This $11 non-toxic 'magic' soap cleans everything – it's biodegradable, works great in hard water areas, and lasts for years

One of the most tiring things about cleaning is remembering which products can be used where, what you need to avoid, and which have harsh chemicals that require careful use.

Then there's storing them all, which can prove a nightmare in small homes and apartments. That is why stumbling on an $11 multi-purpose soap – Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds from Target – that does practically everything from laundry to dishes to surfaces is such a game-changer.

It works perfectly with hard water, cutting costs on buying distilled water while ensuring a perfect clean, no matter your zip code.

Here’s exactly how this miracle soap works, and my five favorite uses for this cleaning tip to try with this space-saving, budget-cutting, sustainable swap.

The $11 soap that cleans practically everything

For two years, I have been using Dr. Bronner's Castile soap in Almond scent, available at Walmart, and now I am converted to Sal Suds, its more concentrated, tougher cousin.

Dr. Bronner's is a brand I trust, having used it happily for a long time in my home without issue. Talking to Lisa Bronner, the soap company founder's granddaughter, and learning all about the versatility of her family's ‘magic soap’ has cemented my trust in the brand.

Her book Soap & Soul, available at Amazon, converted me to the power of natural soaps that are as versatile, effective, and gentle as these. It's especially important when you're doing everything you can to make your home less toxic, as I have been for many years.

In the book, Lisa writes, ‘Because Sal Suds is a detergent, it has an inherently more stable molecule that does not react with hard water and runs no risk of leaving films on shiny or absorbent surfaces. Plus, Sal Suds is even more concentrated than pure Castille soap, so you use less at a time, making it last longer. And finally, Sal Suds is tougher on stains.’

She goes on to explain that one 32-ounce bottle of Sal Suds can make the equivalent of 64 bottles of all-purpose cleaning sprays, complete 64 high-efficacy loads of laundry, and finish 128 car washes – all from one bottle.

The best ways to use Sal Suds

Although the list of ways to use this non-toxic cleaning product is seemingly never-ending, there are five distinct uses from the book that I think are particularly useful.

These make Sals Suds the perfect non-toxic switch to help cut out harsh chemicals and make organizing cleaning supplies easier as you won't need half as many with a versatile soap in hand.

1. Treating stains and washing laundry

I find that my laundry products take up most of the space in my cleaning cabinet. Having a detergent, fabric softener, and stain treatments as separate products means organizing under a sink is a logistical nightmare.

Luckily, you can make your own laundry detergent with Sal Suds and include it when setting up a stain station, cutting three products down to one.

For large loads in high-efficiency, and typically the best washing machines, Lisa suggests using one, to one-and-a-half tablespoons of Sal Suds on a cold water cycle. It works just as well in hot or cold water.

This is helpful as it means you can skip biological cleaning solutions and hot washes and still get brilliant stain removal.

For a standard washing machine, Lisa suggests increasing to two to three tablespoons so Sal Suds. ‘The washing machine will do the diluting for you,’ she writes, so add them to your detergent drawer as normal.

Sal Suds is also suitable for washing down comforters, she notes, whereas Castile soap is not.

The golden rules of stain removal, Lisa suggests, are to apply a mixture of one part water to one part Sal Suds to the affected area, testing on an inconspicuous area first for delicate fabrics. You can apply Sal Suds undiluted for deeper stains.

Allow it to sit for 30 to 60 minutes before doing laundry as normal.

2. Washing fresh produce

Washing fruit and produce is one of those awkward tasks that requires yet another cleaning product that is specialised to only one problem. Using Sal Suds helps to get this extra bottle from your cleaning cabinet.

Lisa's book Soap & Soul explains that Sal Suds is a fantastic alternative as it does not leave behind any residue while removing pests, dirt, and wax (it does not, however, remove any pesticides or herbicides that have already absorbed into the produce skin, but this is the ase for many produce washes, and why buying organic where possible is best).

To wash produce, add one drop of Sal Suds into a bowl of water, scrub gently with a produce brush, available at Walmart, rinse, and allow to dry.

Washing fresh produce with a mild soap and drying completely as soon as it comes in the house is a trick Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden, learnt from her grandma in Iran when she lived there, and has found it doubles the longevity of her fresh produce and keeps her crisper drawer so clean.

3. As a multi-surface cleaner

This is by far the most obvious use, but it is also the most impactful. Because Sal Suds is so versatile, it can replace bottles of multi-purpose cleaners and kitchen cleaners with ease (although you will still need an anti-bacterial spray such as Attitude, from Walmart).

To make this, combine one quart of water with one tablespoon of Sal Suds in a glass spray bottle, available at Walmart. Shake well, and use it all over your home with a microfiber cloth, also from Walmart. Because Sal Suds works with hard water, you can just use tap water for this.

To give you some inspiration on where to start, you can use this DIY cleaning solution to:

• Clean stainless steel
• Clean a kitchen sink
• Clean brass instruments such as trumpets (we’re not joking)
• Clean surfaces around the home
• Clean stove grates
• Cleaning ovens

And that’s just the beginning.

4. Outdoor cleaning

Sal Sud’s usefulness is not limited to the house – it has helpful applications in backyard cleaning, helping to cut a load of harsher products needing storage in your shed ideas, too.

Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO at Cabana, shares, ‘I like using Sal Suds around my outdoor living area. I’ve used it for things like pressure washing my patio, cleaning my outdoor furniture, and cleaning pool equipment.

'I like using it outside because it’s biodegradable, so it doesn’t have the same negative impact on plants like other chemical cleaners do, and I don’t have to worry about what will happen if it gets on my lawn.’

For general cleaning, including cleaning windows, you can mix half a tablespoon of Sal Suds into a gallon of water and use accordingly. For pressure washing, add one drop of Sal Suds to a full water reservoir.

5. Washing dishes

My final favorite use for Sal Suds is handwashing dishes. Lisa explains in her book, ‘Sal Suds is a little better at grease cutting and is unaffected by hard water.

'It is readily biodegradable, so whether your drain empties to the sewer, a septic system, or even a grey water system, the product will break down quickly and pose no harm to the environment. Add one drop per pot or plate, or a small squirt in a sink of water.’

Sal Suds is also great for cleaning cast iron, as it is mild enough to remove grease without disturbing the seasoning, Lisa adds.

What to shop

FAQs

Does Sal Suds expire?

Sal Suds, when stored correctly with a closed cap at room temperature, has a shelf life of around three years from the date of manufacture, according to the Dr. Bronner’s help center. The manufacture date can usually be found on the bottom of the label.

Why did my Sal Sud’s solidify?

Sal Suds may solidify if it is exposed to colder temperatures. Moving the Sal Suds to a warmer room and allowing it to sit at room temperature for a few hours should help it return to its normal consistency.

Meet the experts

Lisa Bronner

Lisa Bronner is the granddaughter of Dr. Emanuel Bronner, the founder of Dr. Bronner's Soaps. She is now a consumer advocate and speaker on health and green living.

Jeremy Yamaguchi

Jeremy Yamaguchi is the CEO of Cabana, an expert pool service company. Cabana provides a wide range of pool services, including maintenance, repair, and cleaning. With a long history in the outdoor service industry, Jeremy brings a wealth of experience to multiple areas concerning backyard lawns, patios, and pools.

Want to give Sal Sud’s gentler cleaning cousin a go? We have rounded up all the best ways to clean with Castile soap at home to get you started.