If you don't have this product in your DIY kit you're missing out. We explain what sugar soap is and why it's a must-have

Whether you're new to DIY or a dab hand at decorating, at some point you will have probably asked 'what is sugar soap?' I know I certainly did, naively dismissing it as an unnecessary addition to my DIY kit.

The truth is, like me, once you try it, you'll realise just how essential it is to the preparation stages of painting a wall or woodwork. And while it doesn't of course contain sugar, the results you get from using it are certainly sweet, with dirt, grease and even more marks banished from sight.

But, can you use it everywhere and how do you use it to get the best results? Follow this expert advice to help benefit the most from the power of sugar soap in your projects.

What is sugar soap?

Sugar soap, unlike the name suggests, isn't a hard bar that you rub on your walls. In fact, it's a mild detergent that comes in dried or concentrated liquid form and contains sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide – both of which are water soluble.

The obvious question is, is there any sugar in sugar soap? In short, no. It gets its name from the fact that in its powdered form it looks a bit like sugar, as it's white and has small crystals.

The liquid concentrate is the more popular choice as it's really simple to use. You simply add the concentrate to a bucket of warm water and it's ready to go. Although it's worth noting that the dried form is slightly cheaper, making it ideal if you are cleaning down very large areas.

Try these sugar soap solutions for a deep clean

What can I clean with sugar soap?

While commonly used for cleaning painted walls and woodwork ready for painting, sugar soap tackles almost anything, says Georgina Shepherd of Housekeep.

“Sugar soap contains fat-dissolving compounds which makes it incredibly effective in tackling greasy residue, stubborn grime and even nicotine stains from surfaces," she explains.”

It’s also a great choice for painted wood adds Micheal Rolland of The Paint Shed. “Sugar soap can be used on wood, and often is a good choice," but he heeds a level of caution before you start cleaning, "as it shouldn't be used on unsealed wood."

Will sugar soap remove mould?

While sugar soap is a great all-rounder for prepping walls for DIY, it's not as effective on every problem. If you're hoping it's a solution to removing mould on walls and preventing it from returning, it's not.

“Sugar soap can remove visible mould," says Michael Rolland, "but it's not the correct product for permanently killing or preventing mould spores, meaning it will not fix the problem in the long term.

"Instead, a bleach or white vinegar solution is a better alternative for killing mould," he suggests. You could also try these products for removing mould from ceilings, some of which Homebuilding & Renovating's website editor, Amy Willis had great success with.

Georgina Shepherd

Georgina is a home cleaning expert at Housekeep. She's interviewed thousands of the UK’s best cleaners and tradespeople, along the way learning the top tricks of the trade.

Michael Rolland

Michael has years of experience within the painting industry, evolving The Paint Shed from painting contractors to retailers. He uses his expertise to choose the best possible tools and materials for any DIY project.

How to use sugar soap

Before making up your sugar soap solution and using it, do bear in mind, you should always wear rubber gloves when using sugar soap, especially if you have sensitive skin.

And, while each product will have its own set of instructions, which you should read carefully before starting the process, a typical process is as follows:

1. Make up the solution: If you haven't purchased a pre-mixed product, a standard example when mixing sugar soap to use is around 150ml of sugar soap to 5 litres of water. But you can add a little more to get a stronger solution for stubborn dirt and grease.
2. Apply sugar soap: Use either a small sponge, kitchen scourer or clean absorbent cloth (not paper towel), dip the sponge or cloth in the solution, squeeze to remove some of the solution so you have a damp cloth and start wiping from side to side and work your way down.
3. Wipe away residue: Once you have wiped clean the area with sugar soap, get a clean cloth and rinse the area with clean warm water and leave to dry.

Use these products to apply sugar soap

Are there any alternatives to sugar soap?

If you don’t have sugar soap to hand and need to start your DIY immediately, there are some alternatives available say the experts.

“A paste of baking soda and water makes a gentle alternative that can remove light grime," says Michael Rolland, "although, it’s not as effective as sugar soap in removing tough grease and staining," he advises.

“A mixture of equal parts vinegar and water is another DIY option," adds Georgina Shepherd, but adds a note of caution if you're using it for cleaning already painted surfaces. “Vinegar can damage paint, so it’s best used on surfaces that you’re planning to repaint," she explains. It's a similar situation with bleach, says Georgina.

"Bleach is great for brightening surfaces and disinfecting, but it’s not the best choice when it comes to cutting through grease or grime," she says. "It's also far too harsh for wood surfaces," she warns, "as it can strip away the natural finish, discolour the wood, and weaken its structure.”

Washing-up liquid is another option, but again comes with some handy advice from Michael Rolland. “Washing liquid must be thoroughly washed off. Otherwise, it can defeat the object of prepping your foundation, ruining the final finish of your paint,” he warns.

A cheap and easy alternative is Soda crystals, which you can buy on Amazon. They contain sodium carbonate, are biodegradable and you will typically find them in your local supermarket at a price that is typically cheaper than sugar soap. All you need to do is add a couple of cups to a few litres of warm water and stir. As with sugar soap, wear rubber gloves to protect your skin.

But, while all are alternatives, the general view from the experts is that you can't beat sugar soap.

“Whilst some alternatives can do an equally good job if used correctly, sugar soap is one of our most recommended products for cleaning and preparing walls,” says Michael Rollands.

And I'd agree, having dismissed the need for it until I needed to tackle particularly dirty walls in a flat that had been rented, and was being re-decorated prior to being sold. Walls and woodwork that were dirty and greasy were left in a far better condition for painting than anything else I'd used in the past. It was far more effective, and I've always used it since.

FAQs

How long after using sugar soap can I paint? 

This depends on what surface you are cleaning with sugar soap. If you are cleaning woodwork, before painting skirting boards for instance, you will be able to start much quicker than if you are cleaning painted walls.

Once you have cleaned and rinsed woodwork you can wipe down with a clean dry cloth to speed up how long you need to wait. You should be able to start painting after 30 minutes, or maybe even sooner. Check the woodwork is completely dry before starting.

If washing down painted or wallpapered walls leave for around an hour before you start painting. Again check that the walls are completely dry, if not leave until they are. (Ventilating the room can help here.)

Should I use sugar soap before wallpapering? 

If you have removed old wallpaper then there may well be old wallpaper paste residue left on the walls. If this is the case use sugar soap to scrub down the walls to get rid of it. Remember to rinse and leave to dry.

If you have nice newly plastered walls you shouldn’t need to wash them down with sugar soap. However, when painting new plaster you will need to apply a mist coat before you start painting to help seal the plaster.

Does sugar soap clean gloss paint? 

The simple answer to this is yes, it does. You can use it to just clean your gloss paint, but after a few times it will start to take off the high sheen of even the best gloss paint. If using it to prep the woodwork for a new coat of paint then this won’t matter.

Where can I buy sugar soap?

If you are on the lookout for sugar soap there are plenty of places where you can pick it up. This Bartoline Sugar Soap Concentrate Flask (500ml) is available from B&Q for around £6. If looking to buy in bulk, and save, you can get a pack of 3 Bartoline Sugar Soap Concentrate on Amazon for around £7.

You can also get sugar soap from most local hardware stores, where you can even ignore the concentrate and go for the quick and convenient option and invest in these Bartoline Sugar Soap Wipes from B&Q. But a more economical option is to invest in sugar soap powder and mix up yourself. This box of No-Nonsense Sugar Soap Powder from Screwfix can be diluted to make a larger solution.

Is sugar soap bad for the environment?

“Despite its name, sugar soap doesn’t actually contain any sugar, so it isn’t as natural as you might expect," says Georgina Shepherd. “Many brands now offer non-toxic or eco-friendly versions though, so always check the label.”

And, although it's not considered hazardous it stills need to be used carefully. “Sugar soap isn’t classified as environmentally hazardous unless a large volume of it is spilt," confirms Michael Rollands

Sugar soap is a great all round degreaser and cleaner and ideal for most DIY projects. Use it to clean painted walls, when painting over textured wallpaper and painting gloss kitchen cabinets, plus many other jobs around the home.