7 Smart Ways to Use Castile Soap Around the Kitchen
The first time I encountered castile soap was in my mother’s shower. Much like one reads a cereal box while eating breakfast, I picked up the bottle to read the label as I let the soap soak into my hair. The classic blue Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap, which has been around since 1948, sure had a lot of content, including a section devoted to its number of uses.
Fast forward several years later to when I was stocking my own home with cleaning supplies. In search of natural, multi-purpose products that were safe for my young children, I remembered that bottle of castile soap and knew it was a perfect choice! You see, castile soap is made entirely of vegetable oils. (In fact, the eco-friendly soap got its name because it was originally made from olive oil from the Castile region of Spain.) Not only is the soap vegan, but it’s also environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Plus, castile soap can be used in a number of household applications. Here are seven of the best ways to use it for cleaning the kitchen. Let’s take a look!
1. Make your own all-purpose cleaning spray.
Castile soap’s versatility means it’s an excellent all-purpose cleaner. Simply mix a tablespoon of castile soap per cup of water in a spray bottle and shake to combine. It’s safe to use on all common household surfaces.
2. Clean the floors.
Castile soap makes for a fantastic floor cleaner. When it comes to cleaning tile or linoleum, specifically, a simple solution of castile soap and warm water is an excellent cleaner. A ratio of half a cup of soap to three gallons of water works well. For small spills, you can also spritz your all-purpose castile cleaning spray (see above) on your floors and clean with a microfiber mop.
3. Make cleaning wipes.
To make your own cleaning wipes with castile soap, you’ll need a big jar with a lid, one ounce of castile soap, five to 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, cut-up T-shirts or other rags, and a cup of warm water. Combine everything but the rags in the jar and shake to combine. Roll up eight to 10 rags, put them inside the jar, add the lid, and shake everything again to make sure the rags are fully saturated. Use the rags to wipe down surfaces, then wash them and repeat.
4. Use it to wash fruits and veggies.
Fruit and veggie wash can be expensive. Make your own cost-effective fruit and veggie wash with one tablespoon of castile soap to two cups of water. Store it in a squirt bottle under the sink for easy access. Rinse veggies and fruits thoroughly after using.
5. Lather it up as hand soap.
To use castile soap as hand soap, combine a quarter-cup of castile soap with water in your dispenser, shake, and you’re good to go.
6. Deter ants.
A spritz of castile-based all-purpose cleaner keeps ants at bay. Just spray where you’ve seen ants, and let the cleaner dry where it is. Although it’s totally non-toxic and safe for humans (including washing our produce), the soap kills ants on contact by breaking down their natural coating and causing dehydration.
7. Apply it as a soft scrub cleanser.
Baking soda is a gentle but effective scrubbing cleanser, useful for scouring pots and pans, bakeware, or the sticky residue left behind by price tags or labels on jars. Usually, it’s suggested to make a paste of baking soda and water but you can swap the water with castile soap to give your paste even more cleansing power.
How do you use castile soap? Tell us in the comments below.