Castile Soap

This past week I was given several bottles of liquid Castile Soap, which I was very excited to receive! It was brought to my attention that many people avoid this wonderful product because they have no idea how to use it. I passed along some usage suggestions to the friend who provided me with the soap, and thought I would post them here as well in case they can benefit someone else.

(Note: Castile soap looks expensive but, because you use it in such tiny amounts and it can replace nearly all the other cleaners in your house, it is actually a good value for the money!)

Technically, you can use this stuff to clean almost anything - it's completely safe for pets and children, and an excellent disinfectant! Specific ideas and ratios follow, however:

Hand Soap: Take an empty foaming handwash bottle and put a couple squirts of Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap with water. It foams up just like the stuff you buy at the store.

Soft Scrub: Mix with baking soda until it's like a runny frosting consistency. I use this mixture for cleaning sinks, showers, anything where a little abrasion is needed. It doesn't scratch and it rinses away easily.

Laundry: Use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed depending on the hardness of your water. Adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better.

Fruit/Vegetable wash: 3 dashes in water rinse most sprays off fruit & vegetables

Pest Spray: Mix 1/4 oz of soap in 1 quart of water H2O. Apply to plants to keep away pests.

Floors: You can mop almost any type of floor with a solution of ¼ cup liquid Castile soap and 2 gallons warm water. If the floors are greasy, add ¼ cup distilled white vinegar to the bucket.

Leather upholstery: Add 2 drops liquid Castile soap to 1 quart warm water. Apply to the leather with a barely moist sponge.

Marble counter-tops: Stir 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap into 1 quart warm water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and wipe surface. Rinse, then dry with a clean cloth.

If you're feeling really adventurous, you can use a few drops of Castile soap in place of toothpaste or make your own shampoo (1/4 cup of castile soap,1/4 cup distilled water, 1 tsp olive oil and (optional) 1 tsp glycerine).