April 10, 2017
How to Use Castile Soap
This post is part of a new series – Homekeeping Basics. In the series I’ll talk about ingredients, products, and some simple, basic homekeeping 101 sorts of things. I hope you enjoy it!
Let’s start with a product I think every one should have in their home – castile soap. Castile soap is an all natural, vegetable-based product made primarily of coconut and olive oils. Instead of using synthetic chemicals as ingredients, they use naturally found and sourced ingredients. A lot of soaps (dish and otherwise) contain petroleum and other toxic, caustic ingredients. By switching to castile soap for cleaning you’re using an effective and safe alternative.
My favorite is brand is Dr. Bronner’s – I love the citrus version. It smells fresh, clean, and citrusy. Dr. Bronner’s also comes in unscented, almond, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and a few other scents. If you have never heard of Dr. Bronner’s you can purchase online through Amazon or I purchase at my local Wal-Mart, Target (in the natural beauty section), or Whole Foods.
What’s so great about castile soap? It’s affordable, extremely concentrated, natural, and gentle and it cleans beautifully! It’s a great multi-purpose cleaner. It’s so safe that you can use it to clean fruit and vegetables and to brush your teeth. One word of caution – castile soap and vinegar don’t mix. The acid in the vinegar mixes with the castile to make a sludge. I do use one or two recipes with a teeny tiny bit of castile soap and vinegar and haven’t had a sludgy reaction, but just be careful as you’re mixing up cleaning concoctions.
Here are some of my favorite ways to use castile soap:
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Kat Says
I just bought my first bottle a few months ago and am so happy to see this post! Now I have so many uses for this big bottle!!
Kimberly Says
I bought my first bottle a few months ago. I’ve only been using it to make foaming hand soap with my essential oils. Now I have SO many other ways to use it! thank you!!!!
Rochelle Says
This will be such a useful series for me! Cleaning was never really modeled for me. I never figured out how to properly sweep with a broom and dustpan until I was in my 20’s!
Also this Castile soap post was timely for me! No wonder my floors had a bit of film on them when I mixed peppermint Castile with vinegar! Thank you for being such a valuable resource!
Nan Says
When I was very young, I was obsessed with horses. My parents allowed me to play at the local (rich folks) riding stable, and since I was there all day anyway, and he didn’t want me getting hurt by the high-spirited horses, Mr Roy taught me to clean bridles and saddles. For most of my life I knew Castile soap as “the white saddle soap you use to get the horse sweat off the saddles”! I didn’t know it was used for other purposes until much later in life. It really makde my very dry skin soft as well… not dry and itchy like regular commercial soap.
Leslie Says
Great new series. I have everything but don’t always know how to use it effectively. Really didn’t know wht to do with castile soap except bth in it. Thanks!
Simphi Lenover Says
Thank you! I have a big bottle under my sink, now I can effectively use it!
Ashley Says
Have you used it to wash laundry?
Lisa Bronner says you can use it in place of conventional laundry detergent with vinegar in the rinse cycle.
I haven’t tried it yet, but plan on it soon. I love your nightly kitchen sink routine! Looking forward to your new book!
Becky Says
Post authorI haven’t…but I like the grated for laundry soap – but give it a try!
Nora Says
Care to give a tip on the best (your preference) scents to buy when stocking up? It’s hard to go through all the recipes in your first book and sort out which scents are really needed and which can be substituted with another when time is a-ticking in the store! Thanks!
Courtney Says
I never knew not to mix with vinegar. I have done this and it smells so weird – like Worcestershire sauce (I think). I know that’s weird! But I never connected this! Thank you!
Kristin Says
I love this soap- usually use the peppermint but just bought the citrus. I always forget how many amazing uses there are so I am glad you posted all these ways to use the soap. Thank you! I need to order your book for sure and share with my blog followers!
MARIA ZERVOU Says
I have grated castile soap. Not liquid. How can I use it to make your recipes?
Becky Says
Post authorUnfortunately, it won’t work the same unless you use the liquid – sorry!
Joy Says
If it’s really concentrated, do you mix it with water? What is the ratio?
b r Says
Post authorThe ratio depends on what you are cleaning – Dr. Bronner’s has ratios for just about anything!
Katie Says
Dr. Bronner’s has a detergent called Sal Suds that can be mixed with vineger. I use Sal Suds where I can’t use castile.
b r Says
Post authorI love Sal Suds!
Catherine Says
We just put in new hardwood. I was told by the manufactioner not to use water. However, the solution they recommend seems to then show smudges more so. Any ideas please.
b r Says
Post authorIs it oiled hardwood? That’s typically the type of floor that they say not to use water.
Lynn Says
It is great to kill aphids on plants, spiders and ants in my kitchen. Use several applications to get them under control.
I have washed my hair, washed the dog. just google it. you will find an amazing list of uses.
Jamie Says
Being that it’s oil based, have you found that it’s hard on your pipes when rinsing rags or cleaning around drains?
b r Says
Post authorNot at all, it’s completely biodegradable!
Breanna Says
I am having problems with any of the recipes that involve Castile Soap eventually clogging the spray nozzle on my nice spray bottles. Do you have any fixes for that?
Clean Mama Says
Post authortry dish soap!
Terry Says
I noticed you have Castile soap in bar form. How do you use this?
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