Various Applications of Castile Soap: Embracing a Natural Method for Cleaning Nearly Everything
Flexible and Natural Household Magic: Unleashing the Hidden Powers of Castile Soap
Who knew a simple, plant-based cleaner could be so versatile? Castile soap, a favorite in Spain's Castile region for centuries, has stood the test of time. With a basic formula, this clean marvel takes on tough grime, greasy dishes, and laundry loads with ease. Plus, it's budget-friendly and generally better for the environment, as using a multipurpose product means fewer items in your home.
Robin Murphy, founder of ChirpChirp, a cleaning company, admires the soap's gentle yet powerful cleaning abilities. Perfect for dish washing, mopping floors, and laundering delicates, its appeal lies in its minimalistic yet mighty formula. Save money and lessen packaging waste by purchasing it in gallon containers and decanting for various uses, such as a hand soap dispenser by the kitchen sink.
Similar to other products, each brand infuses its own twist onto castile soap, often using plant-based oils such as olive, coconut oil, sunflower, and jojoba amongst other botanical fats. Some brands may also incorporate essential oils for a pleasant scent.
** casting a wider net: countless castile soap uses across your house**
Castile soap can be found throughout your home in various forms. Thoroughly test a small, inconspicuous area before fully employing it to ensure it won't harm colors or textures.
Shampooing the carpets
Castile soap excels as an affordable, strong carpet cleaner, even against persistent stains. Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional from Two Maids, suggests adding a few drops of soap into approximately 3 cups of hot water, and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide for tougher stains. Apply it to the stain, scrub in circular motions, repeat as needed, and let it dry.
washing dishes by hand
Given its gentle formula that can handle grease and grime with ease, castile soap makes for an excellent dish soap. Vanessa Garcia, a cleaner with TaskRabbit, prefers using it straight from the bottle or diluted up to 50% with water. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.
dishwasher detergent
Castile soap can be used in the dishwasher, but it needs dilution. To create your own detergent, combine 8 ounces of castile soap with a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of either vinegar or lemon juice in a tightly sealed container. Mix thoroughly and then dispense 1 tablespoon into the detergent compartment. Shake the mixture before each use to ensure it's well-mixed.
hard floor cleaner
Castile soap is suitable for sealed, non-porous hard flooring. A little bit goes a long way. Mix a teaspoon of castile soap with warm water, add essential oils if desired, and mop as usual. Be cautious about applying too much soap to prevent residue and streaks.
countertops
Castile soap offers a mild alternative to harsh or abrasive cleaners for countertops. Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, recommends using it with warm water and a gentle cloth, such as a microfiber towel. The recommended ratio is 1/4 cup of castile soap to a bucket of hot water.
bathroom surfaces
Castile soap can effectively clean your entire bathroom, including the toilet bowl, bathtub, and vanity sinks. A mixture of castile soap and water can be used as a gentle scrub or spray for bathrooms, freshening and keeping things clean in the dirtiest room of the house.
Keep in mind that castile soap won't kill bacteria or viruses like some other cleaners. For deep cleaning purposes, you might require a more potent formula.
washing walls
Washing walls with castile soap is an effective way to keep your home fresh and clean. Combine 1/8 cup castile soap in a 2-gallon bucket of hot water, dip a long-handled mop into the mixture, squeeze out excess water, and gently rub it up and down your walls. If residue remains, repeat with just hot water.
laundry detergent
Using castile soap in the laundry is a healthier, natural alternative to traditional detergent that will still leave your laundry clean, ideal for those with sensitive skin or allergies to harsh detergents or smells. Follow the instructions for using it as detergent or to pretreat stains.
what not to clean with castile soap
Despite its versatility, it's essential to avoid using castile soap on certain surfaces:
"I've struggled to use it to clean glass because it's challenging to achieve the proper dilution for effective cleaning without leaving residue," Robin Murray notes. "It shouldn't be used on porous stones like marble or limestone, cast iron, or unsealed wood floors." If using it on steel, rinse thoroughly to prevent streaks and residue.
- Martha Stewart, who values minimalist lifestyle and home-and-garden solutions, recommends using castile soap as an all-purpose cleaner due to its versatile uses across the house.
- Kathy Cohoon, a cleaning professional from Two Maids, suggests using castile soap as a carpet cleaner, particularly for tough stains, by diluting a few drops of soap in hot water and hydrogen peroxide.
- Vanessa Garcia, a cleaner with TaskRabbit, finds castile soap effective for washing dishes by hand, either directly from the bottle or diluted up to 50% with water.
- To create a homemade dishwasher detergent, one can combine 8 ounces of castile soap, a cup of water, and 3 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice, then dispense 1 tablespoon into the detergent compartment.
- Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, recommends using diluted castile soap on countertops with a gentle cloth, such as a microfiber towel, for a mild and effective clean.
