5 Uses for Castile Soap

photo by Max Edmands

Simplify all your cleaning needs with eco-friendly castile soap. Available in bar and liquid form, with some brands such as the popular Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps using essential oils for extra cleaning and a beautiful aroma, castile soap is an excellent natural alternative to commercial and conventional self-care products and cleansing supplies. Exactly what is castile soap? Why is it so environmentally-friendly?

Castile soap is really a dream for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle, as well as for those who wouldn't mind saving a few dollars each month. It is a blend of natural oils, such as olive oil, coconut, hemp and jojoba. This gives the quality of moisturizing as well as cleansing. Other possible ingredients include vitamin E, citric acid, and essential oils. No dyes, chelating agents, fragrances or other synthetics are used. This natural soap also tends to be more concentrated then many commercial liquid soaps, so only a small amount is needed for use.

Using castile soap is of course an eco-friendly decision, simply because it is a natural, toxin-free product. This means significantly less toxins that you and your family will be exposed to, as well as that you will be contributing to the environment. With a very simple soap-making process (Dr. Bronner's uses a no-waste, glycerin-retaining, one step reaction), the manufacturing process for castile soap is also infinitely less harmful to the environment then is the production of conventional soaps and cleaning supplies.

One of the unique benefits of using castile soap is the versatility. Go even more green and reduce your expenses by purchasing liquid soap in bulk. You will be able to use it for all of these castile soap uses:

1. Body cleaning — both bar and liquid soap can be used. With all of the natural oils it is great for helping the skin retain moisture.
2. Shampoo — use instead of your normal shampoo, except reduce the amount you would usually use by about one-third.
3. Shaving cream — for your own natural shaving cream use a tablespoon or two of liquid castile soap.
4. Laundry — use from one-quarter cup to one-half cup for a normal-sized load of laundry.
5. All-purpose kitchen cleaner — dilute in warm water, 1 part soap to 40 parts water, and use to wash floors, counter surfaces and stove tops.