Sal Suds Dilution Cheat Sheet

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

I use it for…
Clothes
Towels
Sheets
Halloween costumes
Tile Floors
Carpet
Granite
Painted walls
Painted shelves
Plastic trash cans
Make Up brushes
Dishes
Lunchboxes
Dog bowls
Dog carriers
Dog collars
Windows
Cars
Car leather
Finished wood
Wood cutting boards
Plastic cutting boards
My grill (aka bar-b-que)
Outdoor metal furniture
Outdoor plastic furniture
Plastic toys
Stainless steel appliances
Paint brushes
China
Glass vases
Pottery
Beach balls
Diaper Changing pads
Wicker baskets
Artificial greenery
Painted MDF
Microsuede
Plastic storage bins
Tooth brushes
Tooth brush holders
Porcelain bathroom fixtures – toilet, tub, sink
Metal doorknobs
Plastic lightswitches and covers
Cork trivets
Rubber oven mitts
Silicone parts of my breast pump
My plastic nasal irrigator
Brita water filter
Plastic cooler
Stainless steel water bottles
Exterior of small kitchen appliances
Nylon tents
Fruits and veggies

This list doesn’t name every possibility but shows that there is very little that can’t be cleaned with the Suds. 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.

There is a lot of overlap here with the Pure-Castile Soap Dilutions Cheat Sheet because the products can often be interchanged. It is largely a matter of personal preference, but the Sal Suds 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.

Dilutions:

Laundry: 2-3 Tbsp. for a large load in a top loading washer. Optional: ½ c. baking soda in wash cycle, 1 c. vinegar in rinse cycle. Use half these amounts for HE washes.

All Purpose Spray: 1 Tbsp. Sal Suds in a quart of water. Put the water in the bottle first. Use on most of the aforementioned surfaces.

All Purpose Spray is also used for the following:

• Stainless Steel Sink: Spray and sprinkle with baking soda from a shaker. Then scrub.
• Microsuede: Spray and scrub with a gentle circular motion.
• Wood: Painted or Sealed (not waxed) – Spray and wipe with a microfiber cloth
• Toilets: Empty toilet, spray bowl thoroughly, sprinkle baking soda on the brush, scrub bowl, let sit 10 minutes, turn water on, flush.

Carpets: 1 drop of Sal Suds in a carpet cleaner with hot water; All Purpose Spray for spots (use sparingly).

Veggie Wash: 1 drop of Sal Suds in a bowl of water. Dunk and swish the produce. Rinse.

Window Wash: (aka Sal Suds Lite) ½ tsp. in a quart of water. Put the water in the bottle first. Spray and squeegee. Follow up with a spray of pure club soda, or half vinegar/half water, and squeegee.

Dish washing by hand:

• Pre-diluted: (my preference) ½ c. Sal Suds in a quart of water in a squirt bottle. Fill with water nearly to the top before adding Sal Suds.
• Undiluted: ½ tsp. Sal Suds in a large sink of water. 1 drop Sal Suds for one pot.

Mopping: ½ Tbsp. Sal Suds in approximately 3 gallons of hot water. 20 drops tea tree oil optional. Put the water in the bucket first. Dunk mop (microfiber, preferably) and wring thoroughly.

Cars: ½ Tbsp. in a 3 gallon bucket of water. Put the water in the bucket first. Wet car down with hose. Wash with large sponge, or soft microfiber cloth. Rinse with hose before Suds dry.

To download a one page copy of this cheat sheet, click here.