Thanks for the grub, now let’s Rub-a-Scrub-Scrub!

Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub, and who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker… and the dishwasher, if you please! In case this rhyme doesn’t magically clean the dishes for you, why not try making your own tub of Rub-a-Scrub-Scrub? Thanks to this DIY dish soap bar, the daily task of washing dishes will be easier and more enjoyable.

There are many advantages to using solid dish soap. Not only is it simple to make and environmentally friendly, it’s also easy on the pocketbook: a single pot will last you several months. Thanks to the vinegar and washing soda, it conquers even the toughest grease.

So if you’d like to make your own dish soap bar, read on to learn how to make Rub-a-Scrub-Scrub. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

How to make homemade dish soap?

Before you begin

Washing soda (sodium carbonate) and SCI (sodium cocoyl isethionate) are irritants. We therefore recommend using the following safety equipment:

• Safety glasses

• Nitrile gloves

• Shoes that fully cover your feet

• Dust mask (SCI is a respiratory tract irritant)

In addition, we recommend working in a well-ventilated space (under the hood of the stove, for example).

Once all the ingredients have reacted, there is no further risk for respiratory or skin irritation, so you can use this solid dish soap worry-free.

You may use a coffee grinder to grind the SCI into a powder for this recipe. You should carefully rinse the grinder afterwards, and it should not be reused for food.

Ingredients

• 129 g SCI

• 12 g white vinegar

• 38 g demineralized treated Water

• 18 g washing soda

• 2 g essential oil(s) (lemon, orange, grapefruit…)

Tools

• Components to make a double boiler

• 1 small stainless steel bowl

• A few ramekins

• 1 mini silicone spatula

• 1 scale accurate to 0.1 g

• A few spoons

• 1 grinder, coffee grinder or mortar and pestle

• 1 large PETE plastic pot (240 ml)

Good to know!

• The vinegar acts as a descaling agent and will make your dishes shine.

• The washing soda degreases and cleans your pots and pans.

• When selecting your essential oil(s), we recommend choosing those with degreasing and/or antibacterial properties.

• SCI is a surfactant that is gentle on skin and will produce a nice foam.

• The SCI/water/vinegar mixture may dry out when on the double boiler. If this occurs, don’t hesitate to add water (in 0.2 g increments) until the SCI granules have completely melted.

Steps to follow

1. In a small stainless steel bowl, weigh the SCI and grind to a fine powder using a grinder, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle. Use caution: SCI is very powdery, so make sure to protect your respiratory system.
2. Weigh the water and vinegar and add to the SCI.
3. Place bowl on the double boiler to melt.
4. Mix regularly, crushing the SCI until a smooth paste is obtained.
5. Remove from heat and add the washing soda. Mix again.
6. Add the essential oil(s) and mix.
7. Transfer the mixture to the PETE plastic pot. As you add the soap to the pot, compact it with a spoon or by hand (wearing gloves).

Use and conservation

This solid dish soap is easy to use: rub a damp sponge on the soap and then use to clean your dishes. It will foam up nicely and clean even the greasiest dishes.

Made in optimal sanitary conditions, this DIY dish soap bar will keep for at least 6 months.