Gall Soap: The Best Tips for Stain Removal

Gall soap (bile soap) is currently experiencing a comeback. Here you can find out which stains this all-rounder is effective against and what vegan bile soap is all about.

How does gall soap work?

Gall soap is available as soap bars and in liquid form and is made from curd soap and bovine gall. Thanks to its washing-active substances, curd soap has always been a proven stain remover; ox gall perfects the cleaning effect of bile soap.

In the digestive process of cattle, bile with its salts and acids has the task of supporting the processing of protein and fat. Gall soap makes use of this effect and thus becomes an unbeatable cleaning agent.

Gall soap is particularly suitable for removing these stains:

• Protein stains
• Bloodstains
• Grease stains (oil, butter)
• Stains containing dyes (lipstick, ketchup, wine)
• Fruit and vegetable stains
• Sweat patches
• Starch stains

Gall soap without gall: Vegan gall soap

Gall soap is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, but those who want to do without animal products are not well served with the classic gall soap. After all, the use of bovine gall is anything but vegan.

Fortunately, there are now some manufacturers who have taken up the challenge of a vegan gall soap. Vegan gall soap replicates the molecular compounds of the substances from cattle gall with vegetable substances and convinces with an equally good cleaning performance – and all this without any animal products.

Stain removal with gall soap: Here’s how

No matter if it is clothes, carpet or upholstered furniture, if a mishap has happened, you should remove the stains quickly. Because the most reliable cleaning power shows the mixture of curd soap and ox gall for fresh stains that have not yet dried up.

1. If you want to treat a dried stain, first moisten the stain with water. Good to know: A stain of blood can be removed with cold water, for other stains warm water is recommended.
2. Whether you use liquid or solid bile soap, apply the soap to the stain to be treated with a little water, rub gently and leave for a few minutes.
3. Then you can simply put your garment in the washing machine with detergent as usual or wash it by hand. You can also make your own detergent.
4. From upholstered furniture or carpets you can dab off the soap residues with a damp cloth.
5. Now check whether the bile soap has worked sufficiently. For stubborn stains, it may be advisable to repeat the procedure with the versatile cleaning agent. Stain remover

Gall soap: Tips and tricks

• On coloured textiles you should always test the bile soap on a concealed area and check whether the colour of your clothing or upholstered furniture tolerates the soap.
• Although gall soap is a real all-round talent for cleaning all kinds of materials, it is better not to use it on leather. If residues of bile soap remain on the leather, it can harden.
• When treating upholstered furniture with bile soap, it may be worthwhile to use distilled water instead of tap water to avoid possible lime marks.