Comparison: natural cleaning brands
11 Swedish soap brands, from super-fatted stain removal to classic linseed oil soap
Data is based on manufacturers' public product information. Last fact-checked 2026-09-07. Prices without ~ are from the manufacturer's own web shop on that date; ~ marks approximate retail pricing. Spotted an error? Email hej@fläckfri.nu and we'll correct it.
Västerbottenssåpa
Super-fatted soap from northern Sweden
Grease stains, general cleaning, laundry
No third-party eco-label (e.g. Nordic Swan)
Grumme
Nordic Swan and Good Environmental Choice certified
Windows, kitchen, bathroom, daily cleaning
Not super-fatted, less effective on grease stains
Gysinge
Linseed oil-based garden soap
Floors, wood, garden furniture, decking
Focused on surfaces and wood, not specialised for clothing
Sunda
Swedish cleaning and laundry brand, Gävle
Decking, floors, general cleaning and laundry
Tall-oil base in the deck soap, not specialised for stain removal
Green Soap
Classic alkaline tall oil soap
Floors, outdoor cleaning
Tall-oil based, no official certifications
Grunne
Swedish-made linseed oil soap
Floors, wood, surfaces, outdoor
Focused on linseed oil soap, limited range, no textile products
Hälsingesåpa
Traditional tall oil soap from Hälsingland
Floors, wood, general cleaning
Tall oil base, limited range
Ekotipset
Super-fatted linseed soap, budget alternative
Decking, patios, outdoor
Narrow range (mainly deck soap), sold via Clas Ohlson
Hagmans
Linseed oil soap for building and renovation
Decking, patios, wood and outdoor surfaces
Focus on wood and outdoors, not clothing or stain removal
Feja
Super-fatted rapeseed oil soap (cleaning firm, Dalarna)
Decking, patios, wood
No third-party certification; generic eco claims in marketing
Klara
Linseed oil soap with beeswax
Decking, patios, wood, garden furniture
Linseed oil base dries slower; no third-party certification
Detailed comparison
| Property | Västerbottenssåpa | Grumme | Gysinge | Sunda | Green Soap | Grunne | Hälsingesåpa | Ekotipset | Hagmans | Feja | Klara |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stain removal | |||||||||||
| Value for money | |||||||||||
| Product range | |||||||||||
| Super-fatted | ✓ | – | ✓ | – | – | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free from tall oil | ✓ | – | ✓ | – | – | ✓ | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Eco-label (third-party) | – | ✓ | ✓ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Refill system | ✓ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Our verdict
Västerbottenssåpa is super-fatted and made without tall oil, which makes it well suited to grease-based stains. The principle of "like dissolves like" means the extra fat content helps emulsify grease. The range is broad with over 50 products. The downside is price and the lack of an official eco-label.
Grumme is the right choice if you prioritize a certified eco-label (Nordic Swan) and lower price for daily surface cleaning. Products are available in grocery stores. Less suited to grease stains since it is not super-fatted.
Gysinge specializes in wood and floors, excellent for wooden floors, decking and garden furniture. Not an option for clothing or carpet care.
Sunda (Sunda AB in Gävle) has a broad range of cleaning and laundry products, including a tall-oil-based deck soap. The breadth is its strength, but the brand is not specialised for stain removal.
Green Soap is an affordable base material for heavy-duty cleaning. It is tall-oil based (tall oil is a byproduct of the forestry industry) and lacks official certification, but works well for its purpose.
Grunne offers affordable linseed oil soap in bulk, a solid choice for floors and wood, but the range is limited to surface cleaning. Similar to Gysinge but lower price per liter.
Hälsingesåpa is a traditional tall oil soap competing in the same segment as Green Soap but with stronger local roots. Shares the same downside, tall oil and no super-fatting.
Ekotipset is interesting as the only budget brand with a super-fatted formula. The deck soap (229 SEK/2.5 L) costs significantly less than Västerbottenssåpa's equivalent, but the range is extremely limited.
Hagmans is primarily a paint and surface treatment company, but their super-fatted linseed soap (saponified linseed oil, pH 10.7) works well for decking and outdoor wood. The focus is on wood rather than household cleaning or stain removal.
Frequently asked questions
Which natural cleaning brand is best for stain removal?
Västerbottenssåpa is well suited to stain removal thanks to its super-fatted formula, the extra fat content helps dissolve grease-based stains on the principle of 'like dissolves like'. Grumme is mainly for surface cleaning and is not super-fatted. Several linseed soaps (Gysinge, Hagmans) are also super-fatted but focus on wood and floors rather than textiles.
What is the difference between Västerbottenssåpa and Green Soap?
Västerbottenssåpa is super-fatted and free from tall oil, it contains more fat than needed to form soap, giving extra fat-dissolving ability. Green Soap is tall-oil based (tall oil is a byproduct of the forestry industry) and is not super-fatted. VS is more geared towards stain removal but costs more.
Which brand has the best eco-certification?
Both Grumme and Gysinge carry the Nordic Swan ecolabel, and Grumme also has Good Environmental Choice. Västerbottenssåpa is made from recycled raw materials and is free from tall oil but lacks an official eco-label. If certification is your top priority, Grumme and Gysinge are the clearest choices.
Is Grumme or Västerbottenssåpa better for kitchen cleaning?
For greasy kitchen stains and oven cleaning, Västerbottenssåpa is superior thanks to its super-fatted formula. For daily surface cleaning of counters and tiles, Grumme's Soap Spray is a cost-effective alternative with official eco-certification.
Can you use Gysinge on clothes?
No, Gysinge Gysingesåpa is designed for floors, wood and garden furniture, not for clothing. For clothes and fabrics, Västerbottenssåpa Solid Soap or Laundry Detergent is recommended.
What does Sunda offer that the others don't?
Sunda (Sunda AB in Gävle, sunda.se since 2005) has a broad range of cleaning and laundry products, including a tall-oil-based deck soap. The breadth is its strength, but the brand is not specialised for stain removal the way a super-fatted soap is.
What is the difference between linseed oil soap and super-fatted soap?
Linseed oil soap is made from linseed oil and potassium lye and cleans and conditions wood and floors. Several linseed soaps are also super-fatted (for example Gysinge and Hagmans), but they are formulated for wood rather than textiles. Super-fatted means the soap contains extra fat beyond what is needed for saponification. Västerbottenssåpa and Ekotipset are examples of super-fatted soaps geared towards stain removal on clothes, carpets and fabrics.
Is Ekotipset a good alternative to Västerbottenssåpa?
Ekotipset is an affordable brand with a super-fatted formula and costs significantly less per litre (229 SEK/2.5 L vs VS 795 SEK for the equivalent). However, the range is limited, mainly deck soap, whereas Västerbottenssåpa offers 50+ products for laundry, kitchen, bathroom, windows and stain removal.
What separates Hälsingesåpa from Green Soap?
Both are tall oil based, but Hälsingesåpa is a locally manufactured, super-fatted 'fat soap' with a stronger craft profile, while Green Soap is a generic bulk product sold by grocery chains and is not super-fatted. Neither is tall-oil-free.