What is castile soap?
Castile soap is celebrated for its simplicity and utility. This olive oil-based soap has been used for hundreds of years and can replace many products used to clean your body and home. Its popularity surged over the last several decades as people became more conscious of how products affect our wellness and environment.
Our soap is made from an olive oil, jojoba, coconut oil, and distilled water blend that undergoes saponification, the chemical reaction that produces soap. Liquid castile soap does not contain synthetic thickeners or foaming agents and tends to be thinner than other forms of liquid soaps. We've found it gentle on skin, and people with allergies appreciate the small number of ingredients because there are fewer potential allergy triggers.
I had terribly sensitive skin as a baby. My mother found that using unscented castile soap to wash my clothes and bedding helped keep my skin troubles at bay. Our family members with eczema also find that laundering with castile soap decreases their exposure to irritants that worsen symptoms.
How do you use castile soap?
There are countless ways to incorporate castile soap into your life. I use castile soap every day for my bath and as a facial cleanser. You can make a salt or sugar body scrub. Some people use it as shampoo and pet wash as well. There really are a million uses :)
Use castile soap as is, diluted, or blended with other items. Essential oils can enhance some recipes. You may want to try unscented soap first if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Here are a few ways to get started:
Laundry Detergent
You'll need:
- Liquid castile soap
- Essential oil(s) (optional)
This is great for babies and people with sensitive skin. Use castile soap instead of liquid detergent. You can mix in essential oils before using it in your washing machine. The amount of soap necessary varies based on your washing machine. Some people add baking soda to the load. I also use distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener cycle.
*Bonus tip: Use felted wool balls instead of dryer sheets in the drying machine. Add a few drops of essential oil directly to the wool balls to infuse an enjoyable scent. Lavender Provence enhances relaxation when used on sheets. I often use Inspire Essential Oil Blend.
Cleaning Scrub
You'll need:
- Liquid castile soap
- Baking soda
- Essential oil(s) (optional)
Mix liquid castile soap with baking soda and use it as a scrub to clean your bathroom, cooktop, and other household surfaces.
*Bonus tip: Add lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus, and/or tea tree essential oils to benefit from their cleansing properties.
Residue Remover
You'll need:
- Liquid castile soap
- Baking soda
- Coconut oil
Mix castile soap, coconut oil, and baking soda to remove sticky residue. This is my favorite concoction to clean labels off jars or price tags off mirrors.
Hand Soap
You'll need:
- Liquid castile soap
- Distilled water
- Essential oil(s) (optional)
Dilute liquid castile soap with distilled water, and use as a foaming hand soap dispenser refill. A 1:1 to 1:8 soap to water mixture is common. I usually use 1/3 castile soap and 2/3 water. The foaming dispenser adds body.
Produce Wash
You'll need:
- Liquid castile soap
- Water
Add a little soap to a bowl of water to clean dirt and coatings off of fruits and veggies.
As always, listen to your body and spot test before using a new product. Discontinue use and seek medical attention if an adverse reaction occurs.