What Is Castile Soap?
Castile soap (pron. ka-ˈstēl) is a highly effective and versatile cleaner made from vegetable oils. It originated in the Castile region of Spain, where olive oil was combined with sodium carbonate to create a hard white soap that was sold throughout Europe as early as the 16th century. Since then, production has evolved to include other plant-based oils, such as coconut, palm kernel, hemp, and jojoba, which give soap makers greater control over properties such as lather, but the soap remains free from animal fats, making it ideal for vegans.
What Is Castile Soap Made Of?
Castile soap can be made of a variety of plant-based oils. Our own Dr. Bronner's blend has coconut, palm, olive, hemp, and jojoba oils, which provides a soothing, moisturizing feel. Other oils, like avocado or walnut, can also be used.
Castile soap tends to be alkaline, just like most other soaps (about the same level as baking soda). That said, it's not nearly as alkaline as bleach, making it not corrosive to skin and most surfaces.
Benefits of Castile Soap
Here are just a few of the potential benefits of castile soap:
Versatility: There are many ways to use castile soap around your home and on your body.
Low cost: Compared to other beauty and cleaning products, a bottle of castile soap is affordable and cost-effective. You can get a good-sized bottle for under $10.
Animal-free: Many people who live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle prefer not to use any products with ingredients that come from animal sources. Pure castile soap is vegan.
Hypoallergenic: Pure castile soap is hypoallergenic, which means it's less likely to cause allergic reactions than other types of soap. Check that you are not allergic to added ingredients such as fragrances or essential oils.1
Pet-safe: Some cleaning products are harmful to pets, but pure castile soap is non-toxic and safe to use on surfaces where pets walk. With that said, added essential oils can irritate a pet's skin, so read the product label.15
Environmentally friendly: Pure castile soap has a very small impact on the environment since it doesn't contain additives, preservatives, artificial coloring, or other chemicals commonly found in other soaps.
Thirteen ways to use liquid castile soap
- Make hand or body wash.
- Wash fruits and veggies. Add a squirt to a sinkful of water. Rinse.
- Make all-purpose spray and all-purpose scour.
- Make liquid laundry soap (not a detergent).
- Make diaper wipe solution. (Add a few drops to a squirt bottle of water.)
- Make DIY pest repellant.
- Wash reusable menstrual cups.
- Clean (some of) your sex toys.
- Clean makeup brushes.
- Wash floors. (Add a squirt to a bucketful of water.)
- Use in a carpet washing machine.
- Wash the car. (Add a squirt to a bucket of water.)
- Wash the dog.
