Irish Spring soap is becoming a household cleaning staple—here's how to use it

Its uses go far beyond the shower.

Key Points

• Irish Spring soap is an affordable, effective, and unexpected cleaning tool for tackling everyday household cleaning.
• Its ingredients break down dirt and grease, making it ideal for durable surfaces like bathroom fixtures and outdoor furniture.
• To avoid residue, use sparingly, rinse thoroughly, and spot-test surfaces first before cleaning.

Every so often, an unexpected household staple gets discovered as a workhorse cleaning product. Lately, that item seems to be Irish Spring soap. Turns out, that classic green bar can be a surprisingly effective tool for everyday cleaning.

“As a former owner of a boutique where we upcycled and restored furniture and home décor, I’ve had to clean just about every surface imaginable,” says Dawn DeBaugh, founder of Eclectic Home & Hue Studio. "Over years of trial and error, I found that Irish Spring is one of the best cleaning agents for durable surfaces. It breaks down the grime and dirt and relieves a lot of the heavy lifting for you.”

Below, learn about what Irish Spring can clean well, what to avoid, and the simplest way to use it.

Key Points

Dawn DeBaugh, founder The She Shed, an award-winning home decor boutique, and Eclectic Home & Hue Studio where she showcases DIY and upcycling projects, home décor finds, and creative lifestyle inspiration

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Why Irish Spring Works So Well as a Cleaner

Bar soap isn't that odd of a household cleaner once you break down the ingredients. "Think of the ingredients in these soaps, like sodium laureth sulfate, as little bridges," explains DeBaugh. "One side of the soap molecule is attracted to water, and the other side is attracted to grease and oil. When you scrub a surface, the soap is like a tiny magnet that grabs onto the dirt and lifts it up so the water can carry it away."

This makes bar soap, as DeBaugh puts it, the "unsung hero of cleaning." Simple, effective, and inexpensive—all of which help to explain why Irish Spring soap has been taking CleanTok and other social media channels by storm.

What You Can (and Can Not) Clean With Irish Spring

Bar soap shines on surfaces that can handle a bit of scrubbing and a thorough rinse. It's not suitable for surfaces such as glass, mirrors, leather, unsealed wood, porous stone, or anything that comes into contact with food. "Always spot test," adds DeBaugh. "This soap is heavily scented and contains dyes, so if it seeps into anything porous, it will leave a permanent perfume scent or a dull film."

Below are the best surfaces to clean with Irish Spring soap.

• Bathroom surfaces: The soap can remove buildup on sinks, tubs, and other durable bathroom fixtures.
• Plastic storage bins: Rinse well afterward to avoid leaving behind any residue.
• Outdoor furniture: Many types of outdoor furniture can benefit from a bar-soap wash, especially after a season of pollen, dust, and dirt.
• Spot-cleaning synthetic fabrics: “Just dab a little on a fresh grease stain, but make sure to rinse so you don’t get a soap ring,” advises DeBaugh.
• Fixing stuck or sticky drawers: The saponified oils in Irish Spring give it this bonus household use. “Bar soap is great as a lubricant on sticking drawers and windows, and it smells so fresh,” DeBaugh says.

Related: Martha's 2-Ingredient Window Cleaner Recipe Will Make Your Glass Shine

How to Use Irish Spring Soap for Household Cleaning

Remember to use sparingly and rinse thoroughly. Soap residue can leave behind the very residue you're trying to remove. Otherwise, DeBaugh's method is easy and efficient.

“Grate a portion of the bar soap into a warm bucket of water, and you’ll have a sudsy solution that can be applied with a cloth,” she says. “Just remember always follow up with a clean, damp cloth to wipe away any excess, or you’ll end up with soap scum buildup.”

Read the original article on Martha Stewart