How to Use Sal Suds as a Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent

Table of Contents

• Why You Should Use a Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
• Pretreating Laundry Stains with Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
• How to Use Sal Suds in Your Laundry Machine
• The Best Ways to Dry Your Clothes

Why You Should Use a Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent

Using a detergent that is non-toxic and devoid of harsh chemicals is especially important when cleaning our clothes, as more conventional laundry detergents tend to load up their products with chemicals like phthalates. Often these chemicals will remain in our clothes and rest on our skin all day and gradually be absorbed into our skin. Many commercial laundry detergents contain one or more of the following:

• Detergents and fabric softeners infused with artificial fragrances that often contain high levels of phthalates.
• Unscented detergents that employ masking agents. Some laundry detergents, when labeled as unscented, might actually contain more masking agents aimed at concealing unwanted odors caused by their chemical composition.
• Synthetic brighteners, which can lead to skin irritation and harm marine ecosystems.
• Bleach, which is the leading cause of chemical-related poisonings and can pose health risks when inhaled in large quantities.

Pretreating Laundry Stains with Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds

Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds is ultra concentrated and very effective on tough stains yet gentle on your clothes. Here’s how you can pretreat stains before washing:

For tough stains

1. Apply Sal Suds directly to the stain, enough to cover and saturate it.
2. Let it sit for a good half-hour or more.
3. Rinse out.

For less intense stains

1. Combine 1 tablespoon of Sal Suds in a quart of water spray bottle.
2. Spray directly on the stain.
3. Let it sit for a few minutes.

How to Use Sal Suds in Your Laundry Machine

Standard Washers

• Use about 2 to 3 tablespoons (30-45 mL) of Sal Suds for each load.
• Optional: For extra whitening/brightening, add 1/2 cup (120 mL) baking soda to wash cycle and/or 1 cup (240 mL) vinegar to the rinse cycle.

HE Washers

• Use 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons (15 to 22 mL) of Sal Suds for each load.
• Optional: For extra whitening/brightening, add 1/4 cup (60 mL) baking soda to wash cycle and/or 1/2 cup (120 mL) vinegar to the rinse cycle. Double these amounts for standard washers.

Tips on Drying Your Clothes

It’s not often talked about, but drying clothes in a dryer is actually very harsh and shortens their life span. Air drying is usually the best option for your clothes and the environment. To learn more, be sure to check out Lisa Bronner’s article Sunshine & Sachets: Best Ways to Dry Clothes.