Product Review: Sals Suds
I tell my clients about this product so often that I figured it was time to write it down. Maybe I’ll run around with a QR code in my pocket? Who knows! Please note that I am an Amazon Affiliate and I earn a teeny commission off of qualified purchases.
Why I feel good giving them money (their story)
The Bronner family is five generations deep in soapmaking. They are a Jewish family who originated in Germany. Starting in 1858, Mr. Heilbronner was a Master Soapmaker. He invented Castille Soap, which revolutionized laundry in Germany at the time, while still being eco-friendly.
The Heilbronners had their son, Emmanuel Bronner in 1908. Emmanuel preferred to be called Emil and he apprenticed in his father’s business in the 1920s. Here’s where it gets wild. Emil had a huge personality and religious fervor as a Zioninst: he was radically preaching peace, love, and hippy stuff. He immigrated to the US in 1929 due to clashes between himself and his father.
Before World War II, as the Nazi government rose to power, Emil changed his last name to “Bronner” to distance himself from the violence and genocide visited upon his family back home. It wasn’t enough: the Heilbronners fell victim to the fate so many Jewish Germans did. Their soap factory was nationalized and the family was deported to Auschwitz. Emil never got to see them again. It was during this period that he adopted the title of “Dr.” and— although he wasn’t a doctor— he was charismatic and intelligent and no one questioned him. He spent time institutionalized in the early 1940s for his religious beliefs. I imagine that he was also experiencing intense grief and loss over the war and the fates of his family, friends, and neighbors— though, to be clear, that is speculation.
He escaped the asylum in 1945 and got back to running his business. In Pershing Square, sales were the least of his worries. He wanted badly to spread his message of kindness, working with the Earth, and coming together as one. When he realized that people were coming for the soap and not staying for the sermon, he doubled down by printing the sermon on the labels. It remains there to this day.
It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the world caught up with Emil Bronner. Peace, love, and hippy stuff was finally in. His company exploded overnight. They moved to California and began developing the foam spray that firefighters use to suppress flames quicker and more thoroughly than water.
Between now and then, the family has done an unbelievable amount of charity and lobbying. Happy that farmers can grow hemp? They were in the vanguard of lobbyists who fought the DEA for it. Ever visited the San Diego Boys and Girls Club? Their 1200 acre property was a donation from the Bronner family. Enjoy USDA Organic labeling? They are the largest personal care company to participate in the program. Love recycling? Their bottles are 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. And if you believe in worker’s rights, you’ll love that they have a 5-to-1 cap on the salaries of top level execs vs entry level warehouse positions. Most of their profits each year get donated to progressive causes.
How we started using them
All the cleaning ladies on Angela Brown’s Facebook group swore by this stuff. I mean, you can’t ask for a product recommendation for any kind of surface without getting half a dozen recommendations for Sals Suds. “plant based, biodegradable, good dilution ratio, works well, safe for kids and pets.” I mean, when you put it like that, it’s obvious why I eventually caved and bought a bottle.
We do a ton of product testing in house. Probably because I am a total nerd for data, and if I don’t have data to collect for a specific problem, I’ll just make up a problem to collect data on. We do this testing in some of our large commercial facilities: daily visits and consistent foot traffic make it easy to tell what works and what doesn’t. We tested it against 4 other floor cleaners. The others all failed the Paper Towel Test. But Sals Suds went over its own section of floor, plus the sections of the other chemicals, and made them all cleaner. Like, babes, you should have seen that mop water after Sals Suds went over what I had just freakin’ mopped with the other cleaners. And because it dilutes to a teaspoon per gallon of water, it is way cheaper and lasts forever and wastes less money/plastic/shipping/fuel/environmental impact by being so concentrated.