In my house, bathtime is a success when my toddler gets wetter than I do, I get to count wiping up after the splashfest as mopping, and there’s a ring around the tub because the kids had good clean fun. And by clean, I mean they went outside and got dirty.
Well, that’s not exactly true. I’m happy that my older kids love to play outside in all kinds of weather, but I’m also REALLY HAPPY to see that tub ring go, too. A sprinkle of straight baking soda and elbow grease doesn’t always cut it, but this natural soft scrub cleaner totally does the trick.
It’s gentle, but it deep cleans and restores shine just like store brands. And not only does it wipe away grime, it doubles as a deodorant. Okay, that’s not true either, but I did accidentally apply it last week while rushing out the door. Label your DIY supplies folks, that’s my PSA for the day.
Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe
This DIY soft scrub is perfect for use on ceramic surfaces, kitchen sinks, grout, just about anywhere with soap scum, countertops (except granite), and more.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap
- 3⁄4 cup baking soda
- Just enough water to make a smooth, liquid paste (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 10 drops grapefruit essential oil, lemon essential oil or tea tree essential oil (optional)
Equipment
Empty dish soap, ketchup or shampoo bottles make a great “squirt top” container for this scrub.
Instructions
Combine baking soda, castile soap and essential oils. Add just enough water to make a smooth liquid paste, then transfer mixture to your chosen airtight container.
To Use
Squirt a small amount on a damp sponge, cloth or scrub brush and massage into surface. Add more as needed. Rinse well with warm water.
To Store
Can be stored at room temperature for up to a year.
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Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe
Equipment
- Empty dish soap, ketchup or shampoo bottles make a great “squirt top” container for this scrub.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp liquid castile soap
- ¾ cup baking soda
- Just enough water to make a smooth, liquid paste (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 10 drops grapefruit essential oil, lemon essential oil or tea tree essential oil (optional)
Instructions
To Make
- Combine baking soda, castile soap and essential oils.
- Add just enough water to make a smooth liquid paste, then transfer mixture to your chosen airtight container.
To Use
- Squirt a small amount on a damp sponge, cloth or scrub brush and massage into surface. Add more as needed. Rinse well with warm water.
Tiffany
Do you happen to have any neat suggestions for bubble bath for a two year old? 😀 She LOVES her baths ( though, as you, if she ends up wetter than I do then it’s a miracle!! ) but I don’t want to give her toxic chemicals in her tub!
Heather
Hi Tiffany, I’ve used castile soap but it’s a bit expensive to use as bubble bath very often 🙂
Robert
Most people’s water is too “hard” to suds up a bathtubful with a reasonable amount of castile soap.
Becky
Is the grapefruit for the smell or cutting grease? If the ring around your bathtub is soap scum, then vinegar will help!
Heather
It’s for both 🙂
Robert
Vinegar won’t help if you mix it with baking soda or castile soap.
Monica
This also works very well at cleaning up the bentonite clay residue from our toothpaste. I think that stuff sticks within seconds. I used lemon and juniper berry to scent mine, lovely. I will need to add more water next time, mine got too dry and wouldn’t squeeze out anymore.
Carol L
I made something similar, and although it, too, hardened up, I simply used a sponge to wipe some out and use that way. ( I didn’t put it in a bottle: put it in a small glass container I had …repurpose!!)
Lindsey
I’ve made a recipe similar to this before, but after the first use it wouldn’t come out of the container. Since then, I’ve just been sprinkling some baking soda in the tub along with a squirt of dish soap and it works great!
Jennifer @ GrowingUpTriplets.com
After tackling my tubs and toilets today, I was ready to call a house cleaner – it’s been a particularly trying season. :o) But this looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it!
Lisette
Is it okay to use a plastic container for this since it has essential oils in the recipe?
Sandra
As long as its diluted it’s ok Lisette, which in this case it is. You are correct though, and I wish more people knew that. Essential oils will eat thru plastic exposing dangerous chemicals to the person using them, but again, as long as they are diluted wit either soap, oil, bath salts etc, you’re ok. I hope Heather doesn’t mind I answered 🙂 I’m sure she’s a busy bee and doesn’t always have the time. Blessings
Samantha Riley
I knew this. But i didnt know it was ok if it was diluted. This is so helpful to know. I make my own products. I even sell body and bath items at craft fairs. Thx
Lady Mina Miakoda
Granny use to make a similar recipe that I adopted from her, but she actually added the strained juice of 1 Grapefruit and a Lemon, vinegar + the water. Then Baking Soda, Soap, Table Salt and A few drops of Essential oils. She use to also save the eggshells, wash them well , dry them and grind them to a fine powder. In those days, the used a mortar and Pestle, I go the easy way and use a coffee grinder. She used the shells in her garden and in scrub cleaning solutions and WOW, let me tell you… if you have stubborn tub or toilet stains, it does the trick. To this date, I follow her recipes.
Carol L
Our granny’s knew stuff!!! I wish more people would write down those ‘old’ recipes and put them all in a book! They are so great and usually work MUCH better than ones even we think up later. Hindsight! Wish I had prodded my grandmother for her best recipes. I didn’t, now she is long gone and I am much poorer for having not had her decades of experience in cleaning, health issues and cooking!
Jill
Where has this been all my life? I just tried this and it worked fantastic on grease buildup on my kitchen cabinets and the stove! Best of all no dangerous chemicals or fumes. I used lavender castile soap and my kitchen shined and smelled great.
Joy
As far as dilution goes…is it safe to have 5 drops of lemon oil in a 32 Oz plastic spray bottle? It has 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 capful Theives household cleaner, water with 5 drops lemon oil. Is a regular old plastic spray bottle a safe dilution/storage? Can you respond to my email? TIA!;-)
Jan
Do you offer a discount if both ebooks are ordered?
judy
is the castile soap in the soft scrub liquid castile?
Jodi
Oh my gosh! This works Awesomely! My 10 year old helped make it (mixed it by hand & because there are no chemicals in it… she could!!!!) and then she was excited to wash the bathroom sink with it while I cleaned the tub. She started asking if she could more the floor with it or if she could take a bath in it, because it felt so soft and cleaned so well!
Nani
Hi there,
I’ve been making and using the soft scrub and I love it. I was trying to figure out a way to make it so it doesn’t separate as much and after a little bit of trial and error I found that if you add a bit of washing soda it actually ends up binding the the ingredients together with no separation. Also, I have been making it with my stick blender. When I’m done mixing it, it resembles kind of a heavy meringue. I absolutely love it
Heather
Thanks for the tip, Nani!
Laura
You didnt mention how much washing soda. I am curious.
Amanda
Hello,
Just curious why it’s not safe for granite? Is it the abrasiveness? Should it also be avoided on marble, quartz etc? What do you recommend for cleaning those kinds of counters? Thank you!
Heather
Yes it is due to the abrasiveness. I have not researched marble and quartz specifically. I know quartz is harder than granite and therefore more durable, but not sure if it’s compatible with this scrub.
Deb
Is it okay to use on fiberglass tubs? (i.e. ‘plastic’ tubs, sink, etc?)
Rachelle
I’m amazed by this soft scrub!! I’ve already shared it with my sister and close friends. It took off all of the scum in our shower that has been there since we bought our house 3 years ago (so gross!). I have tried everything from bleach and other store bought cleaners. Nothing has worked, until this! It took it off like a dream with a bristle scrub brush. Cleaning my shower has never been so fun and exciting! The scrub was so easy to make. I used the peppermint Dr. Bronner’s soap so I didn’t need to scent it with essential oils. Thank you so much for sharing!
Lorna Skinner
Thanks for sharing your ideas to help reduce toxins in the home!
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Melissa Dull
I love people share their experience with others and inspire them to eat healthy foods. I sometimes find new recipe on website, blog and youtube and make for family.
Thank you for this recipe, love this.
Gia
Mixed some of this up tonight to scrub my stove top and sink, I soon found myself cleaning all the bathrooms, I used lemon Essential oil as it was all I had but it smelled wonderful, kitchen sink is shiny clean, thank you for sharing this wonderful soft scrub recipe!
Gia Jacobson
I use this on my glass top stove and tubs, sinks and it works great! Thanks for sharing ☺️
Heather Dessinger
So happy to hear it has worked well for you!
Christine Ball
I like your recipes for cleaning but we don’t have in Australia some of the things you use or they are named differently can you help in any way.Thank you.Christine