As someone with a lifelong fascination for cleaning and a deep respect for the Bronner family legacy, I’ve learned a thing or two about making cleaning tasks more manageable, even when mobility is a challenge. And let me tell you, when it comes to navigating the world of cleaning with limited mobility, Sal Suds has been an absolute game-changer!
The Sal Suds Revelation
I’ll never forget the day my mother-in-law introduced me to the wonders of Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds. Like many folks, I had seen those iconic bottles in the natural section of the grocery store, covered in tiny text and a million words, and thought, “Kinda pricey, isn’t it? Nah, can’t say I’ve ever tried it.”
Boy, was I wrong! Once I got my hands on that magical green bottle, my whole perspective on cleaning shifted. I realized that a little Sal Suds goes a long way, and it can do so many fabulous things in my home without all the harsh chemicals I grew up with.
From Comet to Castile: A Cleaning Transformation
You see, I was raised in a household that believed in cleaning with the big guns – Comet, Clorox, Soft Scrub, ammonia-laced window cleaners, you name it. I couldn’t even begin to pronounce some of the ingredients, let alone understand what they were. It wasn’t until my mother-in-law’s life-changing reconnection with her family that I was introduced to the world of Dr. Bronner’s and realized that cleaning didn’t have to be this way.
With Sal Suds, I can have clean hands all day long without them drying out like burlap or feeling slimy. I don’t need thick rubber gloves or a bleach smell in my sinuses for hours after cleaning. And I don’t have to worry about putting so many harsh chemicals down my drains. It’s been a true revelation.
Tackling the Tub with Ease
As someone with limited mobility, cleaning the bathtub in my tiny apartment bathroom used to be a real challenge. Using products like Comet or Soft Scrub took forever and required a ton of elbow grease to remove those stubborn hard water stains and soap scum. And even after all that effort, I’d still have to rinse three times to get rid of the leftover grit. Not to mention the fact that I’d have to kneel and stretch to reach the tough spots, which would leave my back in agony for days.
But then I discovered the magic of Sal Suds. I’m telling you, this stuff is a back-saver! Because of my issues with my back, legs, and balance, I’m unable to scrub the tub with any real force without putting my body through the wringer. With Sal Suds, I can stay on my feet, reach at careful angles, and still get that tub sparkling clean – without the pain.
The Dish Wand Hack
One of the game-changing cleaning hacks I learned from my cousin Claudeanne involves using a dish wand with Sal Suds. I saw a video a while back showing how you could use Dawn Platinum to clean the tub and toilet, and I decided to give it a try on my shower. The whole process was quicker and required less scrubbing and rinsing than the bleach products I was used to, which was great.
But then I read the fine print on the label, which explained that you shouldn’t soak things in that formula or leave them exposed to it for too long, as it can etch or discolor surfaces. I was worried it might damage the cheap paint in my apartment, so I had to find a different solution.
That’s when I had a lightbulb moment – why not try the dish wand method, but with Sal Suds instead? After watching a few of the “Going Green” videos from Clean My Space, I saw how easily Sal Suds rinses away, and I knew I had to give it a try.
A few weeks later, when I met up with my mother-in-law and her newly discovered cousins in St. Louis, they gifted me some Sal Suds, and the rest is history! I poured the dish soap out of the wand, cleaned it out, put a fresh sponge on it, and filled it with Sal Suds to tackle the tub and sink.
Sal Suds vs. Dawn Platinum: A Cleaning Showdown
I decided to do a little science experiment to see which was more effective. Both the Dawn Platinum and Sal Suds cleanings were after 3-4 weeks of not scrubbing the tub, so there was significant soap scum on the floor and wall under the soap dish.
Let me tell you, 15 minutes later, my tub and shower walls were sparkling, my finger made squeaking noises on the tub floor, and it smelled like clean – not bleach! I used half the volume of detergent as the Dawn Platinum, and where the Dawn left the scrub pad all white and chalky, there was no leftover soap scum on the Sal Suds sponge. The sponge rinsed clean, and the tub floor wasn’t slippery or covered in ugly water spots when it dried.
I have never worked with a cleaning product that rinses so cleanly and thoroughly, both from my skin and the fixtures. As for how long it lasts in this undiluted form, the wet sponge dilutes it as you go, and a little bit really does go a long way. So far, I’ve scrubbed the tub 3 times and the bathroom sink about 10 times, and I started with just 3 ounces in the dish wand – it’s still about half full!
The Dish Wand Cleaning Hack in Action
Here’s how I use the Sal Suds dish wand method for a clean, non-toxic, faster, and better bathroom cleaning experience:
- Rinse the Tub and Shower: With a regular shower setting, I give the entire tub and shower a quick rinse, which takes about a minute.
- Scrub the Bath Mat: I also use the dish wand to scrub our anti-slip bath mat and the suction cups that hold it in place. This takes around 2 minutes.
- Let It Soak: I let the tub and shower soak in that inch of water while I clean the rest of the surfaces.
- Scrub Again: I give the tub and shower a second scrub while the water drains out, right before the final rinse.
The whole process, including cleaning the tub mat, takes 15 minutes or less. And the best part? Sal Suds does most of the hard work for me. It’s better than a scouring cleanser, and for economical, ecological, and health reasons, it’s a triple win.
The dish wand allows me to dilute the Sal Suds as I go, without needing to keep a spray bottle nearby, and it hardly takes any elbow grease to do the job. When I switch to the sink, I just swap out the sponge head and use the same method – I’m done in less than 5 minutes!
Now, I know that a plastic dish wand with plastic scrubby sponges isn’t the most eco-friendly option out there, but for someone on a tight budget, they’re considerably more affordable than the natural alternatives. And the sponge cartridges last much longer, too.
If you can find a dish wand with an all-natural loofah sponge to use, give it a go and let me know how it works! In the meantime, I’m just grateful to have found a cleaning solution that makes my life so much easier, even with the mobility challenges I face.
A Bronner Family Connection
As it turns out, I have a special connection to the Bronner family that makes my love for Sal Suds even deeper. You see, my grandfather was none other than Dr. Bronner himself, the founder of the iconic soap company. And through a recent family reunion, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know my newly discovered cousin, Judy, who is the daughter of Dr. Bronner’s eldest child, Ellen.
It’s been an incredible journey, learning more about my family’s history and the legacy that Dr. Bronner left behind. And as I’ve delved into the world of cleaning services and green living, I’ve come to appreciate the Bronner family’s commitment to sustainability and natural, effective products like Sal Suds even more.
So, whether you’re dealing with short-term mobility issues or long-term challenges, I hope these Sal Suds cleaning hacks can make your life a little easier, just like they’ve done for me. And who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a Bronner family connection of your own along the way!
