We love liquid Castile soap. It is soap in its purest most natural form, and can be used in many different ways. Originally, it comes from the Castile region of Spain where it’s been produced with local olive oil for centuries. While olive oil is the traditional ingredient, Castile soap can also be made with other vegetable oils like sunflower, castor, coconut, hemp, avocado, almond oil, and many more.
Castile soap is more liquid than other liquid soaps but a small quantity yields a lot and creates a generous amount of foam. It is completely biodegradable and cleans gently, yet effectively. It can be used for personal care or as a household cleaner. Here are some of our favourite uses!
1) Simple hand and body soap. Use it in its purest form as a liquid soap for hand and body. It is safe for sensitive skin - including baby skin - and naturally moisturizing. Refill your liquid soap dispenser at our bulk refill station and keep it next to your sink, shower or bath tub.
2) Moisturizing body wash. For added moisturizing power and antioxidants, combine ¼ cup Castile soap, ¼ cup coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of honey. Mix well and transfer to an airtight container for storage. Give the container a good shake before using the body wash, as ingredients might separate between uses. Use as often as you want for softer, more hydrated skin!
3) Foot scrub. Combine 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon of Castile soap, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, and 4 drops of your favourite essential oil (we suggest invigorating peppermint, sold in bulk at NU Main). Scrub away dry skin for softer and sandal-ready feet!
4) Shaving Cream. Rub a little bit of Castile soap between wet hands to create a smooth lather that’s perfect for shaving! The oils in the soap help the razor glide across your skin and protect it from cuts and razor burns.
5) Dog Shampoo. Because it is so gentle, Castile soap makes a great dog shampoo. Shampoo your dog with a small amount of soap (remember, a small amount goes a long way and will make for a great lather). Rinse well. Your dog’s coat will look clean and shiny!
6) Scrubbing paste. An alternative to our beloved magic scrubbing paste (see our previous blog post) is this scrubbing paste made with Castile soap. One big advantage of this recipe is that there is no need to heat up and melt any ingredient. Simply combine ¾ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of Castile soap and stir with a fork. Add water as needed to achieve a paste-like consistency. Transfer to an airtight container. Apply with a damp cloth or sponge and scrub away! This paste is great to clean sinks, bath and shower tubs and remove stains on countertops.
7) Dish soap. Use it as a dish soap to hand-wash your dishes, the same way you would use any other dish soap.
8) Floor cleaner. Add ¼ cup of Castile soap to a bucket of hot water and mop away! No need to rinse, just let your floors dry. They will be clean, shiny and free of harmful chemicals. Your toddlers can safely crawl, and your pets lie on them.
9) Natural ant deterrent. With warm weather on its way, house ants are making a comeback. Before resorting to harsh chemical pesticides, try this natural ant deterrent made with Castile soap. Combine ¼ cup of Castile soap, 8 drops of tea tree essential oil (sold in bulk at NU Main) and 4 cups of warm water. Pour into a spray bottle. Spray onto areas where you’ve spotted ants.
We sell Castile soap from Faveur Montreal in bulk at both NU locations. You can also order it online - it will come in 250 ml deposit jars. Do you know other ways to use Castile soap? Let us know!
Valerie Leloup
