{Green Living} 20 Amazing uses for Castile Soap

My New Years resolution was to live better--and to me that meant embracing the green side of things. I love our new green lifestyle--especially when it comes to cleaning. I don't feel like I have to put the baby in the other room when I mop the floor!

One of my favorite green products--that I use so very often--is Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap.


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 Castile Soap, or plant based soap, is simply AMAZING. It has so many uses that it could literally replace dozens of products in your cabinets. 

From the practical to the cringe-worthy, here are 20 amazing uses for Castile Soap!
 1.) Laundry Detergent

If you have soft water, soap in the laundry is the way to go. Castile soap is made of materials found in nature so it's much better for use on your clothes and leaves a nonexistent scar on the environment. (You don't want to use soap in the wash if you have hard water, as the soap can react with minerals in the water, leaving your clothes with a scummy residue) Castile soap is also highly concentrated, meaning you can use less per load and it's perfect for your HE appliances.

Here are some recipes for making your own Castile soap liquid or powder laundry detergent at home!

2.) Produce Wash

Perfect for cleaning off your organic (and non organic) fruits and veggies. Mix about 1 tablespoon Castile soap with 1 cup water and store in a spray bottle. Spray, rise and eat!

3.) Foaming Hand Soap Refill

Tired of buying more of those foaming hand soap re-fills? Mix 1 part Castile soap with 4 parts water. Problem solved

4.) Dish Soap

Mix water and Castile soap in a 1:1 ratio for perfect dish soap that will cut through your grimiest dishes.

5.) Carpet Cleaner

This one is great for spit up on your carpet! Mix 1/4 cup soap with 1 cup water. Place the solution in a blender and whip until the mixture becomes a stiff foam. Apply and scrub. 

6.) Shampoo

Mix soap and water at a 1:3 ratio and substitute your harsher shampoos. This is perfect for those men in your life who use your fancier products because they're too lazy to get their own shampoo. Ahem.

7.) Body Wash

In much of the same way, mix soap and water in a 1:2 ratio for a body wash. You can even buy Castile soap in bar form (perfect for making your own powder laundry detergent) but if you prefer the liquid variety, this is for you!

8.) Toothpaste

Seriously. You can add a few drops to your toothbrush (Dr. Bronner's Peppermint is perfect for this) or you can mix a little with baking soda for added whitening. This is perfect if your water has fluoride in it. Also, if you have sensitive teeth, toothpaste with Castile soap contains no abrasives making it your perfect toothpaste.

9.) Soft Scrub

That same combination of castile soap and baking soda makes an EXCELLENT soft scrub for crusty stoves or scummy tubs. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with the soap until it resembles a frosting. Apply and scrub off. 

10.) Pet Shampoo

Just as you can use Castile soap as a base in your own shampoo, this stuff is great for mixing up a bath for Fido (does anyone even name their dogs Fido anymore?) too! Use that same 3:1 ratio of soap to water.

11.) Baby Wipes

If you're into reusing your baby wipes (like making your own out of a sustainable organic cotton or hemp material) you can make a mixture to moisten the wipes with out of Castile soap, water, and a little tea tree oil. Great for changing diapers, obviously, but also for wiping hands and faces too.

12.) All Purpose Cleaner

I love using Dr. Bronner's in my all purpose cleaner. (And lots of other great cleaners too). Mix 1/2 a teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 a teaspoon soap in 2 cups of hot water. Put in a spray bottle, shake, spray and clean!

13.) Bubble Bath

A few squirts in the tub will give off a sweet smell and a few suds that are safe for baby before bed (Dr. Bronner's even makes a baby soap call Baby Mild) or Momma with a glass of wine!

14.) Shaving Lather

Not quite a shaving cream, definetly a lather. Castile soap is made with oils so it wont dry out your skin. Just a few drops will do you well!

15.) Deodorant

The peppermint version of Dr. Bronners is so strong, you can literally rub a bar of it under your arms to combat dreaded BO. (Note, the difference between an antipersperant and a deodorant!)

16.) Car Cleaner

Mix Castile soap with a bit of hot water to shine up your leather interiors inside your car! You can even wash your exterior with this! Mix 1/4 a cup of castile soap with a bucket of hot water.

17.) Floor Cleaner

Polish and clean your hard-surface floors (even hard wood!) with a mixture of 2-3 tablespoons of soap with a full bucket of water. The essential oils in the soap will make your house smell amazing!

18.) Refreshing keep-cool solvant

On hot summer days, apply a few drops of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap to a rag dipped in cold water and apply to the back of your neck. The peppermint will help keep your body cool naturally.

19.) Dishwasher Detergent

Mix 1/2 cup Castile soap, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 3 drops tea tree oil, and 1/2 a cup of vinager. Mix and spray in your dishwasher (2-3 sprays per load) before running it.

20.) Window and Glass cleaner

Replace your Windex with a 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon soap and 2 cups of water. Mix in a spray bottle, apply and wipe dry.

So there you have it, 20 amazing uses for one little bottle of soap. While a large bottle of Castile soap is a bit pricy, the highly concentrated formula will last you a long time (Look above! Many of these recipes use only a few teaspoons or drops of castile soap!)

This one bottle will literally replace dozens of products in your home and take care of the enviroment at the same time.

Thanks for reading!