Castile Soap is Awesome for Cleaning!

Have you tried Castile soap (Dr. Bronner’s or otherwise)? I’ve been using it for years in the shower and for cleaning tasks, but I wanted to share the wealth with you guys since I know many of you have asked about it. It’s a neutral, gentle soap that is olive oil, or vegetable oil, based. It’s gentle, safe and leaves surfaces squeaky clean (including your body, if you shower with it).  If you’ve clicked around the internet long enough, you have probably heard of castile soap, but, if you’re wondering what castile soap is or what it’s good for this article is for you!

What is Castile Soap?

Many centuries ago, castile soap was invented in the Castile Region of Spain where they are well known for their olives. Originally, castile soap was only made from olive oil, but today any soap made from vegetable oil is referred to as castile soap. It differs from other soaps on the market because it is free from synthetic detergents and animal by-products.

What is Castile Soap Used For?

There are many uses for castile soap. Here are a few of my favourites:

• Floor cleaner – just mix a quarter cup of castile soap with two gallons of hot water and you will have a cleaner that you can use on just about any type of floor for a beautiful streak-free shine.
• Cleaning makeup brushes – just put a few drops of the soap onto your hand and swirl the brush into it before rinsing and hanging to dry – it works like a charm!

Castile Soap DIY Cleaning Recipes

Castile soap is a great ingredient for many DIY cleaning recipes. Just about anywhere that you use dish soap, you can use castile soap – just do not mix it with vinegar.

• DIY soft scrub – use a cup of baking soda and a quarter cup of castile soap. Whip it together and add five drops of your favourite essential oil. This is a great cleaner for any greasy, grimy surface (try it on your bathroom, kitchen sink or stove top!).
• Fruit and vegetable wash – we all know we should eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and if you want your produce to be clean, you can use castile soap! Just fill a bowl with water and add a dash of castile soap. Swish your fruits and vegetables in the mixture and rinse them off with cold water.
• Foaming hand soap – take six ounces of water, a tablespoon of castile soap, a half teaspoon of sweet almond oil and ten drops of essential oil and add all these ingredients to a soap dispenser with a pump.

Unlike other DIY recipes, ones that use castile soap are probably not going to save you money as the soap itself is a little pricey but there are some good reasons to use castile soap anyway including:

• It is vegan
• It is more ecologically friendly
• It is more natural than other soaps on the market

If you have never tried castile soap, one thing you should know is that this stuff is insanely sudsy – but it works amazingly well. That said, make sure that you rinse whatever you clean really well to get rid of all of those suds. If you are in an area with hard water, consider doing an additional rinse after you have cleaned with a vinegar and water solution.

Now that you know more about castile soap, I hope you will give it a try. Let me know in the comments below if you use castile soap, if you love castile soap, and what you use it for!