Liquid Soap vs Detergent in sprays etc - what does this count as?

Hi gardeners

I've got some powdery mildew to deal with and have bought some potassium bicarbonate to make a homemade spray. I've got some neem oil in the house too, so may go belts and braces.

Recipes also suggest a small amount of liquid soap. And from memory the same is often used for aphid sprays. But I often hear warnings not to use detergent. I'm unsure of the technical difference and also unsure if there's a US/UK difference in the terms.

This is the washing up liquid I use:

Fragrance Free Washing Up Liquid 5L - The Bio-D Company

The ingredients/details are:
Above 30% Anionic Surfactant. Below 5%: Amphoteric Surfactant, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid. pH 11.5

Is that ok to use? Is it a detergent or liquid soap?

If unsuitable, this is the body wash I use. Is it better?

Grapefruit & Orange Natural Body Wash | Faith In Nature

The ingredients/details are:
Aqua (Water), Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate*, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside*, Cocamidopropyl Betaine*, Glycerin*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil**, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil*, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil*, Cymbopogon Flexuosus Oil*, Cymbopogon Winterianus Herb Oil*, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract**, Tilia Cordata Flower Extract**, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract**, Tocopherol*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Curcumin*, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid*, Limonene*, Linalool*
[[*Plant derived **Organic certified]]

Any thoughts most appreciated.

Ta

 

None of the products you mention are approved for application to plants for any purpose.

 

I've read in a number of places "Castile Liquid Soap" is used in the mix. But everything needs to be used with care and caution.

 

Diluted milk is fairly effective on powdery mildew, along with good watering.

I wouldn't touch the other stuff with a barge pole.

 

Many thanks for the replies.

Sure, but then many things are used in the garden that aren't officially approved, aren't they? Be it many homemade concoctions, pressure treated wood, etc etc. Whats more, I think I'd rather use a fractional proportion of unapproved but naturally derived soap (a squirt or two for a gallon of water) than the myriad of chemicals available in garden centres, including glyphosate.

Thanks, I'll look that up.

Interesting, as the company claim it's all natural and the ingredients list shows everything bar one is a plant derivative; many organic. What shower gel do you use if you don't mind me asking? Would be interesting to see the list of ingredients and compare... Not to mention shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, sun cream, etc.


I don't have a problem with aphids - touch wood - but seeing as washing up liquid seems to be a go to treatment, I'm curious as to what you guys use in its place?

Thanks again

 

Many poisons are natural and organic.
If you want to be chemical free, gently rub the aphids off with your fingers or give them a good squirt with the hose

 

The use of dish soap as an emulsifier to mix water with (in my case) neem oil or veg oil (with baking soda) is something I've done periodically over the years. Powdery mildew is best 'milked' as pete said.

 

I've got a big bottle of neem oil, makes the leaves shine a treat, but I dont think it kills anything apart from plants if you keep applying it.

Surely the soap idea is just about breaking down waxy bodies of certain insects, so soap or even detergent has the same effect.

The only difference will be all the other pointless additives to make it smell nice.

 

Neem and soap (castile) certainly worked for me to clear aphids from in the house chilli plant. but it did take 3-4 sprays over a number of weeks. The plant itself if fine and healthy on its holidays outside.

 

I appreciate that the OP wasn’t necessarily seeking advice on neem oil but as several posters mention it, I would point out that it is not approved for use as a pesticide in the UK. A recent technical report by the HSE noted that it had negative impacts on both humans and nature. The active ingredient, azadirachtan, can also harm pollinators not just the pesky pests.