - both of which are true of Sal Suds. SLS can be a skin irritant for some people because it can be so drying. It is so good at picking up oils that it pulls them right out of our skin. You won’t find SLS in any of our personal care products, and personal care products (shampoos, soaps, toothpaste and such) that include it should be avoided. If you have concerns about Sal Suds, our all-natural Castile soap does an excellent job of household cleaning as well. For a deeper dive into SLS, refer to my blog post here: www.lisabronner.com/there-is-no-cancer-risk-from-sls-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/
Hi MikroMack- Our Castile Soap and Sal Suds are intended to be used separately (although there's no reaction if mixed.) Castile soap is primarily designed for the body. The blend of oils (coconut, olive, palm, jojoba, and hemp seed) are designed to be the most nourishing to our skin. But because it is such a beautifully simple soap, it also cleans many other things amazingly well, whether it’s your dog, your sinks, or your floors. Sal Suds is our household cleaner developed by my dad, Jim Bronner (Dr. Bronner's youngest). Sal Suds doesn’t react with hard water in the way that Castile Soap does. It rinses cleanly and leave surfaces sparkling. No more film on the tub or towels! There's more on the difference between these two products and when to use which on my website at: bit.ly/WhichOnetoUse
Because our soaps are made with vegetable oils, there is sometimes the misconception that the oils in our soaps can cause drains to clog. However, because the oils are saponified - that is, turned into soap - this is unlikely. Our Castile Soap, like any true soap, does react with the minerals in hard water to leave soap scum (more on that here: bit.ly/GoAwaySoapScum) although this is easily mitigated by vinegar and other methods. In hard water conditions, soap scum can cause drains to drain slowly. A weekly flush of vinegar, followed by hot water (not boiling) is a great way to clear your drains. There’s also Sal Suds, our biodegradable household cleaner, which doesn’t react with the minerals in hard water like Castile Soap does. Perhaps try pouring vinegar mixed with hot water down and letting it sit for a bit and then flushing it with more hot water. This would also help if you have scale build up from minerals in water. Other than that, the next step may be opening up the U-trap underneath the sink (put a big bucket under it before you do this) and see if there is a build-up of materials in it. I know that’s a super big and stinky pain, but it always helps.
Here’s a trick I learned at a job. Pour your laundry detergent in your hand. Let it sit there. Within a minute, your hand will burn!!! That’s why our clothes don’t last plus why our skin and bodies are in so much trouble!!!
Hi Bobbie- Goodness! That sounds like a pretty caustic detergent! While Sal Suds is not meant as a skin cleanser, neither will it burn the skin. You are absolutely correct that it is often our use of too harsh of cleansers that degrades our fabrics faster.
Lisa, I bought my first bottle of Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds. Without using it I noticed the liquid had discolored to a greenich brown. I contacted the company over a week ago twice, but have yet to receive a reply. Can I use the discolored liquid, or is the product defective?
With all of the money they are making on this you would think she would hire someone to answer this question. That's gross, take it back to where you bought it and get your money back!
Hi Danielle- There are no silly questions! Sal Suds can go in the detergent compartment tray like you would with conventional detergent. (Although it's perfectly safe to pour directly on fabrics too.) Use 1 or 1.5 Tbsp in an HE machine. Let me know how it goes!
The bar soap can be grated and used in laundry. You’ll find it dissolves best in hot water. I don’t have a recipe to share, but there are many available online. Check out my blog post for other ways you can use bar soap: www.lisabronner.com/the-unexpected-versatility-of-bar-soap/
I still struggle to fully know how to use the soap. I’ve always filled a huge bucket with water and then added a universal cleaner and clean my home with that. But with Dr B soap I find it hard to know how much to use, also since it doesnt foam up like others. I also find it leave a “cast” on my hands and things I clean. What am I doing wrong?
Hi there- I'm sorry it's been challenging knowing how to use our Castile Soap. First, I encourage you to take a look at my Usage & Dilutions Cheat sheet which as the many uses and dilutions, bit.ly/CastileDilutions. Castile Soap is 2-3x as concentrated as other options so a little goes a long way. What you're noticing with the lack of suds and residue on your hands are signs of using the Castile in hard water conditions. As a true soap (rather than a detergent), Castile interacts with the minerals in hard water which can leave a white residue or "cast" on surfaces. While a nice thick lather is appealing, bubbles aren’t a sign of cleaning power, even though we’ve been trained to think otherwise. They really don’t have any benefit. Lather and bubbles are created by synthetic foaming agents. We don’t add these agents to our soaps, which is why they do not produce the copious bubbles of a conventional cleaner.
Dear Lisa, I'm trying to wash my baby's cloth diapers with the castile soap and am wondering if it's safe to use half a cup of washing soda with the soap. Will it be a safe alternative to the baking soda?
Hi there! Washing soda is sodium carbonate, so very similar molecularly to baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). It is more powerful than baking soda, and as such is a little harsher on clothes and may wear them down more quickly. I prefer baking soda is cheaper, available in larger bulk, and a little gentler. Remember when doing laundry with Castile Soap to use ½ cup vinegar (1/4 cup in an HE machine) in the rinse cycle to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
Either way works. Front loading machines usually have a compartment, but Sal Suds is gentle enough to pour right onto fabrics. In fact, a few drops right onto a spot is a great stain treatment.
I added half a cup of washing soda to my large, top loading washing machine, but when I added the Dr. Bronner's lavender liquid soap the water went cloudy. Same, if I use 1-cup, but I can feel a powdery film on my close and my wash water is still cloudy. What can I do? 💖🌞🌵😷
Hi Suzy- Do you have hard water? Castile Soap reacts with the minerals in hard water, causing it to cloud up. Be sure to use vinegar in the rinse cycle to dissolve those minerals and keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
I have COPD. I haven’t been able to handle perfume or dryer sheets with perfume. I drive in someone’s car who has a scented X-mass tree I get heartburn and headaches and I end up getting out of the car. What type should I try? My commercial washer only uses 1.5 gal of water.
Yes, even though I don’t have an underlying condition, I find those scented air fresheners very headache causing. Instead of dryer sheets, I have been using wool dryer balls and lavender sachets. I bought both from Trader Joe’s but I’ve seen them online elsewhere too.
Hi Cameron - Sorry for my delay! The person I needed to ask was out of the office. (I didn't film this in my own laundry room because it has no light or space.) Bertine shared that the washer is a Whirlpool model number WFW5620HW0. The dryer is a Kenmore Elite Smartheat Quietpack9 HE4. Hope that helps!
Hi Melissa- It's great that you're reading labels so closely! The word “tocopherol” is an INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) name for Vitamin E, and is added as an antioxidant to extend the shelf life of the soap. The tocopherol we use is derived from Non-GMO sunflower oils from Spain.
So, in my front loader washer I would use 1/6 cup Castile soap. Do I put it in with the clothes or add it to the dispenser? Should I dilute before adding?
Hi Sandy- No need to dilute. Castile Soap is gentle enough to pour directly on clothes, but if your washer has a dispenser that will disperse the soap more effectively during the wash cycle. Use 2 Tbsp. for a regular load or 1/4 cup for a large load. Be to add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse compartment.
Sal Suds is only available in the original pine scent. To change the scent though, add essential oils. Rosemary, lavender, and lemon all complement the Sal Suds scent well. For a 32 oz. bottle, start by adding 1 1/4 tsp. essential oils. For a stronger scent, add a couple of drops at a time to your preference.
I like the idea of using Dr. Bronner's Castile soap for laundry, but at 1/3 cup per load, that's about $2.25 in detergent. At 2 loads per week, that's $216/yr in detergent alone. Many laundry detergents are about 12¢ per load, or about 1,775% less in cost, as compared to Dr. Bronner's.
Hi Cameron- Doing laundry with organic soap is pricier. Taking advantage of sales 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 1-1.5 Tbsp. Sal Suds for a HE washer or double that for a standard machine.
Tickled w/ the softener & detergents @ beginning of clip thought umm hmm. When she threw them in the trash... was like🤯😮 she IS an environmental gangsta
Hi Helene- It's great that you read ingredient labels so closely and I'm happy dive into Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which we use in Sal Suds, our household cleaner. My dad, Jim Bronner (Dr. Bronner's youngest child) formulated Sal Suds in 1975 when he was frustrated with how the Castile Soap reacted with the hard water we had in Los Angeles, as any true soap would. SLS has always been the primary surfactant (cleansing component) in Sal Suds because of its keen ability to cut through grease and grime. Usually the concern people have with SLS is that because it is so good at picking up oil and grease, it can pick up oil out of our skin and be drying. This is why I would not use a body care product with SLS in it, even though it is so very common in shampoo and body wash. Studies have consistently shown that SLS is safe to use in low concentrations and in products that are meant to be rinsed off - both of which are true of Sal Suds. At times, people get SLS confused with a similar compound, SLES or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This "-eth" syllable indicates that the ingredient went through a process called ethoxylation, which produces the carcinogenic byproduct 1,4-Dioxane. Any ethoxylated ingredient can be contaminated with this byproduct and therefore should be avoided. For a deeper dive into SLS, check out my blog post on the topic: bit.ly/SLSInfo
Hi Tiena- Target and Walmart carry our Castile Soaps, usually in the natural or body care section, and our products are often in natural grocers and health food stores.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thanks Lisa, apparently they sell out quickly but a good friend of mine and also a Walmart employee hid me some in the back so I was finally able to get some, finally! " awesome products "
I am so terrible sensitive to Soaps, perfumes and dye..and even my dryer being turned on. I even tried baby laundry detergent and it’s to much for me. So I’m going to look for this product
Hi MoonShyn- Great! Sal Suds does have a mild pine scent from spruce and pine essential oils. If you find that too strong, our Unscented Castile Soap is free of any essential oils and scents.
Yes, both Sal Suds and Castile Soap work with HE machines, but the amounts are halved versus a standard washer. In HE use 1-1.5 Tbsp. of Sal Suds or 1/4 c. Pure-Castile Liquid soap. For grubby loads, throw in 1/4 c. baking soda. If you have hard water, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water via the fabric softener compartment. You can find my cheat sheets with more uses over on my blog at LisaBronner.com/CheatSheets.
You can use both, one or neither, depending on the load you're washing. Most often, I use just Sal Suds. If I have particularly grimy load, like rags or stinky whites, I add baking soda to the wash for it's extra cleaning and scrubbing power. Vinegar is used in the rinse cycle/fabric softener compartment as a natural fabric softener. If washing with Castile Soap, I suggest using vinegar in the rinse of every load to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thanks! This has been working great. One more question: I've been using the same measuring cup to measure out the baking soda and then the vinegar. This causes some reactions and "cross-contamination" of baking soda into the vinegar rinse department and vice versa. Does this matter?
Dr Bronner soap and baking soda is all you need in your laundry.
I agree!
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronneror borax.
@@carolinda360😅😅
I love Dr Bronners for bath, shower, shampoo, dishes, laundry
The tea tree one changed my life! At forty my skin is baby soft and no more lotions! No more acne soaps, everything but toothpaste is cleaned by your soaps. We switched to a high efficiency washer for a green approach to water conservation. Thanks for the correct amount of soap.
That's great to hear! Thanks for sharing!
What’s the ratio you use to dilute the tea tree Castile soap?
@@Noname-177 for facial use I would use their sugar soaps as the regular tea tree soaps is a bit too powerful for me but I still use it sometimes just put a bit in your hands with some water and clean away. It can dry you out but it cleans very well, naturally. I’ve been using the Castile soap in the washer it works well. I recommend using vinegar and BS like she recommended for a name brand (tide, etc) clean without the harsh chemicals.
Thank you for this! I have been using this product for over 15 years. Started using this as a college student. We are becoming more conscious of what we put in and on our bodies.
That's great, Alexis! It's always fun to hear from long-time customers!
I use Dr. Bronner's with a laundry ball I bought from H2O at Home. I only use about 20 ml, 30 if the clothing is especially dirty, and sometimes add some baking soda, and find this works great. I think 1/3 cup would be way too much. My skin and my nose are so sensitive and most other laundry products are irritating and I love knowing I'm not using unnecessary chemicals. I do most household and body washing with Dr. Bronner's also. Great product!
My way of going green is not using a dryer. I haven't even owned one for 26 years . Dryers shorten the life of elastic & fabric.
I would love to abandon my dryer usage as well. The only thing holding me back is how do you dry your clothes during the rainy seasons?
@@ryanhoyt2210 We have an unused back bedroom w/a suspended ceiling! I hang everything in there . Some things go on hangers from the suspended ceiling frame, some things go over a couple racks . I have a ceiling fan in there which helps stir the air. That room is where I dry laundry during the too-cold-to-dry-outdoors months.
And by the way, I haven't had a dryer since late 1994 !!
Most dryers they make in the year 2022 are energy efficient, just in case you didn’t know
@@KRstar78 sure!...but that doesn't change the fact that they are harder on fabrics than line drying them or that using a clothesline uses 0 energy...no gas, no electricity. That is the ultimate in energy efficiency!
All of the lint in the lint catcher is fabric pulled out ...the dryer is breaking down fabrics.
I am well aware that dryers are more efficient than ever but that is a separate issue from the breaking down of fabric.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I dry my clothes in Maine all year long with and old fashioned wooden drying rack, curtian rods in doorways, a dhower rod between the cabinets in my laundry room and those over the door racks and use the shower rod , not only does it save money, is better for my clothing and adds moisture during the winter months. When my 6 k7ds were little I had 2 very long clothes lines
Lisa, THANK YOU for this. What a lovely, clear, helpful video. I knew all this, but I am grateful for others to learn how best to care for their health and the clarity of our waters and ecosystem. Bless you all, Claire
I have been using Dr. Bronnerʻs since I was 7, in 1971.
That's fantastic, Claire! It's always fun to hear from our long-time customers!
I am touched you would reply, so...here's more great news: I washed my car with Sal Suds yesterday! Loved that guidance you gave, thanks so much!@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner
I've been using dr. Bronner's Castile soap for years along with baking soda and vinegar I will now have to try sal suds - and I am blessed to have a laundry line in my backyard I dry everything in the hot sun. Thank you for sharing your knowledge have a blessed beautiful day 🌼
I just LOVE this laundry video!!! I used to use Peppermint Castile Soap, but now that I know about SAL SUDS, we’re trying THAT!!! THANKS!!!
did you not like the regular castile soap for laundry?
LOVE DR. BRONNER PRODUCTS, THANK YOU
And thank YOU, Jeni!
Me too ! Jeni have you tried the organic liquid peppermint sugar soap ? Oh my GOD! I also like the organic peppermint magic balm ! GOD bless!
I have been looking everywhere for the amounts for a HE washer. I should’ve just came straight to the source right away. Thank you!
I'm glad this helped!
I love this video. Because I’m currently“going green” and she’s meeee rn 😂
Thanks, Lisa! I really like your goal in mind to keep everything as environmentally friendly as possible. I will take your products over commercial-brand chemical cleaners any day of the week!
Wow! Thanks for that awesome endorsement!
Doctor bronner has changed my life. i use it for everything !! even my skincare to wash my face.
That's great to hear, Milly!
I have been using your products for years...thank you for creating not only great products but now these videos!
It smells clean and sun dried.
Baking soda and tea tree oil gives a boost to each load. The baby soup is very nice indeed.
Thank you for this video. I’m staying at my new boyfriends house, and I cannot find laundry detergent anywhere. All I see is that stuff called Fabuloso. Thank goodness I brought my own Dr. Bronner’s soap over yesterday. Watching this video now and will use that in replacement of regular laundry detergent! Thank you! Love your products!
Hi Natalie- Glad this video came up for you at just the right time!
She has them in her cupboard! Lool. I know it's just used as an example but it's still funny
🤣
That’s probably her laundry room 😂
Dear Lisa. Greetings from the Netherlands. We just discovered dr. Bronner’s a few weeks ago and are fast fast loving it. So far only the baby and lavender scented Castile soap, but learning quickly. Please remain motivated to keep up your wonderful work and philosophy. Will keep watching the channel to keep discovering new applications. Kindest regards, William and Marissa
Its great to hear you found us! And thank you for your kind words! If you're looking for even more uses for our soaps, see my blog at lisabronner.com.
Try the peppermint or tea tree one too. Nice for showering.
I always wash everything in cold water and use wool balls in the dryer instead of dryer sheets or liquid softener
I have been using Dr. Bronners for YEARS for my babies in baths. But now as my family has grown and left I use it as a booster on my laundry. I love Sals Suds for any and everything except body. Do not care for the messages and one world gov. message but love the products. Also the bar soaps at sinks are great. 🤗
I'm so glad you've enjoyed the products through the years!
Where is the message that says something about a one world gov.???
I just got started on Sal suds. I love it. I just cleaned my whole kitchen and now I plan on getting the Castile soap
Hi Nikolai- I'm so happy to hear the Sal Suds is working out well for you! I know you'll like the Castile Soap just as well. Find my Usage & Dilutions Cheat Sheets for both product on my website at, bit.ly/CheatSheetsGG.
I got a gallon of sal suds with 25 % off from frontier co-op for $42.00 total with tax free shipping.
1 Tbsp per load of wash
1/2 tsp for dishes
I did not think much of laundry soap (except the smelly ones) until I used oxiclean thinking h2o2 would be my all cleaner product. After washing my underwears with oxiclean I got some terrible itchy skin rashes that I thought was the end of me. So now I am so leery about laundry soaps. And many are being made in China CCP that are made with very cheap ingredients like they always do to get more profits. WHo knows what these ingredients are and if they have a truthful labels.
Never knew about the sal -suds product until watching this video. I will give it a try... Thanks for youtube and for creating this video.
Im in the process of building an off grid home and minimal impact piece of property. Im going to need to process my water. Traditional below ground septic and drainfield wont work as i have very fine clay soil. Been using dr. Bronners for 25 years. Looking forward to the cloths washing soap use and my projects cleaning the wash water.
I love Dr Bronner's but 1/3 cup each laundry load becomes very expensive!
Hi Natalie- You could check out the Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds which makes a slightly more fantastic laundry wash. Use 2-3 Tbsp. per load, or half that in an HE machine.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner I haven't seen that product for sale in Australia ☹️
@@natalielear4902 Hi Natalie- Our products are usually sold in natural and health food stores, and you can also purchase Sal Suds online through our Australian distributor at www.drbronner.com.au/.
Not if you use Dr B's for many uses. 😉😊🦋💕
She says use 1/2 that much for those front loaders. I have a portable and the half rate still works for my sweat clothes. I don't use oil in kitchen so never have any grease to cut, but oil takes more soap.
Hi..I have used Dr Bronner's soaps since the 1980's, but today, 2020, I bought my first bottle of Sal Suds! I am going to mix some concoctions in my Mason jars of laundry and dish soap , using the Sal Suds.. Makes me excited to do housework !
Excellent! If you haven't already found my Sal Suds Cheat Sheet with the multitude of Sal Suds uses and dilutions, here's the link: www.lisabronner.com/sal-suds-dilution-cheat-sheet/
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner thank you! I was checking Sal Suds on the EWG site, and found it to be awesome that it scores an A.. Also, I found it interesting that in 2012, Sal Suds contained Spruce Oil, but the 2016 and newer version of Sal Suds was changed and no longer contains Spruce Oil.. Is that correct information?
@@Godisgreater123 Hi Lulu- Sal Suds does still contain spruce oil. EWG might have it listed by it's scientific name, picea glauca.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thank you for letting me know! :D
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner I just ordered a gallon on your DrBronners shopping site..Thank you for the 15% off of my first purchase from the site, it saved me some money! I've used almost 1/4 of my 32 oz bottle of Sal Suds already and so excited to get my gallon delivered..I'm using it for all dishes/laundry and cleaning..I LOVE it!
Ive been using peppermint castile soap for showers for over 20 years....Im traveling and was looking to see if I could use it in a laundry machine. Of course you can! Thank you!
Love bronners!
I love the Sal Suds for laundry!
So glad to hear that! Sal Suds is excellent for laundry!
Trippy hippy Chic here 💜
THE MUSIC FOR THIS AND TONE MADE MY DAY 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
loved the retro add music.
OMG....I just made the connection.... Lisa Bronner/Dr. Bronner....✨💖✨😂💖
That's right! Dr. Bronner was my grandfather and our company is still family owned.
Valuable information. Thank you - asthma causes of a relative of mine discovered.
I will use that when consulting clients in the organic shop I have been working in.
I'm really late on this but this explains why my asthma has been acting up, we started using tide pods with downy in them on everything. Sheets clothes etc. Gonna use Dr.Bronners from now on
If this isn't the right thing for you there aresome solutions everyone swears by. Instead pf dryer sheets,you can use either rags or better yet wool balls with a couple drops of essential oils in them. It's very inexpensive.
Sal Suds is my all-purpose cleaner, dish soap, and laundry soap. It smells great and rinses clean. For skin care, it’s Dr. Bronner’s bar soap. Unbeatable products! Thank you!
Thanks for supporting our family's business, Kay!
Decided to give it a try on towels to see if it removes old build up and if I can see a difference.
I'm a public speaker and you did a great job on your presentation.
Duh she’s Lisa Bronner
My mother just finished a laundry load using only Sals Suds after I got her a small bottle to experiment with (I use the Castile Citrus to shower with and like it better than many body washes). 90 year old Mom is picky about everything but afterward she said it seemed to do a better job than her usual powder brand, and left the clothes feeling softer with no real scent. So far so good so she'll continue with the experiment. If works out I'll get her the gallon size. We'll see...
Love your formula. I’ll try 👍
I love your explanations, thank you
all sounds great... but why do you have these soaps in your cabnet?
will this really get messes out of childrens clothes? Like dirt, paint/marker, food, dark juice etc??
Thanks for sharing 🌈
Please remember to include the dosage in milliliters for those living outside the USA. Thanks!
Hi there- Thank you for reminding me that I should include metric in my recommendations for our many international customers. This is an older video, filmed before I did so consistently. However, the metric measurement are in the written description which I hope is helpful!
Could you mix the Sal Suds and Castile without having ill effect? Then you could still get fresh scent from one of the amazing Castile’s and then the big cleaning and stain removing factor from the Sal Suds
Hi there- There is no interaction in mixing them. Sal Suds has it's own fresh pine scent. Another option is create your own custom scent by adding a few drops of essential oils of your choosing to Sal Suds!
I have been making my own soap with Fels Napha, washing soda, baking soda, glycerin, boras and Oxy clean. It cleans very well, 1 tlb or two. I find it hard to believe that little amount cleans, but it does. It is also very inexpensive and you can get most of the ingredients at dollar tree. I am adjusting to just this issue, feeling my clothes need a scent for me to know they are clean and fresh. I will keep re training myself because I know that it is better for my family not to use commercial detergent, and our clothes are clean. I have to shake the jug my soap is in and I often think what a small effort it is to delete one more ingredient that I don't even know what it is but keeps commercial detergent from separating. Thanks for the video, I have used Bronner's my whole adult life and will start using it as well for my laundry.
If you want a scent you can put essential oils or some vanilla extract. Makes your clothes smell SO good. Hope this helps!
How much is 1/3 cup? Can’t see it in the video.
Hi there- 1/3 cup is about 5 Tbsp. or 78 mL if you're converting to metric.
How do you know when to add the vinegar to your load? I'm not sure if my HE washer indicates when it is the rinse cycle.
Hi Eric- Add the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. Your washer will release it during the rinse cycle.
HI. I use microfiber towels to clean, buff and detail my car. I ruined my old ones because I used a fabric softener sheet. I bought new ones and want to know if you have any suggestions on which of your products to use...I have the two exact products in your video. Thank You!
Hi there- I find that Sal Suds does an excellent job cleaning microfiber cloths. If they are extra grubby, I throw a bit of baking soda into the wash for some extra scrubbing power. In an HE (high efficiency) washing machine, use 1 to 1 ½ Tbsp (15 to 22 mL) Sal Suds and optionally, ½ c. (120 mL) baking soda. Double these amounts for standard washing machine.
@lisa Great share, thank you! What would you recommend for delicate, Sal Suds or Castile Liquid soap and, what quantity? I have a HE front load.
Hi Lisa! Would it still be ok to use Castile soap if you have hard water? I wonder if the hard water would impact the effectiveness of the soap or something... thanks!
I love dr bronners for body care, dishes and shampoo but it didn’t really clean my laundry. My laundry smelled minty fresh though.
Do you have to use sal suds with the Castile soap or can you just use the Castile soap for laundry????
Hi D.- Each are effective cleaners all on their own, so use separately. When using Castile Soap for laundry, I do recommend using 1 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle (1/2 cup in HE washing machines) to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronnerhow much Castile soap do we put in the front loader
@@Ohkeh640 Hi there- Use 1/4 cup Castile Soap. In hard water conditions I recommend also using 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle to keep fabrics soft and absorbent. The vinegar dissipates, leaving clothes smelling like... well, clean clothes.
So I'm looking into making my own laundry detergant. I've heard using this alone causes oil to build up on clothes over time and in the washer itself. I love Dr. Bronners products but the other recipes I'm seeing use washing soda and borax. I'm a big plain vinegar and baking soda girl for cleaning around the house so although I love the idea of using those, I'm just concerned about the oil buildup? Loved your presentation and will continue to use your products! Oh and another thought! The recipes I saw said 3/4 cup makes 3 gallons but you used what you dud for one load? I'd love to hear why that is please. Thank you :)
Hi there- Oils used in soapmaking are turned into soap during the saponification, or soap-making, process. None remain in the final product. But, a true soap like Castile does interact with the minerals in hard water, and over time those minerals cause fabrics to lose softness and absorbency. Vinegar in the rinse cycle mitigates this. Sal Suds, our biodegradable cleaner, doesn't have this interaction, which is why it's my laundry go-to. With a DIY laundry recipe, keep in mind some ingredients don't mix well with Castile, which I cover over on my blog: www.lisabronner.com/what-can-you-mix-with-castile-soap/
thanks for all the knowledge ! What do you think about making an organic laundry soap ? GOD bless!
Hi Christopher- An organic laundry soap is on our radar. In the meantime, our Castile soap is made with organic oils and is good on laundry.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner fantastic Lisa thank you ! You can count me in as a buyer, oh an organic piney Sal suds for laundry how aromatic ! GOD bless!
I use you’re unscented baby soap for my baby clothes and vingear as a softener
Excellent!
Thank you for this video. Do I add the soap without diluting it straight to the detergent compartment?
Hi Lexia- That's right! There's no need to dilute for laundry.
I have front load washer and read that a detergent/soap that is low suds and low residue should be used. I wanted to use Sal Suds however I've read from other posts that Sal Suds is "super sudsy." Although I can see you are demonstrating on a front loader, is Sal Suds fine to use in a small quantity on a front loader? If so, is it recommended that the soap be applied in the liquid compartment of the soap dispenser on the washer or applied directly to the clothes in the drum?
Hi Rosie- We hear from many consumers who use Sal Suds in their HE machines with no issue. Sal Suds is a concentrated detergent, so a little goes a long way. In an HE machine use 1-1.5 Tbsp. in the dispenser, in the same manner you would your conventional detergent.
Hi Lisa, i'm looking to switch to using just dr bronners as a laundry detergent, do i simply use only that? and do i use sal suds and the castile soap separate from one another? last question, is it ok to use the castile soap and baking soda for a white load?
Hi Aleks- Most of the time I simply use just that! Castile is great on laundry, but Sal Suds is slightly better at whitening whites and works better in hard water, so I use that most often. For a regular load, 3 Tbsp. (30-45 mL) for a large load in a top loading washer (half that for an HE). Often I use Sal Suds alone, but for whites or particularly grimy loads, I use baking soda in the wash and vinegar in the rinse cycle.
Thank you for this video! Are you able to share what brand of baking soda that is?
Hi Jayanna- I often use Arm & Hammer baking soda because it's so readily available. I've used generic brands too and they work equally well.
Smart!
Please help, washed my clothes in the washing machine like you showed and it left major white stains on my clothes!!
You may be using too much soap or if you used baking soda, you may have used too much of that as well. Also, when was the last night you washed your washing machine? I know it’s time to clean it when it doesn’t seem to be washing clothes as good and leaving residue.
Does the soap for the laundry really clean clothes well.?
Yes, it really does! If you have hard water, you might be happier with Sal Suds as it's more clean-rinsing in hard water conditions. Castile Soap works excellently as well, but I recommend vinegar in the rinse cycle to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
I saw one user make their own liquid castile soap by grating a bar of Dr. Bronner's bar soap and melting it in one gallon of water. Is this too diluted to use as a laundry detergent? Would a person still use 40-60 mL (half of a third cup to 1/4 cup) for an HE washer? One user also added 2 T glycerin.
Hi Diane- This solution is slightly less concentrated than our liquid Castile soap, so use a little more of it. Glycerin is a lubricant and moisturizer. You can leave it out of this mixture.
Thanks! Your videos are very helpful.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner , whould n that ( the use of a grated bar) create the same issues, as we ve been informed, about the use of , green,, home made soap,( grated and diluting in water),,, that it doesn t rince off, properly, due to the fact, that bars of soap, are diferently "constracted" and not easy to wash off clothes,, ??? Leading in a long term resedue build up, on our clothes???
Hello; Great Video:) I live in central US, I have not been able to find Sal Suds or Castile soap:(
Hi C- Our soaps are sold at many natural food stores, and also Target and Walmart. You can also purchase from our webstore at shop.drbronner.com.
Try Whole Foods
How do you add baking soda to your laundry with a front load washer? Just sprinkle in with the clothes?
Hi Allie- Yes, exactly!
Do you put it in the detergent tray or straight in the drum?
Hi Brandi- It goes right in the detergent compartment!
I washed my hair and it darken it because of the high ph factor my hair was salt and pepper real pretty and now it has gotten darken. Do not use if you has white of salt and pepper hair.
Wow great just one question do I use the soap straight on the clothes or In the detergent department?
Hi there- Either way! It's safe to pour directly onto fabrics or use in the dispenser.
You say to use 1/2 the amount of sal suds in an HE washer. But is that for a large, medium, or small load? I don't want to use too much especially with having a water softener. Do you have a laundry cheat sheet for top load (reg) and HE conversions?
Hi Hazel- That's for a large load. Scale back slightly for smaller loads. Sal Suds is exceedlingly concentrated and a little goes a long way. My Sal Suds Usage Cheat Sheet may help, bit.ly/SalSudsDilutions
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thank you for getting back to me. I have the cheat sheet...I hadn't thought of looking at that! Thanks for reminding me. 🙂
Question. If you add the baking soda at the beginning, do you still need the vinegar at the end? What about Super washing soda or borax in place of the baking soda?
Hi Abigail- More often than not, I use Sal Suds alone. Vinegar is a natural deodorize while baking soda is great for whitening whites and freshening really grubby loads. Washing soda and borax can be used in place of baking soda, but are hard on fabrics if used over time.
I love Dr. Bronners but was sad to see the Sal Suds contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate.
Hi there- Sal Suds, our household cleaner is formulated with SLS because of its keen ability to cut through grease and grime and to generate suds. Studies have consistently shown that SLS is safe to use in low concentrations and in products that are meant to be rinsed off - both of which are true of Sal Suds. SLS can be a skin irritant for some people because it can be so drying. It is so good at picking up oils that it pulls them right out of our skin. You won’t find SLS in any of our personal care products, and personal care products (shampoos, soaps, toothpaste and such) that include it should be avoided. If you have concerns about Sal Suds, our all-natural Castile soap does an excellent job of household cleaning as well. For a deeper dive into SLS, refer to my blog post here: www.lisabronner.com/there-is-no-cancer-risk-from-sls-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/
Thank you!
I'm not sure about the other scents, but I notice that the orange scented castille has "palm kernel oil," which is a direct cause of the endangerment and potential extinction of orangutans in their habitats. I'm not a soap expert, but it seems to me that there should be alternates?
Hi there- I definitely hear your concern about palm kernel oil. We have that concern too, which is why our organic palm kernel oil is sourced from Ecuador with no clear-cutting of the rain forest and no habitat loss for primates (no orangutans live in Ecuador). Our palm kernel oil comes from small-holder farms in Ecuador, where Oil Palms have been grown for decades, and where they are now harvested by second and third generation farming families. The palms are interspersed throughout the regional forests, blending in with the surroundings to provide a very healthy environment for plant and animal life. You can read more about how we source our palm oils in my article, Making Ethical Palm Oil a Reality, over on my blog: www.lisabronner.com/making-ethical-palm-oil-a-reality/
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thank you for the info. My son and I will be using what laundry soap we have left and then using laundry balls and Dr. Bronner's Castille to wash our clothes from now on.
The Sal Suds contain SLS. Is this not toxic? I am confused. Can you please explain? Thanks so much.
Yes, I'd like to know as well
Hi Dani & Tashrya- Sal Suds is formulated with SLS because of its keen ability to cut through grease and grime and to generate suds. Studies show that SLS is safe to use in low concentrations and in products that are meant to be rinsed off - both of which are true of Sal Suds. SLS can be a skin irritant for some people because it can be so drying. It is so good at picking up oils that it pulls them right out of our skin. You won’t find SLS in any of our personal care products, and personal care products (shampoos, soaps, toothpaste and such) that include it should be avoided. If you have concerns about Sal Suds, our all-natural Castile soap does an excellent job of household cleaning as well. For a deeper dive into SLS, refer to my blog post here: www.lisabronner.com/there-is-no-cancer-risk-from-sls-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/
Can microfibre cloths be washed using Sal Suds or castile soap?
Absolutely! I toss them in the washer with Sal Suds and baking soda and put it on a hot and heavy-duty cycle with vinegar in the rinse cycle.
So Sal suds and Castile soap together? And or individually?
Hi MikroMack- Our Castile Soap and Sal Suds are intended to be used separately (although there's no reaction if mixed.) Castile soap is primarily designed for the body. The blend of oils (coconut, olive, palm, jojoba, and hemp seed) are designed to be the most nourishing to our skin. But because it is such a beautifully simple soap, it also cleans many other things amazingly well, whether it’s your dog, your sinks, or your floors.
Sal Suds is our household cleaner developed by my dad, Jim Bronner (Dr. Bronner's youngest). Sal Suds doesn’t react with hard water in the way that Castile Soap does. It rinses cleanly and leave surfaces sparkling. No more film on the tub or towels!
There's more on the difference between these two products and when to use which on my website at: bit.ly/WhichOnetoUse
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner by using the Castile soap with all the oils in it, is the soap potentially harmful to plumbing? Oil’s solidifying?
Because our soaps are made with vegetable oils, there is sometimes the misconception that the oils in our soaps can cause drains to clog. However, because the oils are saponified - that is, turned into soap - this is unlikely. Our Castile Soap, like any true soap, does react with the minerals in hard water to leave soap scum (more on that here: bit.ly/GoAwaySoapScum) although this is easily mitigated by vinegar and other methods. In hard water conditions, soap scum can cause drains to drain slowly. A weekly flush of vinegar, followed by hot water (not boiling) is a great way to clear your drains. There’s also Sal Suds, our biodegradable household cleaner, which doesn’t react with the minerals in hard water like Castile Soap does. Perhaps try pouring vinegar mixed with hot water down and letting it sit for a bit and then flushing it with more hot water. This would also help if you have scale build up from minerals in water. Other than that, the next step may be opening up the U-trap underneath the sink (put a big bucket under it before you do this) and see if there is a build-up of materials in it. I know that’s a super big and stinky pain, but it always helps.
Here’s a trick I learned at a job. Pour your laundry detergent in your hand. Let it sit there. Within a minute, your hand will burn!!! That’s why our clothes don’t last plus why our skin and bodies are in so much trouble!!!
Hi Bobbie- Goodness! That sounds like a pretty caustic detergent! While Sal Suds is not meant as a skin cleanser, neither will it burn the skin. You are absolutely correct that it is often our use of too harsh of cleansers that degrades our fabrics faster.
Lisa, I bought my first bottle of Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds. Without using it I noticed the liquid had discolored to a greenich brown. I contacted the company over a week ago twice, but have yet to receive a reply. Can I use the discolored liquid, or is the product defective?
With all of the money they are making on this you would think she would hire someone to answer this question. That's gross, take it back to where you bought it and get your money back!
This is a silly question, but I have a fro t load HE and would like to use Sal Suds, would I put the soap I. The front loader tray or the drum?
Hi Danielle- There are no silly questions! Sal Suds can go in the detergent compartment tray like you would with conventional detergent. (Although it's perfectly safe to pour directly on fabrics too.) Use 1 or 1.5 Tbsp in an HE machine. Let me know how it goes!
I just need it to be plastic free!!! Can you use castile bar soap for washing?
The bar soap can be grated and used in laundry. You’ll find it dissolves best in hot water. I don’t have a recipe to share, but there are many available online. Check out my blog post for other ways you can use bar soap: www.lisabronner.com/the-unexpected-versatility-of-bar-soap/
I still struggle to fully know how to use the soap. I’ve always filled a huge bucket with water and then added a universal cleaner and clean my home with that. But with Dr B soap I find it hard to know how much to use, also since it doesnt foam up like others. I also find it leave a “cast” on my hands and things I clean. What am I doing wrong?
Hi there- I'm sorry it's been challenging knowing how to use our Castile Soap. First, I encourage you to take a look at my Usage & Dilutions Cheat sheet which as the many uses and dilutions, bit.ly/CastileDilutions. Castile Soap is 2-3x as concentrated as other options so a little goes a long way. What you're noticing with the lack of suds and residue on your hands are signs of using the Castile in hard water conditions. As a true soap (rather than a detergent), Castile interacts with the minerals in hard water which can leave a white residue or "cast" on surfaces.
While a nice thick lather is appealing, bubbles aren’t a sign of cleaning power, even though we’ve been trained to think otherwise. They really don’t have any benefit. Lather and bubbles are created by synthetic foaming agents. We don’t add these agents to our soaps, which is why they do not produce the copious bubbles of a conventional cleaner.
Dear Lisa, I'm trying to wash my baby's cloth diapers with the castile soap and am wondering if it's safe to use half a cup of washing soda with the soap. Will it be a safe alternative to the baking soda?
Hi there! Washing soda is sodium carbonate, so very similar molecularly to baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). It is more powerful than baking soda, and as such is a little harsher on clothes and may wear them down more quickly. I prefer baking soda is cheaper, available in larger bulk, and a little gentler. Remember when doing laundry with Castile Soap to use ½ cup vinegar (1/4 cup in an HE machine) in the rinse cycle to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
Do you add Sal'a Suds straight to the clothes or to the laundry soap compartment?
Either way works. Front loading machines usually have a compartment, but Sal Suds is gentle enough to pour right onto fabrics. In fact, a few drops right onto a spot is a great stain treatment.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thanks!
I added half a cup of washing soda to my large, top loading washing machine, but when I added the Dr. Bronner's lavender liquid soap the water went cloudy. Same, if I use 1-cup, but I can feel a powdery film on my close and my wash water is still cloudy. What can I do? 💖🌞🌵😷
Hi Suzy- Do you have hard water? Castile Soap reacts with the minerals in hard water, causing it to cloud up. Be sure to use vinegar in the rinse cycle to dissolve those minerals and keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
I have COPD. I haven’t been able to handle perfume or dryer sheets with perfume. I drive in someone’s car who has a scented X-mass tree I get heartburn and headaches and I end up getting out of the car.
What type should I try? My commercial washer only uses 1.5 gal of water.
Yes, even though I don’t have an underlying condition, I find those scented air fresheners very headache causing. Instead of dryer sheets, I have been using wool dryer balls and lavender sachets. I bought both from Trader Joe’s but I’ve seen them online elsewhere too.
what brand washer and dryer is this please?
Hi Cameron - Sorry for my delay! The person I needed to ask was out of the office. (I didn't film this in my own laundry room because it has no light or space.) Bertine shared that the washer is a Whirlpool model number WFW5620HW0. The dryer is a Kenmore Elite Smartheat Quietpack9 HE4. Hope that helps!
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner yes thank you so very much!
Why do you use Tocopherol in your soaps? According to EWG this ingredient is toxic to wild/aquatic life. What is the purpose?
Hi Melissa- It's great that you're reading labels so closely! The word “tocopherol” is an INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) name for Vitamin E, and is added as an antioxidant to extend the shelf life of the soap. The tocopherol we use is derived from Non-GMO sunflower oils from Spain.
So, in my front loader washer I would use 1/6 cup Castile soap. Do I put it in with the clothes or add it to the dispenser? Should I dilute before adding?
Hi Sandy- No need to dilute. Castile Soap is gentle enough to pour directly on clothes, but if your washer has a dispenser that will disperse the soap more effectively during the wash cycle. Use 2 Tbsp. for a regular load or 1/4 cup for a large load. Be to add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse compartment.
Thank you! For that info!
You are so welcome, Shirley!
Does Sal Suds have an option that doesn't contain pine?
Sal Suds is only available in the original pine scent. To change the scent though, add essential oils. Rosemary, lavender, and lemon all complement the Sal Suds scent well. For a 32 oz. bottle, start by adding 1 1/4 tsp. essential oils. For a stronger scent, add a couple of drops at a time to your preference.
For regular loads how much vinegar would you use?
Hi Josh- 1 cup vinegar in a regular washing machine, or 1/2 cup for an HE.
I like the idea of using Dr. Bronner's Castile soap for laundry, but at 1/3 cup per load, that's about $2.25 in detergent. At 2 loads per week, that's $216/yr in detergent alone. Many laundry detergents are about 12¢ per load, or about 1,775% less in cost, as compared to Dr. Bronner's.
Hi Cameron- Doing laundry with organic soap is pricier. Taking advantage of sales 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 1-1.5 Tbsp. Sal Suds for a HE washer or double that for a standard machine.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner...Is this amount for a large load?
Tickled w/ the softener & detergents @ beginning of clip thought umm hmm. When she threw them in the trash... was like🤯😮 she IS an environmental gangsta
Ha!
Can someone please explaine how sodium lauryl sulphate is a non toxic ingredient. I found it in Dr Brenner's laundry SAL SUDS??
Hi Helene- It's great that you read ingredient labels so closely and I'm happy dive into Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which we use in Sal Suds, our household cleaner. My dad, Jim Bronner (Dr. Bronner's youngest child) formulated Sal Suds in 1975 when he was frustrated with how the Castile Soap reacted with the hard water we had in Los Angeles, as any true soap would. SLS has always been the primary surfactant (cleansing component) in Sal Suds because of its keen ability to cut through grease and grime. Usually the concern people have with SLS is that because it is so good at picking up oil and grease, it can pick up oil out of our skin and be drying. This is why I would not use a body care product with SLS in it, even though it is so very common in shampoo and body wash. Studies have consistently shown that SLS is safe to use in low concentrations and in products that are meant to be rinsed off - both of which are true of Sal Suds.
At times, people get SLS confused with a similar compound, SLES or Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This "-eth" syllable indicates that the ingredient went through a process called ethoxylation, which produces the carcinogenic byproduct 1,4-Dioxane. Any ethoxylated ingredient can be contaminated with this byproduct and therefore should be avoided.
For a deeper dive into SLS, check out my blog post on the topic: bit.ly/SLSInfo
Where do you purchase Dr. Bronners? I've looked at Target and Walmart can't find it
Hi Tiena- Target and Walmart carry our Castile Soaps, usually in the natural or body care section, and our products are often in natural grocers and health food stores.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner
Thanks Lisa, apparently they sell out quickly but a good friend of mine and also a Walmart employee hid me some in the back so I was finally able to get some, finally!
" awesome products "
How do the clothes come out from the dryer??
Hi Emma- They come out fresh, clean, and soft and smelling like... well, clean clothes!
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thank you for responding. I'll definitely make this now 🙂
I am so terrible sensitive to Soaps, perfumes and dye..and even my dryer being turned on. I even tried baby laundry detergent and it’s to much for me. So I’m going to look for this product
Hi MoonShyn- Great! Sal Suds does have a mild pine scent from spruce and pine essential oils. If you find that too strong, our Unscented Castile Soap is free of any essential oils and scents.
How does it work with HE washers? Can it be usedwith them?
Yes, both Sal Suds and Castile Soap work with HE machines, but the amounts are halved versus a standard washer. In HE use 1-1.5 Tbsp. of Sal Suds or 1/4 c. Pure-Castile Liquid soap. For grubby loads, throw in 1/4 c. baking soda. If you have hard water, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water via the fabric softener compartment. You can find my cheat sheets with more uses over on my blog at LisaBronner.com/CheatSheets.
so can I use BOTH the vinegar and baking soda? or should you only use one or the other?
You can use both, one or neither, depending on the load you're washing. Most often, I use just Sal Suds. If I have particularly grimy load, like rags or stinky whites, I add baking soda to the wash for it's extra cleaning and scrubbing power. Vinegar is used in the rinse cycle/fabric softener compartment as a natural fabric softener. If washing with Castile Soap, I suggest using vinegar in the rinse of every load to keep fabrics soft and absorbent.
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner okay thank you!!
@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronner Thanks! This has been working great. One more question: I've been using the same measuring cup to measure out the baking soda and then the vinegar. This causes some reactions and "cross-contamination" of baking soda into the vinegar rinse department and vice versa. Does this matter?
@@shortyi3 No, that wouldn't matter. Makes it easy, right?