5 Cleansing Ways to Use Castile Soap Around Your Home

Castile soap is a favorite among those who prefer a natural, chemical-free soap. Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap that comes in liquid or bar form and does not contain any animal products. What’s more, it is non-toxic and biodegradable, making it that much better for the environment as well as your skin.

Castile soap gets its name from the Castile region of Spain and was traditionally made from olive oil. These days, however, castile soap can be made from coconut, hemp, or other plant-based oils.

As well, castile soap is very economical and versatile. A 32oz bottle can set you back $10-20 depending on the brand, but it usually comes in concentrated form and can last months and months. A little goes a long way.

If you have gotten your hands on a bottle or bar of castile soap, check out some of the ways you could be using it around your home. It could save you money on all kinds of other products that you purchase for your cleaning and washing needs.

How to Turn a Bar of Soap into Liquid Soap

Source: Castile Soap/YouTube

Before we start, if you have a bar of castile soap and would like to try out some of these recipes, first, you need to transform your bar into liquid.

This can be easily done by either grating your bar of soap or carefully chopping it into tiny pieces with a knife. You can also pop small chunks of your soap bar into a food processor and whizz. Put the soap pieces into a glass or metal dish.

Next, boil about a cup of water per bar of soap. This is a very rough estimate as it depends on the size of your bar of soap.  Once the water has boiled, pour it over your soap pieces and wait for the soap pieces to melt. You can give them a little stir to help the process along. Wait for the now liquid soap to cool before using it in your recipes.

1. Kitchen and Bathroom Spray

Source: wuestenigel/Flickr

Castile soap is a gentle but efficient cleaner. You can make up a big batch of all-purpose cleaners for kitchen countertops and bathrooms and pour them into a spray bottle as needed. A good measurement is 1 tablespoon of liquid castile soap to one cup of water.

To make your cleaner anti-bacterial, you can add a few drops of tea tree or lemon essential oil to the mix.

Just spray your cleaner onto the areas you want to clean and wipe with a damp cloth. Remember to label your container with the ingredients you have used.

2. Foot Soak

Often castile soap comes ready infused with various essential oils, such as peppermint, eucalyptus, or lavender. Choosing a peppermint castile soap for a foot soak is a great idea. The zingy tingle of the peppermint will help to awaken tired feet while the oil-based soap will help to moisturize cracked or dry skin.

Pop your feet into a bowl of warm water and about a tablespoon of peppermint castile soap. If you have a non-scented soap, you can always add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to the mix.

3. Shaving Cream

Source:  scottfeldstein/Flickr

Here is a great recipe for a natural shaving cream that uses castile soap, aloe vera gel, water, coconut oil, and some essential oils if you wish for a scented cream. You will mix 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup of castile soap, 1/4 cup aloe vera gel, 2 teaspoons of coconut oil, and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice. Mix everything and put it into a foaming soap dispenser. Just use a small amount and apply it to the skin as you would any shaving cream or foam.

This recipe will nourish and moisturize your skin.

4. Washing Windows

Castile soap works wonders for washing windows. Though you might have heard about combining white vinegar and other commercial dish soap to make a window cleaner, you cannot do this with castile soap. Castile soap and acids such as vinegar and lemon juice do not mix, and you will find that your window will have an oily film on them.

Instead, add a tablespoon of castile soap to a quart of water and mix. The low volume of soap will stop the solution from being too sudsy! Add your solution to a spray bottle and use it as you would any glass cleaner.

5. Bathtime

As well as simply using castile soap as a body wash, you can also take a long soak in it. Instead of a commercial bubble bath, pour a little of your favorite castile soap into your hot bath and soak your troubles away. You will be left feeling relaxed and moisturized. Try a lavender-scented castile soap for a lovely sleepytime soak.

Always check the recommended uses and dosage before using essential oils. Never apply undiluted essential oils directly to the skin. Check with a medical professional before using essential oils medicinally.

Related Content:

• DIY: How to Make Your Own Deodorant
• How to Make Your Own Natural Liquid Hand Soap
• DIY All-Natural Laundry Detergent
• 15 Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for a Sparkling Home!

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