Castile Soap is a natural multi-purpose product. There are so many different ways you can use castile soap – from cleaning the kitchen counter to bathing your kids. It is an extremely effective and safe product and the uses for castile soap are endless. If you are trying to cut out harsh chemicals that are taking over your cupboards, there are so many benefits of castile soap. It is a much healthier way to get the same results and a little bit goes a long way, making it an inexpensive option too!
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Benefits of Castile Soap
Castile soap is traditionally made from olive oil. It is a non-toxic and biodegradable soap, making it easy on the the environment and doesn’t have toxic additives like traditional soaps. One of the biggest benefits of castile soap is that it’s a gentle cleanser without toxins. Castile soap offers a lather like most soaps do. Most soaps sold today need added sulfates to get the lather we are accustomed to.
Castile soap is also safe for sensitive skin because of it’s simple ingredients. It’s also a good choice for oily or acne prone skin, and it helps soothe dry and irritated skin. The simple, plant based ingredients also mean that it won’t clog up your pores. The gentle ingredients help get rid of dead skin cells and keep your pores clear.
There are also many benefits to castile soap when you use it around the house. The biodegradability means it’s easy on the environment.
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Uses for Castile Soap
Here are my top 7 favorite uses for Castile Soap:
- You can clean everything with it. In a spray bottle mix 1tbsp baking soda, 1tbsp castile soap, a few drops of tea tree oil, and top it up with water. Shake well and you have a safe all-purpose cleaner! It’s so much safer then store bought cleaners and it’s cheaper too.
- Clean your cookie sheets. We all have those old cookie sheets tucked away in our cupboards. Make them shine again with a few drops of castile soap and some elbow grease.
- A safer way to clean your teeth. You can use a few drops of castile soap in place of store bought toothpaste. It won’t taste as good as a store bought toothpaste but it has no added chemicals! You can also look for peppermint castile soap for this purpose.
- Bathe your furry friends. Peppermint castile soap makes a great shampoo for pets. Just work up a nice lather and rinse thoroughly!
- Make a gentle face wash. In a foaming dispenser add even parts water and castile soap, 2 tsp jojoba oil, and 10 drops of your favorite (skin friendly) essential oils. You can also add tea-tree oil which is great for acne prone skin!
- Clean the carpets. In a spray bottle mix 1 part castile soap and 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. Spray onto the stain and scrub, scrub, scrub!
- A seriously simple shampoo. Just mix one tablespoon of castile soap with 1 teaspoon almond milk for a safe and lovely lather.
Additional uses for Castile Soap:
- Shaving Cream
- Laundry Detergent
- Deodorant
- Makeup Remover
- Makeup Brush Cleaner
- Toilet Cleaner
Castile soap can really do it all!
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Why you Might Switch to Castile Soap
The biggest benefit of Castile soap is that it is pretty inexpensive. You only need a small amount of castile soap, and you can use it for so many things. A bottle of castile soap can last for a long time, even when you are using it daily for many purposes.
Switching to castile soap will also allow you to lighten your impact on the planet. Instead of buying multiple bottles and products for use around the house, one bottle of castile soap can do it all. Also, because it is plant based, the simple ingredients in castile soap means it’s biodegradable, which makes it easy on the environment and very eco-friendly.
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What You Shouldn’t Do With Castile Soap
There are a few things you want to avoid doing when it comes to using castile soap around your home. For example, you shouldn’t mix castile soap with acidic things like lemon or vinegar. This will lead to the mixture leaving behind a white gunky film on your surfaces.
If you plan to use castile soap in your hair, you might want to think twice if you have color-treated hair. Even though it doesn’t have harsh ingredients, castile soap itself can be harsh on hair and can end up stripping your hair of dyes. Additionally, when using castile soap as a shampoo, make sure to rinse well afterwards with an acidic rinse, like apple cider vinegar. Also be sure to use conditioner, because the castile soap can leave your hair tangled.
If you have hard water, you want to be careful about how you use castile soap. When the soap mixes with hard water, it can leave behind residue and soap scum.
Beware of Imposters
There is a trend that’s growing among companies who make soaps, and that is that they are claiming to be a ‘castile soap’ because they use olive oil as their base. However, they also add a bunch of additives and chemicals. You will want to make sure you read the labels and ingredients on soaps, to ensure you are buying a 100% pure castile soap from a high quality brand.
This doesn’t mean that it can’t have any other ingredient though. Some additives are fine, like jojoba oil or hemp oil. What you want to watch out for are added artificial colors or fragrances, and if they have any ‘sulfates’ added. If you see a ‘sulfate’ in the ingredient list, move on.
A couple good recommendations for products are Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap if you want castile soap you can use to make your own products and cleaners, and Era Organics if you are looking for products made for you.
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