Why I Stopped Using Only DIY Green Cleaners

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DIY Green Cleaners
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » Why I Stopped Using Only DIY Green Cleaners

I have a confession to make… I’m lazy when it comes to cleaning. In fact, that is why I started using multipurpose homemade green cleaners in the first place… I could clean the majority of my house without the need for a bucket full of cleaning products.

Green Cleaner Troubles…

Unfortunately for my DIY green cleaners, vinegar stinks and borax is controversial.

Try to make a green cleaner without either of those and it is tough to make an effective one, especially because my non-negotiable standards are:

  1. It must not leave the surface worse than before I cleaned it (no trading dirt for bacteria for chemical residue)
  2. It must not kill my children if they accidentally ingest it
  3. It must work (or course!)
  4. It must be able to be used for more than one thing so I don’t end up with a closet full of bottles
  5. I don’t have to find a hazardous waste disposal location to get rid of it

Vinegar: The Problem

Vinegar has gotten a reputation as an all purpose green cleaner on its own and while it certainly has its place in a natural home, it isn’t the panacea it is made out to be for a few reasons:

  • It doesn’t actually remove dirt very well. In fact, the “cleaning” action often associated with vinegar is simply degreasing as many surfaces contain both grease/oil and dirt or is a result of the cleaning cloth used.
  • It may not disinfect well either. Research is still divided on this, but vinegar may not be an effective natural disinfectant and experts typically recommend other well-proven substances like hydrogen peroxide instead if disinfection is the goal.
  • It stinks. Not a scientifically backed problem but one that my kids make sure to point out every time I use it.

It CAN be a great degreaser and I have used it as a rinse aid in my dishwasher when we’ve lived in places with hard water, but on its own, it isn’t a cleaner per se. That being said, I do still keep a bottle of white vinegar with organic orange and lemon peels around the house for degreasing and descaling, I just don’t use this as my all purpose cleaner.

Borax: The Problem

You know when kids get in a fight and you try to find out what actually happen but get a long story and multiple answers? That is how I feel when it comes to borax. On the one hand, it is touted as a great green cleaner, but on the other people claim that it is harmful and deadly.

As I’ve explained before, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle with borax being generally safe to use in cleaning but not in personal care products as much of the research on the actual dangers of borax is actually on boric acid (not the same thing chemically).

While I would still feel safe using Borax for certain purposes around the house, I’ve also been experimenting with alternatives, as the mention of borax as an ingredient in a natural cleaning recipe will typically get dozens of comments from those on both sides of the debate and there are safe alternatives.

Unfortunately, my original all-purpose cleaner that works really well contains borax and doesn’t work well without it, so I was back to the drawing board!

The time… oh, the time…

The other part of the story about why I don’t exclusively use DIY cleaners anymore is because of time. I have (almost) six kids and a dog, and a house, homeschooling, and a blog, and even a couple of friends. I wouldn’t trade any of those things for the world, but to keep all of them happy and healthy requires time.

I still do make many of my own natural cleaners and virtually all of our food from scratch, but I had to free up some time and when evaluating my options, I realized that homemade cleaning products was one area I could do this. To be fair, when I first started out, this wasn’t possible, both because of our budget and because there were few or no good natural cleaning options available to purchase.

Thanks in large part to people like you who research and choose healthy options, there now are natural cleaning options available to purchase so DIY isn’t the only option. I’ve also gotten quite a few questions from readers who don’t want to make their own cleaners and am glad to find budget-friendly and effective natural options to share.

My Favorite Pre-Made Cleaners

Short story… I’ve finally found several pre-made cleaner concentrates that I absolutely love, that are cost effective and that work really well:

Again, I still think DIY cleaners are awesome and a great alternative to harmful chemical cleaners, but I’m excited to have found another good option. Simple recipes like homemade all-purpose cleaner and vinegar based cleaners are great, but I’m also glad to have some pre-made options to choose from when I want to.

30+ Uses for Green Cleaners

With just a few green cleaners (homemade and from concentrate) it is possible to literally clean your entire house from top to bottom. In fact, for about $50, I can clean my house naturally for over a year!

Here’s how I use these basic green cleaners in our home:

  1. All Purpose Cleaner: Dilute 1 teaspoon of sal suds concentrate into a spray bottle (at least 16 ounces) on all hard surfaces in our house. (Homemade option: this all-purpose cleaner recipe)
  2. Dish Soap: As a natural dish soap I dilute 1/4 cup sal suds in a 16-ounce foamer bottle. (Pre-made option: EcoMe Dish Soap)
  3. Glass and Windows: I dilute 5 drops of Sal Suds concentrate in a glass spray bottle with filtered water and wipe with microfiber. (Homemade option: This is one area where vinegar is effective and can be used to make a simple cleaner for glass with this recipe).
  4. Fruit and Vegetable Wash: 1 drop of Sal Suds concentrate (or 1/2 teaspoon of liquid castile soap) in a sink or bowl full of water to wash produce.
  5. Laundry: 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of Sal Suds concentrate per laundry load as needed. This homemade version also works really well and there are other good pre-made options like BioKlean liquid laundry soap  or Ecover zero.
  6. Stainless Steel: To clean stainless steel without streaks I dilute a few drops of Sal Suds in a spray bottle of water.
  7. Stain Treating: There are many natural ways to treat stains (here’s a helpful chart), and 1/4 cup Sal Suds Concentrate diluted in a spray bottle of water is a great all-purpose pre-treat for stains.
  8. Carpet Cleaning: To clean carpet naturally I pre-treat stains with a 1:10 dilution of Sal Suds in water and then use 1 drop of the concentrate in a steam cleaner (full tutorial here).
  9. Bathroom Cleaning– Make a floor to ceiling bathroom cleaner with 1 tablespoon Sal Suds concentrate in a spray bottle of water with 10 drops of lemon essential oil (optional, but for freshness).
  10. Hard Water Stains: To remove hard water stains I use either Sal Suds all purpose cleaner or Bon Ami.
  11. Glue and Adhesives: Use a 50:50 mixture of Sal Suds and water. Spray on, let sit 5 minutes and scrub off.
  12. Oven and Stove: I make a natural scouring powder for use in oven and stove cleaning or use Bon Ami.
  13. Floor Cleaning: I add 1 tsp of Sal Suds concentrate to a mop bucket to mop the entire house.
  14. Grout Cleaner: I use a 1:3 Sal Suds dilution to clean tile grout or use homemade scouring powder or Bon Ami for tough stains.
  15. Blinds: I make a spray of 1 tablespoon of Sal Suds in a spray bottle of water to clean blinds or if I’m feeling really ambitious, I take them all down and add to a bathtub full of warm water with 1/2 cup Sal Suds, soak for 15 minutes and scrub. Air dry before hanging.
  16. Urine stains: a 1:15 dilution of Sal Suds with 5 drops of lemon essential oil works great on urine stains and smells in the bathroom. For mattress urine stains, I sprinkle with baking soda, then spray with this mixture and wipe up.
  17. Cloth Diapers: To pre-treat and wash cloth diapers (no residue and completely removes ammonia smell) I pre-soak in the washing machine and add 3 tablespoons Sal Suds and 1 cup baking soda.
  18. Shave Soap: In a foamer bottle, I use a (1:5) dilution of Liquid castile Soap as a shave soap.
  19. Foaming Hand Soap: Liquid castile soap diluted in water makes a great foaming hand soap that costs pennies per bottle. Here’s how I make it.
  20. Face and Body Wash: Combined with raw honey and water, liquid castile soap makes a great face and body wash.
  21. Shampoo: castile Soap and coconut milk make a moisturizing shampoo.
  22. Baby Wipes: Diluted in a foamer for DIY baby wipes (I wipe with cloth wipes).
  23. Dog Wash: A few drops to a teaspoon of liquid castile soap makes an effective pet wash.

What types of cleaners do you use? A skeptic like I was? Will you give it a try?

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

310 responses to “Why I Stopped Using Only DIY Green Cleaners”

  1. kelley Avatar
    kelley

    hi! I have been following your recommended ways of washing fruits and veggies using vinegar ( and lemon/salt). Have you stopped using this method and fully use the castile soap to wash them? Please advise. Thank you so much!!!

  2. Olivia Avatar

    Hi, Katie. I was wondering your thoughts on Tropical Traditions All Purpose Cleaner for a substitution for Branch Basics. I was using BB for everything and I enjoyed that versatility. They claim you can using it for household cleaning, laundry, kitchen/dish soap and hand soap. Any experience with it? Thanks for all your other formulations; I have used lots of them with success.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      I love TT cleaning products. Their all purpose cleaner is good. I buy their hand soap and laundry detergent separately, however, so I don’t have much experience with there all purpose cleaner is that regard. But I’ve used and trusted their products for a long time.

  3. Lori Avatar

    What about Shaklee? They have been around for a long time. Are their cleaning products good. I guess there are pros and cons with everything. right? Or Maleleuca

    1. Sue Avatar

      There is no way to know if Shaklee is OK or not because they describe their ingredients, but they do not disclose what they actually are. Plus, the company also sells cosmetics which contain synthetic fragrance. They are not the worst, but I wish they would come clean…not just in their “brand” but in practice!

  4. Donna Avatar

    Hi, Katie,
    Amazon.com alerted me to this product since it’s similar to Branch Basics: Puracy 100% Natural All Purpose Cleaner – THE BEST Household Cleaner – Streak-Free Multi-Surface Spray – Superior Results on Glass & Stainless Steel – Child & Pet Safe – No Harsh Chemicals. It is made in the USA and is out of Texas. Have you heard of this? Opinions/Critiques appreciated! Thanks!

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      I’ve heard of it but haven’t tried it yet. The ingredients look to be very similar to BB’s, from what I can tell though.

      1. Donna Avatar

        Thanks for the quick reply!
        I noticed similarity of ingredients, too. And from Texas like BB. One reviewer commented that Puracy contains Benzisothiazolinone, which is an antimicrobial and preservative used in a wide variety of applications, such as cleaning and building products.

        Most reviewers are pretty sold on the product line. I might give the stain remover a try. OR will just stick with Dr. Bronner’s since it has been around for a long time and highly trusted.

        Continue to keep us all posted on this topic thread!

  5. Kate Avatar

    Hello!!

    Are you at all worried that the Sal Suds contain sodium laural sulfates? Thanks!

    Kate

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      Not for cleaning purposes. From this post:
      “I also find it important to note that Sal Suds contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) but I don’t find this concerning for several reasons. For one, it is not being used on the skin. SLS is a highly effective surfactant and is incredible on set-in stains. There is some concern about its safety in beauty products, but for cleaning products it is considered safe. It is often confused with sodium laureth sulfate, which does carry concerns and which has been linked to cancer.

      Additionally, the amount used in this recipe is well below the recommended dilution ratio for SLS on skin and the SLS in Sal Suds comes from Coconut Oil. If you have concerns about SLS, this article from Dr. Frank Lipman helps explain the way SLS works and why it is considered safe when diluted in cleaning products but not recommended for cosmetics or skin use.”

      1. Donna Avatar

        I ordered some Sal Suds from Amazon today per your (and others) suggestion. I’m also going to get Dr. Bronner’s unscented/baby castile soap and use that for DIY foaming soap and cleaning fruit/veggies (and I saw a long list of other uses earlier today). I’m subscribed to your blog updates. Can you some time post a blog update about the green cleaners and this dilemma in particular? And if you’ve blogged about this in the past and I missed it, can you please repost it? Thanks so much!

  6. Donna Avatar

    I am sad and frustrated by what I’ve just now discovered and am reading about BB. It’s been my go-to cleaner for many things for the past year. I have been so satisfied with it that I highly recommended it to my sister and daughter (who has 5 young children). They have been satisfied with the product also. I let them know via the BB website what is going on as I was about ready to place an order and was going to get theirs as well and combine them to save on shipping costs. My biggest concern is I (and my daughter) have been using BB as a fruit/veggie cleaner. Is this now considered dangerous for food (even though it’s still considered “nontoxic”)? I will continue to use what I have for basic house cleaning, but am concerned about using it on my face/hands (I just made a bottle of foaming hand/face soap today), and for use as a fruit/veggie cleaner (which I won’t be using it as such from now on). Can Dr. Bronner’s castile soap, unscented/baby formula, be used in the same way or what do you/others suggest to use for a fruit/veggie cleaner? I’ve tried vinegar in the past and feel it leaves a bitter taste (especially on grapes). I have used store-bought “fruit wash”, but it’s expensive! Please continue to keep us all posted, Katie. I, for one, still trust you and know you are just as deeply frustrated by this as well since most of us used BB due to your success and recommendation of it.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      Thanks so much Donna. I do still feel safe using it as well, though if you have any concern, you should not use it on skin or food. (I know multiple people with extreme chemical sensitivity who have used it in these ways for a long time without a problem, and I still don’t personally think it is harmful but definitely do your own research and do what you feel comfortable with!). Lemon juice can also be used in place of vinegar as a produce wash, but it can also leave a sour taste. Dr. Bronner’s is a good sub, just make sure to dilute and rinse well! I will definitely keep everyone posted as I find out more.

  7. Johnna Avatar

    Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner. A capful with water in a spray bottle goes a long way.

  8. Lisa Avatar

    I do not buy Sal Suds because it contains SLS Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – not good. People try to say that it sounds a little different so it’s OK, but it’s basically the same, as in it’s in the same family. SLS dries out skin, so I cannot use it. If people like it, they can use it, but not me. I do feel that whatever that dries out my skin, it’s not good for me. All SLS are pretty much the same.

  9. Julie Avatar

    I’m wondering why you feel safe using it on your kids when you don’t fully know what the synthetic ingredient is? I thought you were all about being completely natural? I’m so annoyed at this company because I spent over $300 on their products and have been using on my baby since birth! Now I’m stuck with a giant 2 gallon container of their false product.
    What do you recommend instead to clean baby with? Can you provide a link to another DIY that you use for baby bottom cleaning? Thanks

  10. Katie Avatar

    I do not sell/represent/work for/anything like that Branch Basics. But, I’d like to step up in their defense. The founders clearly had pure intentions of providing genuinely safe products, and unfortunately, one of their manufacturers took advantage of their trust and used an ingredient that was not approved. Here’s the thing- how many times are we flat out lied to about what’s in products we put in and on our bodies? It happens ALL the time, but the difference is- we don’t always know! Why? Because MOST companies don’t tell you, and there is very little (if any) accountability to make them inform you! Branch Basics is not the only company to have been taken advantage of by a manufacturer. I think it’s very important to look at how companies handle these issues, and Branch Basics seems to be doing a fine job- Acknowledging the issue, immediate stop sell of the affected product, and letting their customers know.
    Should you be angry that an ingredient was put in there without Branch Basics’ knowledge? YES. But perhaps your anger is misdirected! Instead of joining the bandwagon of fueling rumors and lies and hate for these small companies that have excellent intentions, let’s applaud them for their transparency and their commitment to correct the problem and move forward in the non-toxic mission!! If we are truly on this non-toxic mission together, then we’re on the same team! Let’s support each other, not tear each other down!

    And, by the way, I know that Wellness Mama is not one of the rumor/lie spreaders- I am directing my comment more towards those who are making harsh claims that BB is fraudulent and untrustworthy and has been scamming its customers all along.

    1. Chaille Avatar

      Katie, I initially was on Branch Basics side. However, I do think that those of us who are skeptical of their response are reacting that way because it’s so contrary to who they claimed to be – an ultra-thorough company who would have quintuple-tested everything before they sold it to anyone. This was a product the founders had been using for 2 decades, and are just now figuring out it’s not what they thought it was? They never had it tested by an outside source before this? Before they put all their time and money into marketing it so thoroughly and with all of their heartfelt personal testimonies? I look forward to the updated post from Wellness Mama, because I sincerely hope it answers these questions and vindicates Branch Basics, but I have a feeling the full story won’t be that simple. I own and use all of their products in my own home, and have continued to do so even with the new information, but I think I’ll always be wary of them as a company.

    2. Kristen Stone Avatar
      Kristen Stone

      Amen Sister! Unfortunately our society is teaching us to be inherently distrustful. My hope is that through situations like these, we can learn to look deeper into the intent of the companies trying to do the right thing, rather than immediately writing them off.

    3. April Avatar

      They knew they weren’t listing all of the ingredients in their product for as long as they’ve been selling it. They only listed those they added. They could have, at the very least, put a disclaimer on the bottle saying that there are other ingredients which they couldn’t divulge. That’s not being transparent at all. The fact that they won’t issue refunds is another problem. Neither are ethical business practices.

      1. Wellness Mama Avatar

        They list all ingredients that are listed by their formulator, including those that they add. I agree that they don’t list them in much detail and don’t explain the process or how they change, but they did list all of the ingredients in the formula (except perhaps any that were not disclosed by the formulator that they were unaware of). They were not trying to mislead or hide any ingredients, they just trusted a formulator to disclose everything and that person did not. I definitely understand where you are coming from and don’t disagree with you, I just wanted to point that out since it was something I asked specifically to verify.

        1. Dana Avatar

          “…they just trusted a formulator…”

          Exactly. They JUST trusted a formulator.

          They had the responsibility to test the product themselves before over charging people for it. Anyone who still wants the product can buy it for $10.90 a litre. K D Gold sells it for a higher price, ala BB. This product that BB has been selling us comes from Malaysia.
          WM, I suspect you’re getting most of your two sides of the story from Kelly/BB. She’s good at schmoozing it over. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I smell a lawsuit.

  11. Wellness Mama Avatar

    Hi Christine, I can completely understand where you are coming from and I talked to the branch basics ladies at great length when all this started coming out. There is a lot more to the story that they are choosing to share right now (which is actually very kind to other parties involved) but they were lied to in a signed contract that stated that there were no synthetic ingredients. Many companies use formulators for their products, and it is really sad that theirs chose not to be truthful, which has been hurtful to their business and to all of us as customers. I also removed the link to the blog with the claims by a third party person that you linked to… there is also much more to that part of the story and after some research, I can’t ethically link to anything that the source in that other post uses… I’m working on a post with everything I found out from researching both sides of this, but please know that I share you concerns and anger about this…

    1. Chaille Sullivan Avatar
      Chaille Sullivan

      I just wanted to say thank you for following up with everyone that has commented here. I really appreciate you taking the time to dig deeper, as it’s been overwhelming for a lot of us to figure out what the truth in all of this is. I look forward to your updated post.

    2. Wellness Mama Avatar

      The toxicology report doesn’t detail the actual ingredients (though I think these were disclosed under NDA to the toxicologist but can’t verify this). I’m hoping that BB will release the report and plan to ask them to do this but don’t have a copy to release myself. I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been dealing with chronic health conditions and I understand your concerns… From everything I’ve seen so far, I’d still feel comfortable using BB, but I agree with you and will continue to share information as I find it and am able…

      1. Dana Bell Avatar

        “I have been looking into it and while it isn’t a “soap” because of the process (mielle vs saponifcation), I have seen a toxicology report on the formula to confirm that it is safe and non-toxic and will be updating the post soon. Long story short, I still feel completely safe using this on my children.” I HAVE SEEN A TOX REPORT you said.

        “The toxicology report doesn’t detail the actual ingredients” you say now.
        So, you saw a tox report that didn’t state the ingredients? Seriously?

        Apparently you haven’t done enough research to realize what’s going on. I can tell that you only speak to BB and believe their lies. You could end up in legal trouble along with BB. I posted yesterday to you but you decided not to put it on the blog so I expect this msg will go *poof* too…. I have saved it for court. There is about to be a Class Action Lawsuit. Tell Kelly hello from me 😉

        1. Wellness Mama Avatar

          Dana- I’m sorry if you left another comment that hasn’t shown up. I tried to search for it with your email and can’t find it, so I wonder if it was caught by a spam filter? If you reply to this comment, it should show up.
          I feel that it is important to clarify for you and for other commenters that while I have used BB products and liked them, I am not affiliated with the company in any way other than being an affiliate and have absolutely no financial interest in them otherwise. I certainly want transparency and truth in this as much as anyone else, but sense there is much more to the story on both sides.

          1. SueA Avatar

            ” I am not affiliated with the company in any way other than being an affiliate”…so you ARE affiliated. You can’t have it both ways…claim to not be affiliated then admit you are an Affiliate!

            So how is all that research coming?

          2. Wellness Mama Avatar

            This isn’t very difficult to understand. You asked if I am a silent partner or investor of some kind. I am not. My only connection to the company is that I am an affiliate for them (as I am for many other companies), and that I have used their products. Sorry if that was so confusing for you.

    3. Sue Apito Avatar

      “I talked to the branch basics ladies at great length when all this started coming out. ” Back in 2012? or in 2014 when they first started looking into different formulas?

      Or was is after this article – published over a year ago? http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/most-controversial/2015/1/27/another-impossible-ingredients-list.html

      Or how about when Ava Anderson – who had been selling the same product from the same manufacturer – secretly reformulated?

      Or was it more recently – when this was published? http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/most-controversial/2015/11/28/soap-impossible-still-doesnt-add-up.html

  12. Marie Avatar

    This company is a fraud. Sounds like they’ve known since 2014 that their product wasn’t natural.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      Hi Marie- I can understand where you are coming from and I share you concerns. There is also much more to the story. I’m working on researching for a post on this. In the meantime, I wanted to let you know that I’ve removed the link to the blog you posted as I’ve researched the source of that letter (whose name was removed) and can’t ethically link to anything that person has written (there is definitely much more to this story than he has shared and a financial motivation as well). Please know I share you concerns and am going to be sharing what I find in depth soon….

  13. April Avatar

    Unfortunately it came out today that their product is not all natural. A third party supplier was using synthetic ingredients and lying to them.

    I think Branch Basics is handling it well, but why they never had their product tested to make sure what they were selling is puzzling. They are reformulating but I’m wondering if they’ll be able to make a truly all natural product that works as well. That said, I doubt I’ll buy from them again.

  14. Julie Avatar

    Please take this down. I just received an email today from Branch Basics stating that the formula is not a true soap as they thought and there are synthetic ingredients in it. I am devastated as I’ve been using this on my baby for 9 months. Please look into this and remove this post

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      I have been looking into it and while it isn’t a “soap” because of the process (mielle vs saponifcation), I have seen a toxicology report on the formula to confirm that it is safe and non-toxic and will be updating the post soon. Long story short, I still feel completely safe using this on my children.

      1. April Avatar

        They’ve lied to everyone. Their supplier has a “proprietary” formula and won’t disclose the ingredients. They have known this the entire time all the while making it appear that the founders created this recipe out of thin air and it was their own, unique formula. The label is false and they’ve known it all along and kept that information from customers. Even if it turned out to be all natural as they claimed, they still didn’t disclose all of the ingredients nor the fact that they didn’t create it. I will never trust them again.

        1. Wellness Mama Avatar

          Hi April- I can understand where you are coming from and I definitely share you concerns. There is also much more to the story. I’m working on researching for a post on this. A lot of companies use a formulator, especially for more advanced formulas, so this wasn’t initially a concern for me. The fact that this formulator blatantly lied in a signed contract is absolutely concerning. At the same time, I have seen the results of a toxicology report on the formula and while there is one synthetic ingredient, the formula is as safe as they have always claimed. I agree that they should have disclosed their ingredients but there is also much more to this story… I’m working on a full post on this soon…

      2. Chaille Avatar

        I strongly encourage you to do more digging and update this post accordingly. The specific synthetics have been released elsewhere, and it is alleged this is the identical product that had been sold under the Ava Anderson name. There is a lot more to this story than the BB team is disclosing. As a user and long-time supporter of their product, I am disgusted and embarrassed by all of it. Please maintain your own integrity and call the product what it is – a fraud.

        1. Wellness Mama Avatar

          Hi Chaille… I definitely understand where you are coming from on this and there is much more to the story on both sides, as I am finding out in researching at this point. I’m working on a post with everything I’ve found but please know that I share you concerns and am working to find answers on this…

      3. SueA Avatar

        RE: “I have been looking into it and while it isn’t a “soap” because of the process (mielle vs saponifcation)”

        You are smart enough to do your research, there is no such thing as this mielle process. The chemicals are synthetic detergents…that is why the product is not soap, not because they start with the same raw materials and the only difference is how they are processed. I am sure your readers expect more from you!

  15. Aimee Avatar

    Hello, WellnessMama!

    I’ve been using Branch Basics for about a year and a half and love it! I have started using about 1/2 cup of vinegar in all my laundry to get the rancid smell out of towels.
    My question is this: We moved out of an apartment that had problems with what we think was mildew appearing on clothes in the closet. I washed them in hot water and 2 tsp of Branch Basics and we’ve hung a bag of DampRid in my husband’s closet. Alas, it’s still appearing. I’m not sure what to do. It’s mostly around the armpit and neck areas, but also appears across the stomach of his shirts. He’s frustrated because many of the clothes are new. We thought it might be because they were older and full of residue, but they’re new.
    I’m at a loss as to what’s going on or how to address it. I’m planning on contacting Branch Basics to see if they have any insight on the matter.

    Thank you! =]

  16. Josie Avatar

    Hi! I’ve been using BB for almost a year now, but have a question! 🙂 have you ever had a problem with it having a “rancid” type smell? I’ve noticed it since my last order. 🙁 I won’t use it on dishes anymore because of it (I’d take a plate out of the cabinet and it would smell rancid too after being washed with bb). Just wondering if you’d come across that and what you’d recommend to “combat” the smell (or if you think somethings wrong with the product!).
    Thanks so much for your insight! 🙂
    Blessings,
    Josie

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      I’ve never had a problem with that at all. I’d definitely call or email them and see if something is wrong with the batch you have.

  17. stacey s Avatar
    stacey s

    Hi Wellness Mama! I was so intrgued by your article on Branch Basics Cleaner that i decided to go to their website and buy some, but they are OUT OF STOCK on everything!! They had some sort of message that they would be til the middle of January?? Do you know what this is about? I so want to buy this today I am very sad…:(
    Anywhere else to get the small starter kit??
    Thanks!!

  18. Chandra Avatar

    This is disappointing. I just made the diy laundry where borax was given mention as being safe and now it’s a point of contraversey as a plug to buy BB. It’s confusing and misleading.

      1. Chandra Avatar

        I guess that is why I’m so confused as to why it (borax) would be a bullet point in your bb blog to not diy anymore? I love your blog and read it daily and have now made my own laundry, dish, tooth paste and many other cleaning agents. I just found it disappointing and a little alarming as I’ve been using your home made laundry detergent for my 3rd load out of my big 5 gallon bucket and am pleased with the results.

        1. Wellness Mama Avatar

          I have no problem using borax, but many people do. So for those who don’t like using it, this is a good thing. My DIY cleaning recipes work great, but if you don’t want to take the time to make them, this is a good, safe alternative.

  19. Courtney Avatar

    I was very skeptical of this but was willing to try it as I was looking for something completely natural and just didn’t want to smell vinegar anymore. I also have a 20 month old, so I was just always needing to make more DIY cleaner and never getting around to it. I got mine large starter kit today and started using it immediately. I LOVE IT!!! Already told my SIL about it and she ordered hers today too. I have A LOT of mirrors and glass in my house, including fully glass showers and fully mirrored walls (thanks to the early 1990s) and this works better than any, even toxic, cleaners I’ve used. Really amazed and excited to try it in the dishwasher, etc.

  20. Jenae Hagel Avatar
    Jenae Hagel

    would using the proportions on the foamer bottle and then using the foam bottle to put some on a tooth brush work best? and same for dishes? I don’t normally fill up a sink with water.

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