 My favorite cleaner! |
| Review Date: July 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jamie Gilman, |
I highly recommend Dr. Bronner's Unscented. I started using it in a spray bottle with baking soda and water because it does not trigger my migraines and when I realized how well it cleaned I started using it to clean pretty much everything in my home.
The scents and chemicals in mainstream cleaners were causing such severe migraines that I could not clean my house. Newer `green' cleaners from Clorox and the like did not help either because of the fragrances. I learned about Dr. Bronner's and gave it a try. The scented versions are too strong for me so I stick with the unscented. Most of my friends like the unscented too because they can add whatever essential oils they need (or are in the mood for) to clean.
Information on the internet for green cleaning is all over the place and there is a lot of bad advice out there. I recommend getting a book on green cleaning that will bring all of the information together - check one out from your library or purchase one if you've got a little extra money. For a basic over view of green cleaning I recommend Jill Potvin Schoff's Green Up Your Cleanup (The Green House). For a comprehensive book with a lot of depth, try Renee Loux's Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home. (I have written reviews on both books.)
The only things I do not use this soap for are washing my hair and doing the dishes. I have really oily hair and the castile soap leaves it very stringy and with a lot of oil in it. I've got several friends who use it as shampoo and they do not have the same problem that I do. I also do not use it for dishes because it is more cost effective for me to get Seventh Generation dish products from Amazon's Subscribe & Save program. As a side note, Dr. Bronner's works great with oxygen bleach (like OxyClean) for laundry, but I use Seventh Generation laundry soap and oxygen bleach instead because it is more cost effective per load.
Yes, the writing on the bottle is kooky, but nothing says you have to read it. This castile soap works better then any other castile soap I've tried. I do not normally spend money with companies that speak in terms of religion, but given the safeness and effectiveness of the product combined with their IMO certified fair trade practices to purchase organic ingredients, I don't care WHAT the label says.
The product contains: water, saponified organic coconut & olive oils, organic glycerin, organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, citric acid, and Vitamin E.
|
I love this stuff - and I'm no baby.
|
| Review Date: November 1, 2009 |
| Reviewer: philo_vance, Ronkonkoma, NY USA |
Beginning 10 or 15 years ago, I started having problems with my skin - a kind of itchy irritation on my shins, eyelids and elsewhere. My doctor gave me various kinds of cortisone creams which were effective, but the problem would always return when I stopped applying them. When I researched a bit, I discovered that the most frequent cause of this type of trouble is soap and shampoo! I tried some "extra mild" type soaps and got enough improvement to be encouraged but not as much as I had hoped for. Until finally, I stumbled on to Dr. Bronner's.
Initially, I tried the Almond scented variety. The improvement was quick and complete. I was thrilled, but I didn't really like the scent. That's when I tried the Unscented Baby-mild. Works just as well and no scent except for a barely noticeable "green" aroma. It's almost a year now, and I've not had any recurrence of the skin irritation that used to bother me.
I use it as both soap and shampoo. I am a man and keep my hair reasonably short, but not like I just got out of the Army. After shampooing, my hair is not oily but not dried out. Combs easily without knots. Looks pretty good, I think.
Since it contains no scent and no deodorant, if you sweat you'll smell. Pardon the bluntness but you should know the trade-off you're making.
It makes a nice lather, but it's not very foamy or bubbly. I suspect that some of the chemical additives contained in regular soaps provide this function. It is "thin" rather than creamy. Again, that's probably what other soaps' additives do.
A 32-ounce bottle lasts me, with daily showering, shampooing and generally 1 face-washing, just about 6 weeks. That makes the cost higher than non-organic, non-castile soap and shampoo, but only slightly so. I am happy to pay the difference to get the relief that this product has given me.
If you're going to try it, search Amazon thoroughly. There's more than one listing for this and different listings have different prices, vendors and shipping costs and (occasionally) go on sale at different times, so do a bit of checking before you pull the trigger. |
Love it!
|
| Review Date: March 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Nicole T., Newington, CT |
| I found this product while searching online for a natural product to bathe my children with. I ended up buying a small bottle at Whole Foods to see if I liked it before spending $21.00 on two Giant Bottles. Let me tell you the small bottle at Whole Foods was 8 oz and $6.00 - so Amazon has an amazing deal. I was so excited to try it on my kids that I gave them a bath right away. It lathers up very well and rinses very easily. The only downside to this particular variety is that there is no scent really. It kind of has an olive oily scent for a second and then it rinses off. My kids have soft skin after using this though and I have no need to put lotion on them afterwards. I love this and plan on using this for a long time to come. I even used it on myself and couldn't beleive how moisturized my skin felt afterwards. A little goes a long way too - my little 8 oz bottle will last a long time - afterwards I will definately be buying from Amazon. I just wish they had on Subscribe and Save so that I would never run out. Give it a try! |
It really is magic!
|
| Review Date: December 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: deburn, Cambridge MA United States |
When was the last time you heard organic, good for the environment and cheap in the same sentence? Well this product is all of those things. Even a quick search online will lead you to all kinds of blogs and forums full of people praising this product for it's many uses.
Quick summary: hand and body soap, shampoo, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent. The latter two are in combination with baking soda and a couple of other natural (and cheap!) ingredients. Just search for Dr. Bronner's uses/recipes. I LOVE this product and cannot recommend it enough.
If you like it you should also check out this book Easy Green Living: The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly Choices for You and Your Home and In Fitness And In Health. Both these books changed my life in a big way. I guarantee they will change yours too! |
Great for baby and the whole family!
|
| Review Date: November 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: MotherofZ, Cambridge, MA United States |
| I can't say enough good things about this soap!! I first came across Dr. Bronner's soap when I was looking for a mild, fragrance free (ie phalate free), non-toxic soap for my baby. Dr. Bronner's came highly recommended by our pediatrician and friends with babies. We've been using it as shampoo, body wash, and laundry detergent for our baby and it's been great! It lathers very well and a little goes a long way. Our whole family has since began using it for everything--shampoo, face wash, body wash, hand soap, detergent, even dishwashing liquid. I love that it's made of natural oils (and not some toxic, petroleum-derived chemicals). Even the bottle is 100% recycled plastic. Love it! Love it! Love it! Just wish I found it sooner. |
Green Household Must-Have
|
| Review Date: July 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: S. Ralls, Springfield, MO USA |
I can't do without this vegetable oil soap for household tasks. It's the most versatile commercial cleaner I know of, and is safe and environmentally-friendly. The ingredient list can't be beat, and it's a great all-around cleaner. I don't use it for bathing, but just because I never remember to try it. I use it to clean delicate laundry items, sinks, counters, floors, tubs, showers, patio/deck, siding, and driveway (it does a great job of breaking up oil, and since it's biodegradable, there are no worries about what chemicals I'm washing into the sewer).
This "flavor" is unscented, but smells a bit like olive oil. Very mild scent, and if you want a scented soap but don't want to be locked into one of the pre-scented versions (almond, peppermint, tea tree, etc.), for the duration of a bottle, just add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice to your dilution bottle or mix.
The label's on the fruity side, but it doesn't bother me. It's entertaining, the product is effective and green, and the sentiments on the label are well-meaning and innocuous, so I don't give it a second thought. |
I won't use anything else on my baby
|
| Review Date: August 19, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Fiberholic, Cincinnati, OH |
| This is the absolute best soap/shampoo I have found for my youngest son. He's one of those kids who gets 'funky' really fast, and I was having a hard time finding something that works well, doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and doesn't have a whole bunch of unpronouncable foolishness in the ingredients list. Dr. Bronner's is without a doubt the only soap I like for my kids. It's mild and hard working, and a little goes a looooong way! |
Best product on the planet
|
| Review Date: May 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: T. Benson, USA |
| This is simply the best soap on the planet. I had used Dr. Bronner's before, but this time around I used it for my laundry, dishes, floors, countertops, and I even washed my dog with it. I will not ever use another soap again! |
Best for Baby and me!
|
| Review Date: March 24, 2010 |
| Reviewer: C. Styles, |
Love this soap. For me it takes off all my make up, cleans my skin and does not make me break out! My skin is soft and not tight after and it last a long long long time!
For my baby it really helps his eczema. He can't use any other soap or the red itchies will start! This soap is gentle and rinses well.
I use it in a squeeze bottle. You only need a little bit mixed with water to get the job done. It will not lather up but you will feel clean after using it. I promise!
Just becareful not to get into baby's eyes. It will sting a little! Other than that you can use it all over. I like the unscented because I can use it all over the house and it does compete with my candles or airfreshers. |
An easy way to dispenser Dr. Bronner's
|
| Review Date: May 26, 2010 |
| Reviewer: amazonbuyerforever, |
I use Dr. Bronner's in my CD-n-Pump lotion dispenser. One dispenser I use in shower and another on my kitchen sink. Easily to fill up when I see level is low and I'm using Luminarc working glasses also purchased on Amazon.
you can see Cd-n-Pump at
[...] |
dr. bronner's unscented baby mild
|
| Review Date: March 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Brian High, Memphis, TN |
| this is a great soap. . i do use it on the kids, and it doesn't seem to burn too much. i use it also, and it had a great lather. lasts forever and a day! |
Good soap, non-irritating to skin but not mild
|
| Review Date: June 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: CCDS, Arkansas |
| This really cleans well, maybe too much. It is not really "baby mild." It does burn in cuts etc and is terrible when getting in your eyes. That said, I do use it on my baby (and my children and myself) as needed and diluted because I like the simplicity of knowing what I am putting on her and that it is natural. It lasts a really long time. My first order (2 32oz) lasted about 6 months for two dirty little boys, myself and baby. So it is a good deal! |
Not so great for dishes
|
| Review Date: June 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Wade, Stowe, PA United States |
| We've found that this soap leaves a greasy film on our dishes. If anyone can recommend a different formulation of castile soap, or other eco-friendly dish soap I would appreciate it! As a hand soap this product works great. |
Too watery except maybe for washing fruits and vegetables
|
| Review Date: July 31, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Acontius, Florida |
This old brand has a reputation for purity, and it does seem suitable for washing vegetables. Some say it's even safe for colon cleansing.
It is gentle on the skin, and it has a pleasant, clean fragrance.
However, it is about as thin as plain water, and really dumps right out of the spout. Easy to use it up fast.
Even if you use a lot, the little bit of suds that form disappear in about 30 seconds. Then you have milky looking water. I've always thought suds are very important to do any kind of cleaning--especially dishes.
My parents used this for body and hair when I was a kid, and I remember it being much thicker back then, more like Baby Shampoo. If anybody remembers differently, please leave a comment.
For people with sensitive skin or sinuses, it seems safe enough, but we have to use too much to get most any job done. I'd rather pay a little more per bottle and have a more concentrated formula.
As it is, it seems useful only for cleaning fruits and vegetables. |
Two Big Problems
|
| Review Date: March 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Buyer in Virginia, USA |
I bought Dr. Bronner's unscented soap because my pregnant wife became sensitive to the fragrances in our usual kitchen and bathroom liquid soaps. I wanted something odorless, and if it was more natural or chemical-free than the usual soaps, then great.
When we first got this soap, I thought it fit the bill perfectly. There was no fragrance. It lathered fine. And even though it didn't rinse perfectly -- there was a little film of residue -- it wasn't something you noticed after you dried your hands.
Then we noticed two things about Dr. Bronner's that have made me rue ever buying a gallon of the stuff. The first problem is the viscosity. I never thought about this before, but liquid soaps like Dial have the right "thickness" to them -- they aren't so chunky that they clog the pump, but they aren't so thin that they're runny. Dr. Bronner's *is* that thin. Watery, almost. Maybe it's those evil chemicals in the other soaps that gives them their body, but Dr. Bronner's is so thin that all three pumps we tried (an old Dial pump, an old Savon de Marseille pump, and the Progressive International Soap Dispenser from Amazon) had the same problem: it would take two or three presses get the soap coming up (you had to prime the pump); then, once the soap *did* get going, it would shoot out much faster than we were used to; and when it got into your hand, it would dribble between your fingers instead of "plumping up" the way Dial and most liquid soaps do. This makes for a more awkward experience all the way around, and you notice it over time. Somehow the dribble of soap also leaves more of a "candlestick" effect all over your soap pump (waxy beads), and eventually makes a puddle of muck under your dispenser. Careful use can avoid that mess, but when you combine this problem with the second one, the soap becomes almost unusable.
The second problem is this. I never thought about this before either, but liquid soaps like Dial don't *clot*. They have the same viscosity in and out of the bottle, and air doesn't make them immediately crust up. Dr. Bronner's soap behaves more like liquid wax; the part touching the air starts to thicken pretty quickly, even inside the pump. (You can see this in any pump with a transparent body.) This is a real deal-breaker because, at the tip of all three pumps we tried, the small residue of un-ejected soap would sit there and clump up in the air. The next time you used the soap, a little more would clump. By the third or fourth time, the tip would get half-clogged. And unlike any liquid soap of usual thickness (see above), which would be viscous enough to just push those clog out of the tip -- you would get that crusty bead of soap in your hands while you lathered, but otherwise no problem -- Dr. Bronner's is so watery that, instead of pushing the crust out of the tip, the soap goes *around* the crust, and now what you have, instead of a soap pump, is a high-pressure fire-hose. Many, many times when using this soap we have had it shoot three, four, five feet, in unpredictable directions. On mirrors and windows, clothes and walls. Let me tell you how fun it is to scrub the inside band of your wristwatch because your stupid soap can't land where you pumped it. One time, Dr. Bronner's landed in the eye of our two-year-old son, who started screaming. I'm sure, if we had to put liquid soap in our son's eyes, Dr. Bronner's is the safest stuff around. But we've tried many soaps in this house, and Dr. Bronner's is the only one we've ever had these really aggravating problems with.
So: this product is good for being odorless, and good (I guess) for having fewer industrial chemicals. I don't mind the wash it gives, though I've had better. But for a pump soap, it is seriously lousy. I strongly discourage you from using it this way. |
Not so mild for me.
|
| Review Date: June 24, 2010 |
| Reviewer: L. Harrison, Round Rock, TX |
| I have super-sensitive skin, so I was looking for a gentle soap. This wasn't it. After about a week I had to stop using it because my skin was getting more and more irritated. I can use the peppermint and lavender versions of this soap, but I ended up throwing the unscented out. Now I'm back to using the "super hydrating" supermarket brands of soap instead. They're just so much cheaper, and my skin likes them better. |
Not all it's raved to be
|
| Review Date: June 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: L. Wallace, Texas |
I wanted something healthier and so bought this. There are not enough instructions on the bottle but I followed those I found online for diluting. As "Buyer in Virginia" notes- the viscosity is horrible. It's too watery. It also doesn't seem to rinse off well- perhaps due to the hard water here. I made the mistake of trying it as a shampoo this morning- simply awful. My hair was coarse and felt sticky like it had hair spray in it. I searched online and found I needed a vinegar rinse to restore proper PH after using it. Now I've got to go re-wash my hair.
Even though I bought the unscented, baby formula- my kids says it has a yucky smell.
I have used the bar soap of the baby formula and have enjoyed it, by the way. Guess I'll try this for cleaning. |
Skin irritation, stinging and red spots - Dr. Bronner's soap
|
| Review Date: November 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Working Mom, San Jose, CA |
Fascinated with this legendary natural soap that is good for the environment, I bought the unscented baby-mild and several scented bars. Strangely, my little son and husband with sensitive skin had no problem with it. But, my daughter and I, who both have normal skin, found it stinged in certain areas. After two days of use, I had several little itchy red spots all over, and my daughter cryed to have me use it on her. Needless to day, I stopped using it for the whole family. The soap is also very watery, so after I diluted it, in a squirt bottle, it was even more watery. I guess I can still use it in the dishwasher, or for floor soap as it is recommended.
|
|
No video reviews found for this product.
No comments yet