I see a lot of people looking for wipe solution recipes or even just all purpose cleaner recipes. I have done the internet search myself or even asked around and more often than not, the answers are far more complicated than they need be. What do you need in a wipe solution? Water. And if you like, a way to reduce the tension in the water to make it slippery, aiding in scrubbing tough stuff. It does not need a huge list of ingredients or steps. I have used Dr. Bronner’s liquid castille soap for cleaning solutions in the past, and now I just stick with my own homemade soaps for ease and cost effectiveness.
Luckily, my cleaning solutions, wipe solutions, laundry detergents, and the like all come from the same small batch of ingredients.
Instead of soap bits or cubes, try grating your soap for a fast dissolving option! Use any bar of real soap. (I do not recommend a “beauty bar” like Dove or ivory.) You will want it to have as few additives as possible. Goat milk soaps make great wipe solutions. Then, with a fine grate kitchen rasp, shred your soap into as close to a fine powder as you can mange.
This is easier with hard soaps. Your rasp/grater should rinse clean with ease, or you can pop it into the dishwasher afterward. I like to grate up quite a bit to make the task worthwhile. I then add several drops of lavender oil and even a couple drops of orange oil to the grated soap. Tea Tree oil is popular as well. Mix well with a spoon and store it in a dry, clean container. Keep a lid on your container to keep your soap from drying out and your oils from evaporating away. Use a teaspoon of your grated soap mix with two cups of water for a simple wipe solution or all purpose cleaner. I will often use this type of solution on my wood floors.
Grating soap for homemade cleaners is a great way to use up your reject bars from any soap making projects, as well as the leftovers from other soap bars when they get down to the last bit. You can mix a few kinds together for a fun scent or twist. Just make sure it is a sensitive skin safe variety if you are using it as wipe solution for your kids.
How do you keep your grated soap from sticking together in little balls. lol. I especially have this problem with soft goats milk bars. ~My favorite. Thank you.
with coconut oil based soaps I don’t get clumping, but goat milk definitely clumps! If i ever discover the anti-clump secret, I will let you know. I suppose that is why most wipe solution makers may soap bits with goat milk and not grated. They are smarter than me. Lol