12 Uses: Castile Soap from a Mad Scientist-Housekeeper

Castile soap is extremely inexpensive. I bought a bottle on sale for 12 dollars and I can get away with 2-3 bottles a year. The soap is heavenly concentrated so there's really no point in worrying about the cost. Especially since it can be used as a dish soap, body wash, laundry detergent, all purpose cleaner, window cleaner, pesticide, etc.

I don't see the point of spending hundreds of dollars a year when there's really no reason to with one bottle that could last even the largest family quite a while. 


Tip: Using a fragrance free version of the castile soap you can add the essential oil of your choice to create whatever you choose. I would probably prefer a lemon or cherry.


1. Dishes

I recently read an article from a blogger describing her love/hate relationship with castile soap. 

Her greatest complaint being using castile soap as a dish soap. To paraphrase, "I found a recipe on the internet with baking soda, castile soap, and vinegar to later find the dishes covered with white film"..... 

Castile soap is soap. There is no reason to add anything for dishes. Dilute 1:10. Do not add vinegar. Do not ever add vinegar to castile soap or you are asking for trouble. Do not trust all recipes on the internet, especially those made by people who obviously never used the castile soap. Castile soap is fine. One part castile soap to ten parts water.

2. Hair wash 

Unless you have oily hair that will never seem to go away, I say don't bother. It is drying. Most users suggest one part to twenty parts. I say that if you feel the need and must then go one part to forty. Don't be under the impression that bubbles are the only answer to clean. It's not true. And you will feel that after. 

Never add straight for a hair wash. 

3. Body wash

For a body wash that you want to wake you up quickly, 2 drops on a loofah is all you need. And I don't mean a splash, I mean just two drops. 

4. All purpose cleaner

Fill the bottle. A squirt or two is all you need and you're good. 

5. Laundry Detergent

I make my laundry detergent. I use baking soda and bake it at 350 for 20 minutes to turn it into a washing soda. I combine that with water, heat, so that it handles easier. Then I add the soap. I just reused a 50 fl oz bottle of detergent I already had and I add maybe 1/4th a cup of castile soap to the bottle. 


If I *need* a fabric softener, after washing, I'll use a dab of white vinegar on a towel. Need fragrance? Add essential oil. You will not smell the vinegar after the clothes come out of the dryer.

6. Alternative to pesticide

2-3 drops to a cup is well enough. Spray on the plants. Leave it alone. I would only use the peppermint for this. 

7. Foam Carpet Cleaner

Yes! You can. 1/4th of a cup of castile soap combined with 1 cup of water in the blender will turn to foam. There is your carpet cleaner. Though, in my opinion this is a bit expensive. So as a cleaning solution, I recommend. As a money saving trick, I do not recommend.

8. Vegetable Wash

Just a few drops in a bowl, pour in the water, rinse it around, and rinse the vegetables.

9. Tooth...wash

I don't recommend using it as a toothpaste but I will use it every once in a while if I want a deeper, fresher clean. It does taste like soap. It is not delicious. Do not use this with anything other than the peppermint soap.

10. Hand wash

One part soap, 6 parts water. Forget needing to find a bottle, just refill your old handsoap bottle. 

11. Carpet freshener

I like to combine the soap with a little water. Maybe  1 part soap to 2 parts water. I lightly spray down baking soda. Leave it alone. When it dries, then it can be combined. 

12. Mouth wash

Just a small drop in a glass of water will work. Swish, spit.