Top 5 Sugar Soap Hacks
What else can you clean with sugar soap besides walls?
Sugar soap has a reputation as a wall-prep product, and that undersells it. It is a professional strength, concentrated grease and grime cleaner that is safe on most washable surfaces without scratching, which makes it useful well beyond painting jobs. Five of the less obvious uses are below.
Before the list, the two facts that make the rest make sense. Selleys Original Sugar Soap is a concentrate — for most jobs you dilute half a cup into half a bucket (5 litres) of water, and one bottle makes up to 30 litres. And it is very high in cleaning salts, which is why it cuts grease so effectively and also why there are surfaces it must be wiped off immediately.
What you need
- Selleys Original Sugar Soap (or the ready-to-use Instant Sugar Soap spray)
- Selleys Sugar Soap Wipes
- A bucket, a mop or cloth, and a non-scratch scouring sponge for stubborn marks
1. The toilet bowl
Sugar soap is a good fit for a toilet bowl — its formula cuts through limescale and leaves the bowl white. Selleys lists toilets among its bathroom uses, alongside tiles, bathtubs, basins, showers, glass and mirrors.
2. Outdoor furniture
Sugar soap will lift stubborn stains from outdoor furniture, and outdoor furniture is on Selleys' own list of suitable surfaces along with barbecues, toys, sporting equipment, tools and engines. Test it on a small patch first.
One caution the original article does not carry: sugar soap may damage aluminium and brass. A lot of outdoor furniture is aluminium framed. If that describes yours, either keep the product off the frame or wipe it off immediately rather than letting it dry — the product is high enough in solids that it leaves hard-to-remove deposits, and it can tarnish bare metal.
3. Kitchen benchtops
Grease, grime and fingerprints on benchtops are exactly what sugar soap is formulated for. Selleys lists bench-tops, stoves, ovens, sinks, taps, shelves, appliances, range-hoods, fridges, microwave ovens and cupboard doors among its kitchen uses. Either dilute it in a spray bottle with water, or reach for the wipes.
Absorbent, porous and unsealed surfaces should be tested for staining in an inconspicuous area first — worth knowing if your benchtop is unsealed stone or raw timber rather than laminate.
4. Hard floors
Sugar soap suits tile, slate, linoleum and polished concrete floors, and it can be used on sealed hardwood. Dilute half a cup into half a bucket of water and apply with a mop or cloth — a Selleys Super Cloth is ideal.
The water turning black is a good sign: that is dirt coming off the floor rather than being pushed around it. Change the water at that point and keep going.
Floors must be rinsed well after use. This is a stated instruction, not a nicety — sugar soap is a salt-based cleaner and residue left to dry is what causes streaking and dull patches. The same applies to baths and shower recesses.
5. Keeping white sneakers white
Sugar Soap Wipes are handy for the scuff marks on white sneakers, and a pack fits in a drawer, glove box or handbag. Sugar soap will spot clean fabrics, carpet and upholstery — but always test for compatibility and colourfastness in an inconspicuous area before you use it all over a shoe.
Getting the dilution right
The dilution is where sugar soap either works brilliantly or disappoints. The published guidance is:
| Most jobs (Original Sugar Soap, 750mL) | ½ cup into ½ bucket (5 litres) of water |
| Most jobs (Super Concentrate, 1L) | ½ cup into a full bucket (10 litres) of water |
| Stubborn or in-ground marks | Use neat with a non-scratch scouring sponge or cloth |
| Yield | Original makes up to 30 litres; the Super Concentrate makes up to 80 litres |
Figures are indicative only and not intended for the preparation of specifications.
Dilute to suit the task. A greasy range-hood wants a stronger mix than a painted wall; a delicate or porous surface wants a weaker one, or a different product entirely.
Limitations — where sugar soap should NOT be used
- Aluminium and brass. Both Original and Instant Sugar Soap may damage these surfaces. Wipe off immediately on accidental contact. This is the single most important limit, because it is easy to hit accidentally on outdoor furniture, window frames and door hardware.
- Glass. Rinse well before the product dries, or you will get streaking and residue that is difficult to remove.
- Floors, baths and shower recesses. Must be rinsed well after use.
- Clothing, carpet and upholstery. Test an inconspicuous area for compatibility and colourfastness before use.
- Absorbent, porous and unsealed surfaces. Test for staining in an inconspicuous area first.
- Mould. Sugar soap cleans but does not eliminate mould spores. For mould, use Selleys Rapid Mould Killer instead — see how to get rid of mould in your home.
Safety
Selleys Original Sugar Soap carries a warning that it causes serious eye irritation. Keep it out of reach of children, avoid contact with skin and eyes, use rubber gloves if you have sensitive skin, and wash your hands after use. If you get it in your eyes, rinse thoroughly with water. Store it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight and away from foodstuffs.
Common questions about sugar soap
How much sugar soap do I use per bucket?
Half a cup of Original Sugar Soap into half a bucket (5 litres) of water for most jobs. The 1L Super Concentrate goes half a cup into a full 10-litre bucket.
Do I have to rinse it off?
On walls and ceilings, no — Selleys states no rinse is needed there. Floors, baths and shower recesses must be rinsed well. Glass must be rinsed before the product dries.
Can I use it neat?
Yes, for stubborn or in-ground marks, with a non-scratch scouring sponge or cloth.
Will it hurt my aluminium window frames or brass door handles?
It can. Sugar soap may damage aluminium and brass. Wipe it off those surfaces immediately if it makes contact.
Is it safe on timber floors?
On sealed timber, yes, diluted and rinsed well afterwards. Bare or unsealed timber is a porous surface and should be tested in an inconspicuous area first.
Can I clean my sneakers with it?
Sugar soap spot cleans fabrics — but patch test for colourfastness before going over the whole shoe.
Why are my windows streaky after using it?
Because the product dried on the glass. Sugar soap is high in cleaning salts; rinse it off glass before it dries.
What is the difference between Original Sugar Soap and Instant Sugar Soap?
Original is a concentrate you dilute in a bucket. Instant Sugar Soap is a ready-to-use 750mL spray for spot cleaning — no dilution needed. For heavy staining, spray, leave 30 seconds, then wipe with a damp cloth.
What about small areas or spot cleaning?
Selleys suggests Sugar Soap Super Kleen for smaller areas and spot cleaning.
Will sugar soap kill mould?
No. It cleans well but will not eliminate mould spores.
Can I use it before painting?
Yes — cleaning and preparing walls for painting and wallpapering is its core use. It removes dirty marks and smoke stains from walls and ceilings, and rinsing is not required when the surface is about to be painted.
Is it safe on stainless steel?
Yes, stainless steel is on Selleys' list of suitable surfaces. It is aluminium and brass that need the immediate wipe-off.
What is sugar soap used for before painting walls and ceilings?
Sugar soap is used as a professional-strength solution to remove dirty marks, smoke stains, and grease buildup from walls and ceilings before painting, ensuring a clean substrate for optimal paint adhesion and a superior finish.
What is the recommended dilution ratio for Selleys Original Sugar Soap for general wall preparation?
For most jobs, dilute ½ cup of Selleys Original Sugar Soap into ½ bucket (5 litres) of water.
Do you need to rinse sugar soap off walls before repainting?
No rinsing is necessary if you're planning to repaint immediately, though wiping with clean water is good practice.
How should sugar soap be applied to tackle stubborn, ingrained marks?
For tough, ingrained marks, apply sugar soap neat (undiluted) with a non-scratch scouring sponge or cloth, such as the Selleys Wash Up Wiz or Selleys Super Cloth, for maximum cleaning power without scratching delicate surfaces.
How can sugar soap be used to clean wallpaper without damaging it?
Use a diluted mix of Selleys Original Sugar Soap, apply it to the wallpaper, and wipe the area with a clean damp cloth before it dries. It's important to test in an inconspicuous spot first to ensure the paper and color aren't damaged.
What is the process for removing yellow stains from ceilings using sugar soap?
Add ½ cup of Liquid Sugar Soap to 5 litres of water, then use a soft clean cloth like Selleys Super Cloth soaked in the solution. Start washing from the highest point to the lowest to avoid the solution running down and creating streaks.
Why is it important to wash ceilings from the highest point to the lowest when using sugar soap?
Starting from the highest point to the lowest avoids the solution running down and creating streaks, ensuring even cleaning and professional results.
What tools does Selleys recommend for applying sugar soap?
Selleys recommends the Selleys Wash Up Wiz or Selleys Super Cloth as ideal tools for applying sugar soap, whether neat for stubborn marks or diluted for general cleaning tasks.
Who publishes this article on sugar soap hacks?
The article is published by Selleys, an Australian adhesives, sealants and fillers brand and a division of DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty Ltd, founded in 1939 in Sydney, Australia by Martin Selley.