Dr. Bronner's believes so strongly in castile soap, they call it "magic." We can't judge whether or not the product is magic, but we can tell you what is in it and how to use it. According to Soap History, soap was introduced in Europe in the 11th century after millennia of use in modern-day Syria. While Muslim soap makers in Aleppo relied on laurel oil, those in Castile (modern-day Spain) used readily available olive oil to make a mild and effective soap using the same techniques learned from Muslim soap makers.
Nearly 1,000 years later, castile soap is still made using vegetable oil, instead of animal fat. According to theKitchn, castile soap is effective beyond the body because it has powerful grease-grabbing properties. It has the added benefit of being biodegradable and nontoxic.
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Buy a bottle or a bar of castile soap, try the following 10 uses, and tell us if you think the product is magic. And remember, there's more than just Dr. Bronner's. Comparaboo rates Planet Guru Raw African Black Soap and Cove Lavender Castile Soap above Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure-Castile Soap.
1. Produce wash. That's right! According to One Good Thing By Jillee, washing produce in a mixture made from a bowl of water treated with 1/4 teaspoon castile soap is a safe and effective method for cleaning dirt and debris from fruits and vegetables. After cleaning the produce, rinse with cold water, and enjoy!
2. Reusable kitchen wipes. Make your own using an old T-shirt, 1 cup warm water, 1/8 cup liquid castile soap, and 5- 10 drops peppermint essential oil. Begin by cutting the old T-shirt into rag-sized bits. Fill a resealable jar with the liquid ingredients and stuff the rags inside. Seal the lid, turn the jar upside down and back right side up, repeating until the rags are saturated. One Good Thing By Jillee says the rags can be used, washed, and re-used to clean kitchen countertops and wipe up spills.
3. Floor cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup castile soap into 3 gallons of hot water. One Good Thing By Jillee says this is all you need to mop your floors.
4. Toilet scrub. Replace toxic bleach with a squirt of castile soap. Keeper of the Home understands if you're not ready to give up your sure-fire germ-killing bathroom products. That's why the blog recommends using castile soap to maintain hygiene in between serious cleans.
5. Laundry detergent. This tip from Keeper of the Home is especially helpful when traveling or camping. While castile soap may not be as hardcore as traditional detergent, it is a mild and effective method for sprucing up clothes on the go.
6. Ant killer. Get rid of ants using a homemade spray of peppermint castile soap, as recommended by Mommy Potamus. The solution should be sprayed on all baseboards, entry points, and anywhere ants have been seen.
7. Deodorant. Spraying your underarms with a solution made from 125 ml of water, 1- 2 ml of liquid castile soap, and 1 teaspoon Himalayan crystal salt is a useful, all-natural deodorant, says Wild Flower Botanicals.
8. Toothpaste. If your teeth and gums are particularly sensitive, Wild Flower Botanicals recommends brushing using a single drop of liquid castile soap on a regular toothbrush.
9. Kitchen cleaner. theKitchn likes using castile soap to clean oven hoods, greasy pots, and hard-to-clean oil spills. The soap is so effective on grease because it has a pH level of 8.9, approximately the same as baking soda.
10. Protect houseplants. To prevent infestations of pests in houseplants, spray the leaves with castile soap, as mentioned on theKitchn.
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