Common questions
KITCHEN
How do I use solid soap?
Apply solid soap directly to a brush or sponge. Add some lukewarm water and then start cleaning the surface.
What are the advantages of solid soap?
Solid soap has several advantages and is extra effective for certain types of cleaning:
- It is highly concentrated and takes up little space in the cleaning cupboard
- It does not run off vertical surfaces such as cleaning kitchen tiles
- It effectively dissolves grease and stored dirt, e.g. for oven cleaning
- You can use it for stain removal on e.g. shoes and outerwear
- You don't transport water = climate smart
Is solid soap water-soluble?
Of course it is, but it takes time. If you need to mop the floor, it is much faster to use liquid soap that is quickly mixed with water in the bucket.
What is the difference between perfumed and unscented bar soap?
Both are very effective against tougher stains such as oven stains, the only difference is that one has a woody scent and the other is unscented.
How many degrees should the oven be at when cleaning the oven
The oven should be at between 90-100 degrees for about 20 minutes.
How do I clean the oven?
Start by brushing all loose debris out of the oven with the brush.
Take the soap on a cloth, ecofibre cloth, cleaning sponge or brush and lukewarm water. Work the soap and water over all surfaces of the oven.
Set the oven to 90 - 100 degrees for about 20 minutes and place a bowl of water in it.
Turn off the oven and let it cool before you start drying it.
An alternative is to leave the oven with the soap overnight, recommended if the oven is very dirty, and continue the next day. Feel free to use the ecofibre cloth when drying and wipe with a damp cloth.
Read more HERE
What do I use bicarbonate and vinegar for?
Bicarbonate can be used for many different things, both as it is but also together with water or vinegar. You can, for example, use it on clothes, on the stove, clean cups or jewelry, etc.
Vinegar can be used to remove limescale, stains on clothes and bad smells, etc.
Can I use the soap on tiles and in joints?
The soap works great to use to remove dirt on tiles and in joints. Use the soap in a spray bottle for lighter dirt and the solid one is good for more ingrained dirt that sticks harder. Use soap, a brush and lukewarm water.
ALL CLEANING
Which floors should I not use soap on?
You can use soap on any floor, but plastic floors that won't absorb any of the excess require just a little, a little soap. Klick floors (plastic variants) are dried as usual but sparingly with soap. If you happen to take too much, you can get a small film, then you only wipe once with a little washing-up liquid in the water instead.
Does the soap work against mold stains in silicone joints?
Soap is effective against mold stains. Mold likes an acidic environment to grow and soap is alkaline ie the opposite so it works fine. Unfortunately, with silicone joints, mold has a tendency to find its way under the edges of the joint after a while. It therefore sits underneath and then it is very difficult to scrub / clean away. What sits on top can be scrubbed off, but not underneath. The joint needs to be removed and rejoined if this is the case. We usually advise to ask in the hardware store for a mold-free silicone joint. It exists (has come recently) and works much better
Won't there be a film of grease if you use soap on e.g. wash basins or painted surfaces? Do I not need to post-dry with water? On unvarnished wooden floors, for example, it is a definite plus, but on varnished ones?
This happens to all cleaning products if you use too much product. So reasonably used no, it works fine. If you use soap spray, it is difficult to overdose. But there are many brands that have worked for several decades to sell other things instead of regular soap, so it is a common argument from various manufacturers. In the past there was only soap and our oldest and finest houses have for a very long time only been cleaned with soap.
Can I wash the car with soap?
Yes, it works fine, soap is "a kind of soap" so it works to clean with, but if you want to perform other image care such as waxing the car, other products are needed.
Does the soap work on natural stone such as marble and limestone?
Yes it does! Fat soap cares for all natural materials.
(Vinegar and other acidic agents should, however, be avoided on stone)
BATHROOM
Can I use soap to clean my bathroom?
Absolutely! Soap is basic and together with grease is what you need to dissolve all biological dirt. That is, everything that comes from us humans, which is probably where most of the dirt in the bathroom comes from.
What do I use the bicarbonate and vinegar for?
Pour about 4 tablespoons of bicarbonate into the pipe in which there is a blockage and pour in about 1 deciliter of vinegar immediately afterwards. The two substances react chemically and begin to fizz. As soon as it stops bubbling, pour boiling water down the drain to completely dissolve the clog.
If it is a question of a serious stoppage in the drain, this is not the most efficient method BUT when you notice that the water drains away too slowly, - well then this is an excellent solution!
You can also use Vinegar on lime deposits. The best way is to soak a cotton or microfibre cloth in vinegar, and then rub it against the places where the scale is, for example faucets.
Leave it on for a while and then rinse thoroughly with clean, cold water. Then wipe everything with a clean cloth.
Can I use the soap on tiles and in joints?
The soap works great to use to remove dirt on tiles and in joints. Use the soap in a spray bottle for lighter dirt and the solid one is good for more ingrained dirt that sticks harder. Use soap, a brush and lukewarm water.
What makes the bathroom soap different from other soap products?
It's the same greasy and effective soap, but with a different bottle and the scent of Västerbottnis forest. The bottle can be turned upside down and is therefore more practical when cleaning the bathroom.
Can I use soap on lime?
Lime deposits are most easily removed with vinegar as something acidic is needed.
Can I use the soap spray in the toilet seat?
The soap spray is mixed to be used for "lighter" cleaning that can be sprayed on and wiped off with a damp cloth. For the toilet seat, the concentrated soap in the 0.5 liter bottle is better suited and it also has a special cap, so that you can use it in, for example, the toilet seat.
BALCONY, GARDEN AND OUTDOORS
Can I soap our trolley, which is made of pressure-treated wood?
Yes, you absolutely can. Your trolley will be pleasant to stay on, the surface will be silky smooth, slightly waxed and thus easy to keep clean. Pollen and dust will not stick as it can if the surface is a little "oily".
Does the soap affect the durability of my pressure-impregnated plank?
Well, it is the case that pressure-treated wood today usually maintains very good quality, and what determines how long a "printed" wood lasts is precisely the pressure-treated wood, not the surface treatment. But you can of course influence how the surface feels and looks, if you choose soap the surface will be matte and smooth. If you choose oil, it will be shinier.
Should I have cold or hot water when I scrub?
You cannot treat a dirty surface, so first you need to clean it. This is done with warm water and soap. With a coarse brush and soap, you can remove much more dirt than you think. It is possible to "save" things that actually look a bit hopeless from the start. Give it a try before you replace the trolley, it might work! Of course, everything depends on the starting situation and the material, but you are often pleasantly surprised by what a coarse levang and soap can do.
When the surface is clean, use cold water and soap. Use a soft brush and or a cloth. Mix approx. 1l of soap with 9l of water = scrubbing bucket. The water should feel greasy from the soap. Go over the trolley and let the soap soak in. You notice when the material stops absorbing the excess fat in the soap. A new plank or a plank made of a harder type of wood will absorb less than a soft and porous plank.
How much soap is needed?
It depends on the ship and the type of wood. A porous, dried out pine plank absorbs more soap than a new pressure impregnated plank. But a rule of thumb is about 1l of soap / 30m2. Mix 1l of soap with 9l of water = a bucket, and the solution will be easy to handle.
Can I repent and oil after I soap?
Yes, of course you can. Soap is a type of soap not a type of oil, impregnation or paint. Should you find that you have too much soap in / on the trolley, just scrub once more with only warm water and a brush.
Which soap should I use for wooden pallets?
You should always choose an overfatted soap, a soap that has an excess of fat. A soap without excess fat will have the opposite effect, it will dry out the wood.
Which soaps are overfatted? - All of Västerbottenssoap's soaps are overfatted, linseed oil soaps are also usually overfatted.
Should I wash with a pressure washer?
No, you shouldn't use hay pressure washing, if you do, you risk getting splinters and stitches and it's not so fun to get in your feet. If the trolley is attacked by, for example, algae, it is better to use a coarser sponge and scrub with soap and water.
When should I soap the deck?
Please soap in the spring before you start furnishing and decorating your patio, it is much easier to access the entire surface then and you will get rid of what has accumulated and perhaps even started to grow during autumn and winter.
You can also scrub in the autumn to keep the algae away and if you want to improve the surface, you can very well brush the surface with cold water and soap in the middle of the summer as well.
What do I need to soap the deck?
Overfatty soap
Route
Bucket
Please lift a hard one and a soft one.
Isn't it slippery?
No, as long as the soap soaks into the wood, it won't become slippery. If you notice that the soap no longer soaks in and that lots of soap remains on the surface - then the wood is saturated and ready. Then wipe up the excess and enjoy the balcony. It doesn't really matter which cleaning chemical you use if you use too much it will be slippery BUT after all it is much more common with dehydrated wood than oversaturated wood.
How much soap do I need?
Cleaning: 1 dl of soap to 10 liters of HOT water.
Treatment: 1 liter of soap to 10 liters of COLD water.
How much soap is needed?
It depends on the condition and type of wood. A porous, dried out pine plank absorbs more soap than a new pressure impregnated plank. But a rule of thumb is about 1l of soap / 30m2. Mix 1l of soap with 9l of water = a bucket, and the solution will be easy to handle.
We usually wash clean and then oil once a year. Should I oil after the soap or is it not necessary?
Whether you oil or not is a matter of taste. The surface becomes matt and smooth if soaped. If you oil, that effect disappears and the surface becomes a little shinier. If the wood is pressure impregnated, the quality of the pressure impregnation is primarily decisive for durability and longevity. It is the surface that is affected by the type of treatment you choose.
Can I scrub the deck with your soap?
Yes, you can, BUT it is never good to release too much dirt and surfactants into waterways.
it's more that you shouldn't release things into waterways, regardless of what they are.
So yes, clean the dock but with care. For example, if you have spilled oil and petrol from the boat engine on the jetty, you don't want it to be scrubbed away and instead end up in the water.
A recommendation is to scrub the jetty on land before putting it in the lake for the season.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What payment methods are available?
We use Klarna as a payment partner, so we accept all payment methods provided by Klarna .
How are the goods delivered?
All orders from private individuals are sent with PostNord. Larger orders and business orders can be sent with DHL.
Why should you have three different soaps, doesn't it work just as well with one bottle?
There are three different ones because we think the kitchen should be cleaned clean without perfumes, we don't need to perfume surfaces where we prepare food. It is also important to clean up bad smells in the kitchen and not cover it with perfumes. Grey/black labels are completely perfume-free. Bathrooms have an added scent of forest and are labeled bathrooms to avoid spreading microbes between kitchen and bathroom. We wouldn't take products such as toilet cleaner from the bathroom to, for example, the kitchen counter, it belongs in the bathroom and it is for the same reason that we have special bathroom soaps. The green, all-purpose cleaners have an added scent of oak and are suitable for all other surfaces.
How long is the delivery time?
Estimated delivery time is approximately 3-5 days.
Do you ship goods outside of Sweden?
Currently we do not ship goods outside of Sweden, but we may do so in the future. To stay up to date and be the first to know about it, you can subscribe to our newsletter .
Can I return my item if I am not satisfied?
Yes, but terms and conditions apply. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact our customer service immediately at info@vasterbottenssapa.se and we will try to help you.
I entered the wrong address / details for the delivery. What should I do?
If your delivery information is incorrect, please contact our customer service immediately at info@vasterbottenssapa.se and we will be happy to help.
I have received wrong/damaged products. What should I do?
Please inspect the goods carefully when you receive them. If the product is damaged or if you have received the wrong product, please contact our customer service immediately at info@vasterbottenssapa.se and we will help you. Feel free to attach digital images of the products/damages when you contact us via e-mail, to simplify the matter.
Why are there no men cleaning in your commercials?
- Well, since it's men who clean in our commercials, but we have a lot of different videos out at the same time and of course it could happen that you haven't seen them all. Feel free to scroll through our feed on Instagram or TikTok and you will find men cleaning.
Where can I find payment and shipping terms?
Visit our Terms & Conditions page.
What is the difference between a spray and a pump bottle?
The soap in the pump bottle is more concentrated than the soap in the spray bottle. You use the pump bottle for a little more thorough cleaning. Take soap and a little warm water directly on a brush/sponge/cloth and clean. Remove stains, spills and other things that stick a little harder. When you just need to wipe the dining table, kitchen counter or a piece of furniture, use a soft cloth and soapy spray.
Why are your soaps available in several varieties?
We don't think you should have perfumes in the kitchen, partly because you don't need perfumed cutlery, plates, cutting boards and so on, partly because in the kitchen you want to be sure that you have cleaned up any bad smells and not covered them with perfumes .
The bathroom soap, on the other hand, has a mild scent of forest, it is labeled bathroom so that you can distinguish between products and utensils. You want to separate them to reduce the risk of spreading microbes in the home. Many products are self-evident not to move between kitchen and bathroom, while others are not, which is why we have a special bathroom soap.
The green one is an all-purpose cleaner with a mild woody scent and is intended for all other rooms.
How long is the shelf life?
Soap really lasts as long as you like. If you were to leave soap without a lid/cork long enough for all the water to evaporate, it would take the form of a hard soap. But it would still lather if you rub it with a little warm water. It will therefore not be destroyed even if it is left without a cork for many years.
Soap spray that is mixed according to the included instructions has a pH of approx. 9, which means that it will not go bad either. It lasts until the bottle runs out.
What is the difference between your soap and "regular" soap?
Soaps get different properties depending on the oil/fat they are based on. Linseed oil soaps and Västerbottens soap are soaps that have a greater excess of fat than, for example, pine oil soaps. There is a longer text here that explains all the differences in more detail https://vasterbottenssapa.se/blogs/stadguiden/gron-eller-gul-sapa-vad-ar-skillnaden
Can I buy Västerbottenssåpa in a store?
We are a very small manufacturer and so far we do not have the capacity to deliver to stores. We are here in our online store and if you live in Vilhelmina, you can of course come in and shop in the factory store. Terminalgatan 2 (behind the police station. Take a right into the industrial area at the height of Inlandsfrakt and then right again. It says Soap Factory above the door.)
We are open every weekday from 09:00 to 16:00.
OTHER
Which soap should I use for a wooden deck, balcony floor and/or patio?
For cleaning outdoor surfaces and garages, we recommend our bar soap. The fat in the soap treats and cares for the wood's fibers instead of drying it out, so your patio and other surfaces stay nice for longer.
How much soap is needed to clean wooden surfaces?
For newer hardwood floors, mix 6 tablespoons of liquid soap with 10 gallons of water.
For outdoor wooden floors, such as a patio, a rule of thumb is to mix one part soap with ten parts water (1:10), which is enough for about 30 m2. To regrease scrub floors, use the same ratio of water and soap and scrub with a scrub brush or levang several times a year.
Note that a soft/porous type of wood, such as pine, needs more soap, while a hard type, such as roof wood or larch, needs less. The perfect ratio also depends on the condition of the wood and how dirty the surface is.
Can I use regular green soap instead?
Ordinary green soap has not been manufactured since the cultivation of hemp was banned in Sweden. It was the green color of the hemp oil that made the soap green and made it effective. The green soap you have is probably pine oil based, colored and perfumed soap. It does not have the same caring properties that an overfatted soap has.
How do I use solid soap?
Apply solid soap directly to a brush or sponge. Add some lukewarm water and then start cleaning the surface.
What are the advantages of solid soap?
Solid soap has several advantages and is extra effective for certain types of cleaning:
- It is highly concentrated and takes up little space in the cleaning cupboard
- You don't transport water = climate smart
- It does not run off vertical surfaces such as cleaning kitchen tiles
- It effectively dissolves greasy and stored dirt, e.g. for oven cleaning
- You can use it for stain removal on e.g. shoes and outerwear
Is solid soap water-soluble?
Of course it is, but it takes some time. If you want to mop the floor, it is much faster to use liquid soap that is quickly mixed with water in the bucket.
How do I mix Såpaspray?
If you have purchased our Soap Spray starter kit, empty the contents of the refill into the Spary bottle. Then fill the rest with water (approx. 0.5 litres).
How do I clean with vinegar?
Vinegar is best for removing limescale. You can easily remove limescale deposits in the kitchen and bathroom with vinegar and a little water on a cloth. Do not use vinegar on wood or stone, especially calcareous stone such as marble. Vinegar can also be used as a fabric softener in the washing machine. Just remember that vinegar can make some stains permanent, so don't use vinegar on stained clothes.
How do I clean with baking soda?
Bicarbonate is basic, bleaching and has a slightly abrasive effect. It can be used to clean the stove, remove yellow stains on shirt collars or under the sleeves of a sweaty t-shirt. It can also be used to bleach white laundry. You can replace stain remover with bicarbonate, for a safer option.
How do I remove rust and green coatings from copper?
Stains from metals are easiest to remove with a mixture of sea salt and something acidic, such as vinegar or citric acid, especially if there is a lot of rust. Green stains in the porcelain sink come from copper pipes - and you can easily remove these with a little vinegar mixed with sea salt.
Which surfaces should I avoid using vinegar on?
Natural stone:
As previously mentioned, vinegar is used to remove lime, so using vinegar on lime-rich substances is NOT good, it can seriously damage the material.
Extra sensitive materials are marble, limestone, granite, sandstone. In short, avoid all stone, even floor tiles.
Wood:
Wood should not be treated with acids, wood wants grease. Acid such as vinegar will damage the wood by drying out the material.
Think about it, what did the woodwork teacher say? She said: Oil your butter knife/cutting board. This is done to treat and preserve the wood. No carpentry teacher said: now put some vinegar on …. NO! No acids, no vinegar on wood.
Iron:
This seems a bit fishy because it works so well to descale the coffee maker, BUT it's the electronics in the iron that can be destroyed like that - no no vinegar in the iron.
Vax:
Avoid vinegar on all waxed surfaces, they will become dull and unsightly. So no vinegar on waxed floors or furniture.
Stains on textiles:
If you have got berries or other stains on clothes or carpets that have a strong color do not use vinegar to remove it, it will only preserve the stain and make it stick even harder.
Is it perfume or essential oils that give the scent to your products?
How does the soap/vinegar work on tile joints with iron rust?
Rust and other deposits from metal are removed with something acidic such as vinegar. Be careful with vinegar and natural stone, it's not a good idea, but just to solve rust stains, acid does the trick. The same applies to green stains from copper pipes, etc.
Are your products asthma/allergy friendly?
Is there any material or purpose where the soap is not good?
The soap is a little too greasy for glass and should not be used in large quantities on surfaces painted with linseed oil paint
ALL PURPOSE DETERGENT
How much detergent is really needed to get the laundry clean?
It depends on how hard the water is. Hard water requires more detergent. However, most households in Sweden have soft water. It also depends on how heavily soiled the laundry is, how much laundry there is and how big the machine is. But lightly soiled laundry, normal machine and soft water 35ml. Increase from there as needed but don't overdose.
How much detergent is needed for hand washing?
10-15ml to a 10l tub of water, same here, you can use a little more detergent if it is heavily soiled laundry.
What about a full and a half full machine?
The dosage on the bottle applies to a full machine, reduce if you have a smaller amount of laundry.
Is it environmentally friendly?
And.
How can I reduce my use of detergent to be more environmentally friendly?
Wash only when necessary, air instead if possible. Pre-treat stains and do not lower wash temperatures too much.
Is it fragrance-free?
There is a variant with and one without fragrance.
Is it allergy-friendly?
Allergy sufferers should choose the fragrance-free variant, always regardless of what applies, an allergy sufferer should think fragrance-free, this also applies to skin creams, shampoos and products with essential oils. Always choose without added fragrance if you are allergic.
Can it be used for baby clothes?
Yes, please choose unscented. Small children do not need fragrances for their clothes.
Can it be used for both white, black and colored laundry?
Yes, it's going well. However, our detergent contains neither bleach nor optical whitener. If you feel that you need to bleach a garment, we recommend 1-2 tablespoons of bicarbonate.
Does it work on different materials (wool, silk, sportswear)?
Our detergent contains no enzymes, so even wool can be washed with our detergent. However, sensitive garments and sensitive materials must always be washed according to the washing instructions in the garment and with great care.
Does it remove musty odors from polyester clothes (workout clothes)?
Yes, wash according to the washing advice and feel free to use our citrus-scented detergent.
What are the most common ingredients in detergents and how do they affect my clothes and my skin?
Detergents contain surfactants and all surfactants affect the surface tension of the water, so you must follow recommendations and make sure you have an approved drain. Bleach in detergent affects the textile as it sounds, it bleaches and it is a strain on the textile fibres. Optical bleaches are particles that settle on the outside and give the illusion that the garment is whiter than it is, and so detergents often contain perfumes.
How do different washing programs and temperatures affect the effectiveness of detergents?
All cleaning, including laundry, is based on four parts: temperature, time, mechanical cleaning and chemicals. If you lower the temperature, you need to increase it by another part. Washing program and machine stand for the mechanical part, temp and time you set here. The detergent accounts for the fourth part.
Imagine washing dishes by hand or washing your hands, how hot water do you need? Your body is 37*C (usually) does the water you wash in feel hot or cold? Then think about the laundry and the stains in front of you, at what temperature does it feel reasonable that you would be able to solve these stains? A washing program with 30*C is therefore colder than your body temperature. Lowering the temperature is an argument for saving energy and that's right, but it's no saving if your clothes don't get clean or stains don't disappear because the washing temperature is too low and you instead go and buy a new garment.
How does hard or soft water affect the effectiveness of detergents?
If you have hard or medium hard water, you need more detergent. Soft water requires less detergent.
The hardness of water is indicated in German degrees of hardness, °dH (°dH = Grad deutscher Härte). The higher the levels of calcium and magnesium ions, the harder the water. 1°dH corresponds to 7.1 milligrams of calcium per liter and 4.3 milligrams of magnesium per liter.
- 0-2: very soft
- 2-5: soft
- 5-10: medium hard
- 10-21: hard
- >21: very hard
What should I do if I spill detergent directly on my clothes or on the floor?
Wipe up and wash off immediately.
How do I clean my washing machine to prevent bad odors and bacterial growth?
Feel free to read our guide on the blog here: Kick here
Does it remove tough stains like oil, blood, grass?
Stains should be pre-treated. Please read our guide on the blog HERE!
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