Castile Soap: What is it and How to Use it

You can use castile soap for almost anything -- from shampoo and body wash, to household cleaning supplies, and everything in between--its uses are endless! Here's everything you need to know about this all-natural wonder.

In the world of eco-friendly cleaning, castile soap takes the reins as the cleaning staple that should be in every home! Made with all-natural, non-toxic plant-based ingredients, castile soap is not only environmentally friendly and safe, it’s versatile and has so many uses too - which means you can safely clean any area of your home with just one bottle! Read more to find out what castile soap is and the ways you can clean your home using castile soap! 

What is Castile Soap?

You may have never heard of castile soap before, so we’re going to give you the 101 on castile soap. As mentioned, castile soap is a plant-based soap, which means it is made without any animal fats or synthetic ingredients. The origins of castile soap come from the Mediterranean area of Spain called the Castile Region. Traditionally, castile soap was made from olive oil, however today’s castile soaps can be made from various combinations of vegetable-based oils, including coconut, hemp, avocado, walnut, almond, palm, castor, or jojoba oils. Castile soap is made with plant-based oils that are gentle, moisturizing and safe for sensitive skin. Castile soap can be fragranced using natural plant-based essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil. Not only do essential oils add a nice smell to the soap, they also provide additional antibacterial, disinfecting, and cleaning properties to the castile soap as well 

When purchasing a castile soap it is important to buy a castile soap that is labeled as pure castile soap, and to ensure that it is made with high quality ingredients. This means that you should be purchasing a castile soap made without any toxic ingredients such as artificial fragrances, triclosan, and sulfates. 

Another fun fact is that castile soap naturally lathers without the use of toxic chemicals or sulfates - bet your regular dish or hand soap can’t say the same thing!

What Can I Use Castile Soap For?

Castile Soap has multiple purposes and can be diluted or combined with other natural cleaners to tackle everything from your toilet to your carpet and everything in between. Here are some, of the many, practical uses for castile soap, that you may be surprised that you can use castile soap for:

• Disinfect Surfaces Using Castile Soap
  Clean and disinfect almost any surface of your home using castile soap! To disinfect and clean using a citrus castile soap, mix ¼ of a cup of castile soap into a spray bottle with a liter of water to dilute it. Stir the mixture. You may choose to add additional drops of lemon essential oil into the mixture to increase the effectiveness of the solution's antibacterial and disinfecting properties (You can also learn more about the cleaning power of essential oils in our blog post here). Spray your castile soap mixture on almost any surface of your home from the kitchen counters to the cupboards, the door handles, the coffee table, and more. Wipe clean and voila,  the surfaces are now clean and safe to use again!

• Wash Your Fruits and Vegetables with Castile Soap
  That’s right - get rid of dirt, contaminants, and pesticides with castile soap! Made with non-toxic ingredients, this gentle cleaning solution is safe to use on your fruits and vegetables - and won’t leave a harmful residue. This means that you can get rid of the gunk lurking on your produce, while keeping it safe to consume! 
  
  To use castile soap to clean your fresh produce, add ¼ of a teaspoon, or 1.25 ml, to a bowl of water. Then dunk your produce into the mixture, swishing it around. Once done, rinse the produce under running water and using your hands run over any crevices and to lift any missed dirt. Once rinsed, your produce is now safe to eat! Say goodbye to wax, dirt, sand, pesticides, and other impurities that could be lurking on your fruits and veggies thanks to the safe cleaning power of castile soap.

• Use Castile Soap to Wash Your Laundry
  Looking for a safe, non-toxic way to clean your clothes! Castile soap is perfect if you or anyone in your household has sensitive skin, especially to traditional laundry detergents, and is super easy to use. For a large load, add ⅓ to ½ a cup of castile soap to your washing machine. If you are washing whites, or looking to highly deodorize your clothes, you can also add ½ a cup of baking soda during this step as well. During the rinse cycle, add 1 cup of white vinegar to your washing machine. Please note, if you have a high-efficiency washer, use half of the amounts of soap, baking soda, and vinegar. With a variety of scents available as well, such as lavender or rose, that will leave your clothes clean and smelling fresh!

• Clean Your Floors Using Castile Soap
  Whether you have wood, laminate, or stone flooring in your home, you can use castile soap to effectively clean and mop your floors without the use of harsh chemicals or toxins. In a mop bucket, add ½ a cup of castile soap to 3 gallons of hot water. Dunk your mop into the solution and ring excess water thoroughly before using it on your floors. Using castile soap to wash, clean, and disinfect your floors is a safe, eco-friendly alternative to traditional floor cleaners that can leave toxic residue on your floors. Castile soap is a safer alternative for floor cleaning, especially if you have pets or children. 

• Wash Your Dishes with Castile Soap
  Tackle your dirty dishes with castile soap! Safe, effective and eco-friendly, castile soap is also biodegradable making it safe for our waterways and the environment. Mix 1 part castile soap and 9 parts water together in a reusable bottle or soap dispenser. To use, squirt some of the diluted solution onto a sponge or scrub brush. The castile soap will still lather up, and work hard to lift stuck on food and remove grease from your dishes and cookware.

• Leave Your Toilet Sparkling Clean with Castile Soap
  Toilet needing a little love? Combat stains, lime, calcium deposit and bacteria with this castile soap solution! In a reusable squirt bottle, mix together 1 part castile soap (we suggest the tea tree scented) with 3 parts water. Add ¼ a teaspoon of tea tree oil to the mixture and lightly stir. To use the solution, it is recommended that the toilet bowl is emptied prior. Thoroughly squirt the solution into the bowl. Sprinkle some baking soda onto your toilet bowl brush and scrub the toilet bowl. Let the solution sit in your toilet bowl for about 10 minutes. Then turn back on the water and flush your toilet! This soft scrubbing solution will leave your toilet bowl sparkling clean and sanitized, without using harmful chemicals. You can also use castile soap to make your own DIY Toilet Bomb Cleaners, perfect for in between cleans to keep your toilet fresh! Check out the how-to here! 

• Use Castile Soap as a Pest Spray for Ants
  Got a slight ant problem in your home? There’s no need to use harmful insect sprays to get rid of ants in your home. You can eliminate your ant problem with castile soap, a safer, non-toxic solution to traditional ant sprays. In a reusable spray bottle, add ¼ a cup of tea tree castile soap to 1 liter of water. Safe for pets and children, this DIY non-toxic insect spray is safe to use in troublesome areas of infestation in your home. Please note, do not spray directly onto plants as it could cause damage to the plant.

• Clean Glass Surfaces with Castile Soap
  Ditch your traditional glass cleaners, because castile soap is here to do the job - without any harmful chemicals or fumes! Mix ¼ a cup of castile soap and 1 liter of water in a reusable spray bottle. Spray the mixture directly onto the glass and squeegee away. To prevent streaking, spray a mixture of half white vinegar and half water on the glass surface and squeegee or wipe with a microfiber cloth. Cleaning glass surfaces, especially if they are surfaces that have potential contact with food like the kitchen table or the microwave glass plate, with a natural,  non-toxic castile soap solution keeps your home clean and safe for everyone! 

• Use Castile Soap as a Hand Wash
  Since castile soap is delicate and gentle on skin and is good for those with sensitive skin, it also makes for a good hand and effective hand soap that won’t dry out your hands or strip your skin. It also lathers really well, without the use of sulfates or chemicals. To use castile soap as a hand wash soap, squirt a small drop of castile soap onto wet hands and rub together for at least 20 seconds, before rinsing. Since you don’t need much to get the job done, castile soap is sure to last longer and smell just as great as your usual hand soap - but is free from artificial fragrances or toxins!

Final Thoughts 

Castile soap is truly versatile - these are just 9 of the many ways that you can use castile soap to clean! This eco-friendly, plant-based cleaning solution is not only safe to use in almost every area of your home, it’s pet friendly and safe for children as well - meaning that you can keep your home clean and toxin-free! Shop our selection of castile soaps and explore the endless possibilities, from washing your fruits and vegetables to mopping your floors to brushing your teeth and beyond!