Sugar Soap Powder?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Sugar Soap Powder?

Gordy7

gordy7
2010 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 505

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#299213 21-Aug-2022 09:55

Anyone know where you can get Sugar Soap Powder in NZ. Not the liquid product.

Sugar Soap is good for prepping surfaces for repainting, cleaning floors, showers and toilets.

The Polycell container I have had since last century has finally run out 😞

It appears that the powder product is available in Aus, UK and North America (as TSP).

It seems that Selleys have cornered the NZ market with their more expensive liquid products.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

gzt

19021 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8111

Lifetime subscriber

#2957222 21-Aug-2022 10:12

Last time I bought powder it was Selleys. Long time ago. Imo this trend in ready to use products is trade driven.

Btw there is a liquid concentrate makes up to 80 litres:

https://www.selleys.co.nz/products/cleaning/general-household/selleys-original-sugar-soap-super-concentrate/

MadEngineer

4649 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2628

Trusted

#2957233 21-Aug-2022 11:15

I'm curious, what's the benefit of powder over liquid?

Edit, also would borax suit?

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Gordy7

gordy7
2010 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 505

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2957241 21-Aug-2022 11:53

MadEngineer:

I'm curious, what's the benefit of powder over liquid?

Edit, also would borax suit?

Sugar Soap Powder stores well, can mix with water to a known concentration.

Borax is more general washing powder and can also be used to clean floors, showers and toilets.

Sugar Soap is a stronger cleaner and the one recommended for paint preparation.

I guess the choice between Borax and Sugar Soap depends to some degree on user preferences.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2957396 21-Aug-2022 20:22

Gordy7:
Sugar Soap Powder stores well, can mix with water to a known concentration.

Do you actually need to mix it in exact proportions? I've always just half-filled a bucket with water and added a dollop of sugar soap, since there's a half-dozen other factors involved (what you're washing down, how soiled it is, what the soiling is, how often you change the water, ...) I think at best an approximation is all you're getting.

I've found the $5 1L bottle goes an awfully long way, so much so that if I had some as powder it'd cake up into a solid block long before I had a chance to use it.

Gordy7

gordy7
2010 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 505

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2957416 21-Aug-2022 22:55

neb:
Gordy7:

Sugar Soap Powder stores well, can mix with water to a known concentration.

Do you actually need to mix it in exact proportions? I've always just half-filled a bucket with water and added a dollop of sugar soap, since there's a half-dozen other factors involved (what you're washing down, how soiled it is, what the soiling is, how often you change the water, ...) I think at best an approximation is all you're getting. I've found the $5 1L bottle goes an awfully long way, so much so that if I had some as powder it'd cake up into a solid block long before I had a chance to use it.

My packet of Sugar Soap Powder was bought in the days probably before the liquid options were available.

Trying to find out what the various liquid grades are is a guess.... "Original", "Professional", "Concentrate", "Super Concentrated", "High Performance", "Makes up to 80L"

Marketing talk 😉

It looks like Selleys NZ withdrew the powder product from the NZ market in 2017 because it is hazardous according to EPA New Zealand....

But the Selleys Original Liquid product is hazardous according to Safe Work Australia GHS 7... so its ok to use in NZ.

Marketing manipulation!

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

neb

11294 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10018

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2957418 21-Aug-2022 23:00

Gordy7:
Trying to find out what the various liquid grades are is a guess.... "Original", "Professional", "Concentrate", "Super Concentrated", "High Performance", "Makes up to 80L"

Marketing talk 😉

If it was in the US, it could well all be the same product: By selling the same thing in supermarkets under five different names and types, manufacturers deny shelf space to competing products. We have that here to some extent with things like toothpaste and deodorant, five different varieties of each type, all of which are the same but with different names and packaging.

In this case from a quick scan it looks like there are just two types, standard, makes 30-40L, and sooper dooper concentrate, makes 80L.