12 Great Ways to Use Castile Soap

I buy my castile soap in bulk. I’m just a super twigs-and-granola kinda gal, which means I use castile soap by the bucketful. But don’t worry, for those less committed to “crunchy” life, they also sell it in small, tester portions.

I never knew what “castile” was until I started using the stuff, but the moniker just describes a style of soap, not a brand. Think tissue, not Kleenex. Castile means that it’s made from 100 percent plant oils (no animal products like tallow, which show up in most commercial soaps). It’s also a true soap, not a chemical detergent, making castile soap completely biodegradable and very earth-friendly.

What follows is a list of ways to incorporate this cheap, environmentally awesome ingredient into your daily life. Some of the ideas are for beginners, or “hippie-lite.” Others are out and out barefoot-moon-dancing-earth-mother. (Okay, maybe castile soap is not so hippie. Denver plumbing company Quality First Plumbing recommends hot water and castile soap as an all-purpose household cleaner, and they are plumbers, not hippies.) Just pick and choose as you please! And don’t forget, you can add various essential oil herbal infusions to each of these recipes, to customize and diversify your castile soaping experience. Maybe you like orange blossom to clean your tile flooring, and peppermint on your dishes. Lot’s of people prefer lemon in the bathroom, and I love lavender in my laundry. And each oil or herb will confer its own properties. For example, eucalyptus is an antimicrobial, and chamomile is a relaxant. The possibilities are endless and it’s oh-so fun to experiment!

1. Shampoo: Use castile soap as a stand-in for a harsh detergent-based shampoo. Give your head a break! Just mix castile soap with water at a ratio of 1:3.

2. Laundry Detergent: You can make your own laundry detergent with simple, common ingredients. Save tons money and do the environment a friendly favor. It’s a win-win!

3. Tub Scrub: Make a tile or toilet “soft scrub” out of baking soda and castile soap. Simply fill a spray bottle with a dilution of 1:3 castile to water. Sprinkling the area you wish to clean with a liberal dusting of baking soda, then spray the castile solution over the top. Scour with a sponge or scrub brush and watch the stains disappear. This also works great on crusty stovetops!

4. Mopping Solution: Use 2 or 3 tablespoons of castile soap in a full bucket of water, and mop mop mop your floors to a sparkly new luster.

5. Dish Soap: Make a dishwashing soap (for hand washing) or a liquid hand soap (for washing hands) by simply mixing a 1:1 ratio of castile to water.

6. Dishwasher Detergent: Make a fancier DIY liquid dishwasher detergent that’s inexpensive and eco-friendly.

7. Soap Dispenser Refill: You can refill your foaming hand soap dispenser with 1 part castile soap to 4 parts water.

8. Body Wash: You can use castile soap as a gentle yet efficient bath soap/body wash. They actually sell castile bar soap, but if you want to use the liquid just dilute it in a 2:1 ratio of castile to water.

9. Dog Shampoo: What’s good enough for you is even better for your pet! Use the same ratio listed above for an awesome DIY doggie shampoo.

10. Toothpaste: You can actually use castile soap in place of your toothpaste, and pure soap is much better for your teeth than the nasty chemicals they put in most commercial pastes. Just add a few drops directly to your wet brush. It works wonders, although the flavor can take some getting used to!

11. Veggie Wash: Make a simple veggie wash for cleansing all your produce. Add 1 tablespoon castile soap to 2 cups of water, and keep the mixture in a squirt bottle near the kitchen sink.

12. Carpet Cleaner: Finally, you can make an effective carpet cleaner by mixing 1/4 cup castile into 1 cup water. Place the solution in the blender and let it fly until it forms a stiff foam. Apply as you would any other carpet cleaning product.

What’s your favorite way to use castile soap? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

By Sayward Rebhal, Networx

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Aisling C.

3:20PM PDT on May 19, 2013

Does anybody know why it's so insanely expensive?

May 19
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MARTY S.

9:10PM PDT on May 13, 2013

I love it for bathing a friend gave me some to try and haven't stopped using it

May 13
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Miranda P.

12:37AM PDT on May 4, 2013

what an amazing soap! don't think we have it out here though!

May 4
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Tom O.

4:59AM PDT on Apr 14, 2013

Do not mislead people. What is good for people is not always good/better/best for your pets. Their skin and fur have different pH requirements than ours. So implementing exactly the same ratio you would use is not recommended. And often castile soups have added essential oils that can be toxic to dogs and cats, ex. Tea Tree Oil. But another valid suggestion is using a diluted castile soap solution as an insecticide on flowering plants such as roses.

April 14
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Rebecca C.

2:16PM PST on Feb 21, 2013

I can't get over the toothpaste!

February 21
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Nelly E.

10:18AM PST on Feb 21, 2013

Loving this article!! I now have something cool to do!

Gale G.

8:56PM PST on Feb 20, 2013

Castile Soap is not just tallow free. Castile Soap is made with 100% Olive Oil. No other oils are used in Castile Soap.

February 20
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Duane B.

6:53AM PST on Feb 18, 2013

Thank you for sharing.

February 18
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Amyah D.

9:53AM PST on Feb 16, 2013

... About washing your teeth with Castille soap. I gave the idea to my friend who -- after a big accident -- now wear dentures. He was willing to try. Now, he is an addict of my Castille soap bottle :) . He says he never ever had his denture as clean than now. Well brushed and well rinsed, there is no taste left and no residus on the dentures and... way less expensive and toxic then toothpaste