Ok I've searched here already and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I got a bottle of Bronners liquid soap and can't find actual recipes to make anything. Just lots of suggestions. Here's what I'd like to use it for (based on threads here and the Bronners website):
~foaming handsoap (2oz bronners to 6oz water)
~liquid laundry soap (both for clothes as well as cloth dipes)
~general cleaner (kitchen counters, bath counters & tubs, sheet vinyl floors as a minimum, I'd also love to be able to use it to spot clean stains from the carpet or in my carpet shampooer)
I keep finding suggestions for "a squirt of soap and a bit of water" but I'm anal and I need to be able to measure (or at least have a better ratio!).
Also I've read mixed reviews on using Bronners (straight or diluted or in a recipe) for cloth dipes. Is this good or bad? I'd like to be able to just mix up a few batches of Bronners for various uses, label the bottles and be on my way.
We tried it full strength as a body wash and neither DH or I liked it (he said it made his skin feel weird even after making sure to rinse well and I broke out a little bit although I might try it again when I'm not pregnant and the hormones are raging!). Haven't tried it on DD yet as we have a bunch of her body wash purchased on sale to go through first.
I have tried it diluted 1:4 with water in a spray bottle and used it on my kitchen counter. It still seemed really strong though as when I wiped down the counter there was a little bit of foam residue. Do I need to dilute more?
Can anyone give me actual recipes with ratios or measurements so I can start using it. I really like Bronners (versatility and concentration) and want to utilize it more but just don't know where to start.
elleystar
01-20-2010, 09:06 PM
Which Dr. B's did you buy? Is it the plain old castile soap (comes in different fancy scents) or is it the Sal Suds?
court3189
01-20-2010, 09:17 PM
I'd love to know about this as well. I have a couple bottles of Dr. Bonners liquid soap. I was wondering if I should use it full strength for hand soap or if I could dilute it a bit and make it go farther.
Court
elleystar
01-20-2010, 09:29 PM
Well, I have a Pampered Chef Suds Pump with markings on the side to show you how much soap and water to put in. Seems to me the ratio is at least 8 to 1, so you can definitely thin it out a lot.
I'm not of fan of using it as a body wash either, blech! But Dr. B's makes a Shikakai body wash that is really good. I have the lemongrass lime scent.
I haven't tried using straight Dr. B's for laundry, I think it would get kind of expensive. But it does work to soften the water so for a while I was using it in the diaper loads. A good squirt which probably worked out to a couple of Tbsp. I use pockets with microfiber and had no buildup issues or anything. If you wanted to try it as a laundry soap on its own, start with 1/4 cup per load.
As far as dilution for cleaning goes, I'd say about a tablespoon in a couple of gallons of water would do the trick. I prefer the Sal Suds for cleaning because it's actually formulated for the job, and it's not for the skin. I put about half a Tbsp. in the carpet steam cleaner and it worked great, but I don't think I'd want any more than that in there. Also did about the same mix with a bucket of hot soapy water to scrub floors, fridge, and cupboards and it worked like a dream. It's also supposed to be a good stain remover for laundry but I have not tested that yet.
elleystar
01-20-2010, 09:29 PM
Well, I have a Pampered Chef Suds Pump with markings on the side to show you how much soap and water to put in. Seems to me the ratio is at least 8 to 1, so you can definitely thin it out a lot.
I'm not of fan of using it as a body wash either, blech! But Dr. B's makes a Shikakai body wash that is really good. I have the lemongrass lime scent.
I haven't tried using straight Dr. B's for laundry, I think it would get kind of expensive. But it does work to soften the water so for a while I was using it in the diaper loads. A good squirt which probably worked out to a couple of Tbsp. I use pockets with microfiber and had no buildup issues or anything. If you wanted to try it as a laundry soap on its own, start with 1/4 cup per load.
As far as dilution for cleaning goes, I'd say about a tablespoon in a couple of gallons of water would do the trick. I prefer the Sal Suds for cleaning because it's actually formulated for the job, and it's not for the skin. I put about half a Tbsp. in the carpet steam cleaner and it worked great, but I don't think I'd want any more than that in there. Also did about the same mix with a bucket of hot soapy water to scrub floors, fridge, and cupboards and it worked like a dream. It's also supposed to be a good stain remover for laundry but I have not tested that yet.
GEM Cloth
01-20-2010, 09:31 PM
It's pretty strong and a little bit goes a long way. You can dilute it with more water until you get it like you want it. I'm not a measuring kind of gal, just a squirt for this and a squirt for that. For bathing all you need is a dime sized amount for a baby/small child, a little more for a larger child or adult. I think you are using too much. It's a natural product so you only need to use a little.
CrazyE
01-21-2010, 07:39 AM
Thanks! I have the regular Bronners liquid, not the Sals Suds. It was a gift so I'm trying to figure it all out to decide if I want to get some more. I will try to dilute the bottle I have been using on kitchen counters to see if I like it. I just also know that once my new baby is born (7 more weeks!) I'll lose all brain function and if I need to get more diluted out I'd need to be able to specifically tell DH how to mix it all up too! I'll try a little bit in my next load of cloth dipes to see how I like it. I haven't stripped them in a while so maybe they'll do the trick for me.
wooly_wonderful
01-21-2010, 09:10 AM
I have heard that you shouldn't use it for cloth diapers, but never actually tried it myself.
I personally don't measure. In my foaming hand pump I fill the bottle a half an inch to an inch then fill the rest with water. For mopping floors I put a squirt in a bucket with some white vinegar and fill it with hot water. For all purpose cleaner I put about a tablespoon in a large spray bottle and add a scoop of oxiclean then fill with hot water.
aliciamarie632
01-21-2010, 10:36 AM
I've only been using a week but it's done great things for my skin so far! I diluted it abt 1oz soap 3oz water and added couple drops of essential oil. My skin is soooo soft now. I've also mixed that with a little bit of baking soda for a face scrub. It's a little hard to use diluted so I'll prob put in foam pump (that's what I already do for my toddler and baby) but for now have just lathered it in my hands.
