Castile soap originated in the Castile region in Spain. It was originally an all olive oil only soap. It has morphed through the years to be a vegetable & nut oil based soap.
Our Lavender Castile Soap is made with our Lavender Hydrosol. It has a slight, natural lavender scent. The castile paste ingredients are coconut oil, olive oil and shea butter saponified with potassium hydroxide (lye.)
Castile soap has a very high pH and alkaline value and vinegar is the opposite being acidic. Both vinegar and castile soap are good for health/beauty and cleaning but should not be mixed together. They may be used to “compliment” each other as in our recommended laundry routine. IE: You wash with castile soap and rinse with vinegar.
Here are some ideas on what to do with castile soap:
- Recycle your foaming hand soap container and dilute 1 part castile soap with 4-5 parts distilled water or hydrosol. Use a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance (optional.)
- Make a body wash by diluting 1 part castile soap with 2-3 parts distilled water or hydrosol. Use a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil for fragrance (optional.)
- Wash your floors. 1/4 cup of castile soap to 1-2 gallons of hot tap water. Always test on a small area prior to use. Rinse with a vinegar and hot water solution.
- Make a doggie shampoo with 1 part castile soap to 4 parts distilled water or hydrosol. Use a couple of drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil for a slight fragrance (optional.)
- Save your septic with a homemade laundry detergent. Warm up 12 cups of distilled water or hydrosol. Dissolve 1/2 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup castile soap, 1/4 cup course salt in the warm water or hydrosol.
- Make a soft white scour scrub. Mix 1 part castile soap with 1 part distilled water or hydrosol and 2 parts baking soda.
- Make a liquid dish soap by diluting 1 part castile soap to 10 parts distilled water or hydrosol.
- Make a liquid dishwasher detergent by mixing 1 part castile soap with 1 part distilled water or hydrosol.
- Make a plant spray to repel bugs (insecticidal soap) by diluting 1 tablespoon of castile soap with 1 quart of lavender or peppermint hydrosol.
Some extra notes: Castile soap should not be used on dyed hair. Castile soap and vinegar should not be mixed as they will “cancel” each other out.
