I’ve been really excited to share this idea with you, and I think you are going to love it as much as I do! When I came across this idea, I had to ask myself (as I so often do,) why haven’t I thought to try something like this before!?!
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Soft Scrub has been a popular cleaning product for many years, and it’s not hard to see why! It has a texture rather like an exfoliating face scrub, which helps to erase deposits and stains on all sorts of surfaces. It also leaves surfaces looking not just clean, but sparkling! The “recipe” I’m sharing with you today is an all-natural and homemade take on Soft Scrub, and it works every bit as good as the original!
Homemade Soft Scrub
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup castile soap
- 1 Tbsp water
- 10-15 drops of Tea Tree essential oil
Directions:
Combine the baking soda and castile soap in a mixing bowl.
Add the water and tea tree oil to the bowl and stir with a fork.
Stir until you achieve a paste-like consistency. (I had to add a little more baking soda at this point to get the consistency I was looking for.)
Transfer to your container of choice, then grab your sponge and start cleaning!
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How To Use It
Use your homemade Soft Scrub to clean your sink, bathtub, toilet, microwave, tile and grout, countertops, pots and pans, glass stovetop, concrete, stainless steel, granite, and glass. Avoid using it on porous surfaces such as untreated wood or granite.
In my opinion, this stuff works every bit as good (if not better!) as the store-bought version. And I love knowing that it only contains natural cleaners, including my beloved baking soda, essential oils, and good ol’ castile soap. :-)
In case you were worried about the longevity of this homemade cleaner, I just wanted to add a comment on my experience. I’ve used this cleaner for up to a month after making it, and it’s always been just as effective as the day I made it. I can’t vouch for longer than that, but if it does start to become less effective at this point, it should be easy enough to just whip up a new batch.
Jillee, your posts for DIY cleaning is simply awesome. The ingredients are easy and inexpensive, and best of all, they’re very effective!
Thank you for sharing all of these tips. Your website is the best I’ve run across!
I use a recipe that is very similar. The one I use does have the vinegar, but because they say vinegar reduces the cleaning power of the soap, this may be why it isn’t listed. I’ve tried with & without the vinegar and have found that the vinegar makes it work better.
I did run out of the soap and used regular dish soap….and was very disappointed. You pretty much have to have the castile soap for it to work.
How much vinegar do you use?
Forgot to mention Jillee, I LOVE your posts. I’ve learned a lot!!
Thanks so much Kathy!
Am new to this site and loving it already. Thanks a lot Jillee
I am going to buy some Castile soap.
yay, jillee! i have been doing this for many years now (sans the essential oil and water) and it works like a charm, especially while cleaning gas stove-tops with incidents of oil spatters, caramelized sugar and burnt food. when i feel that the paste has dried up a bit upon storage or has lost it’s “fizz”, i simply add a bit of vinegar while applying it, leave it on for some time and then gently scrub away to glory. i also find that a hard toothbrush facilitates the cleaning in nooks and corners without any elbow grease!
in the sentence stating where you can use it you name ‘granite’; in the following sentence you warn against using it on wood or granite. May I suggest you state untreated or unsealed granite, and add marble to your post. Any citrus or vinegar product can pit and scratch marble.
Love your site, and all your posts.
Jillee specified to not use on porous surfaces such as UNTREATED wood or granite. Treated granite wouldn’t be pourus, therefore she’s included it in the “safe” list.
Agreeing with Maria on this.
also, there is no citrus or vinegar in this recipie
Luv your tips, ideas, and home made cleaning,in the recipe for homemade soft scrub – do you have to add essential oil?
Thanking you in advance..
The oil kills the germs
It’s best to include them, but it still works without!
What is replacement for Castile soap? I can’t find it in Pakistan.
raana, you could order it online or simply use a dishwash liquid. the castile soap makes it more organic. i have been following this method instinctively for many years. i use a dishwash liquid like pril, teepol, vim, dettol .etc. it works absolutely fine. am sure there must be something similar in pakistan.
You can use dish soap!
I’m goi try the soft scrub formula but was wondering if I can use other essential oils I may already have or if meleleuca oil is necessary for the mix to work? Thanks for all your greeat tips and ideas. I use quite a lot of them and always love the results.
Wondering if Orange oil will work?
It sure would smell nice ,!
Antibacterial Essential Oils as per Google: eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, tea tree oil, bergamot,
lemongrass, oregano, thyme, clove, basil and rosemary, cinnamon, citrus oils. The list goes on and on.
The site also tells which bacteria are affected by which oils. According to research, cinnamon is
potentially one of the strongest antibacterial essential oils. In my opinion it smells so much better than
tea tree oil. (<:
You can use any essential oil you like!