I agree!

I use eco laundry with baking soda and my clothes are fine. I was switching to Dr bronners hoping to save money and of corse get the same results

​@@GoingGreenwithLisaBronneror borax.

@@carolinda360😅😅

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

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.

That's great, Alexis! It's always fun to hear from long-time customers!

I'm glad this helped!

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!

did you not like the regular castile soap for laundry?

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.

Wow! Thanks for that awesome endorsement!

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

That's great to hear, Milly!

That’s probably her laundry room 😂

Hi Natalie- Glad this video came up for you at just the right time!

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.

Duh she’s Lisa Bronner

I'm so glad you've enjoyed the products through the years!

Where is the message that says something about a one world gov.???

That's right! Dr. Bronner was my grandfather and our company is still family owned.

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.

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!

Thanks for supporting our family's business, Kay!

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.

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!

Hi there- There's no need to use both Sal Suds and Castile Soap. Chemically speaking there is no interaction, but they work equally well on laundry.

If you want a scent you can put essential oils or some vanilla extract. Makes your clothes smell SO good. Hope this helps!

You are so welcome, Shirley!

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 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?

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!

Excellent!

Hi Eric- Add the vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. Your washer will release it during the rinse cycle.

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/

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.

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/

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 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.

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!

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.

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/

Hi there- 1/3 cup is about 5 Tbsp. or 78 mL if you're converting to metric.

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.

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

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- Yes, Sal Suds, our household cleaner, is formulated with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (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. The main concern with SLS is that it 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 (Castile Soap, All-One Toothpaste, and so on) and personal care products that do include it should be avoided. For a deeper dive into SLS, check out my blog post on the topic: bit.ly/SLSInfo

Hi Carolinda- In an HE washer, use 2-4 Tbsp. (30-60 mL). Add 1/2 c. (120 mL) vinegar to the rinse cycle. Optional: For extra whitening/deodorizing, add 1/4 c. (60 mL) baking soda to wash cycle.

Hi Adi- Sal Suds, our household cleaner, is formulated with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (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. The main concern with SLS is that it 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 (Castile Soap, All-One Toothpaste, and so on) and personal care products that do include it should be avoided. For a deeper dive into SLS, check out my blog post on the topic: www.lisabronner.com/there-is-no-cancer-risk-from-sls-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/

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???

Hi there- Either way! It's safe to pour directly onto fabrics or use in the dispenser.

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 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. 🙂

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 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.

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.

Hi Lexia- That's right! There's no need to dilute for laundry.

So 1 to 1.5 tablespoon per load? In an HE washer

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 Allie- Yes, exactly!

That's how I do it I just spinkle on the clothes in the washer and wala! They come out super soft and fresh

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!

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/

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.

Hi B- Thanks for your concern in plastic reduction and sustainability. We share your concern! Because many of our products are used in wet and potentially slippery situations, glass is not a viable option for us. We package our Magic Balms in aluminum tins, and are currently exploring if recycled aluminum might work instead, and if recycled aluminum may also a good alternative to plastic for some of our other products. Since virgin aluminum is mined, there are often labor justice and environmental concerns associated with its extraction, and it can be fuel intensive to work with, so in some cases it may not be clearly environmentally or socially more advantageous than plastic. As a company we are evaluating various technologies and programs to continue to reduce our use of virgin and petroleum-based plastics and also increase recyclability of all of our packaging. For example, we also are exploring improving refill programs with retailers and co-ops, and keeping an eye on like-minded companies and partners who are exploring closed-loop programs. And on top of that, we are exploring ways of making our bottles out of “ocean-bound plastic,” post-consumer plastics otherwise bound for oceans. In the meantime, know that we currently use 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET plastic bottles for most of our liquid soaps and Sal Suds bottles, and we participate in “bottle-to-bottle” recycling for our PCR PET resin-the recycling of used plastic bottles into new bottles, which helps conserve virgin resources & reduces landfill.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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!

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.

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.

Hi Josh- 1 cup vinegar in a regular washing machine, or 1/2 cup for an HE.