In contemporary terms, “castile soap” refers to any vegetable-based soap. The original castile soap was produced in Spain, using local olive oil. Some castile soaps may contain artificial additives in a vegetable-oil base; if cleaning with all-natural products is important to you, read product labels diligently to make sure what you’re using is in fact a pure castile soap.
Castile soap comes in both bar and liquid soap forms, but the liquid form is far more convenient than the bar form for cleaning everything from your floor to the car or a greasy stove.
Step 1
Combine 1 oz. liquid castile soap with 40 oz. water in a bucket for light cleaning, as advised by Dr. Bronner’s Magic “All-One!,” a noted castile soap manufacturer. You can increase the soap concentration, as needed, for more demanding cleaning jobs. RealSimple’s Green Living 101 recommends a solution of 1/4 cup soap to 2 gal. warm water for cleaning floors.
Step 2
Apply full-strength castile soap to a sponge, then scrub briskly, for cutting through heavy grease. You can also apply the soap directly to stubborn grease and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.
Step 3
Mix 1/3 cup baking soda with 1 tbsp. castile soap in a small bowl. Dip a sponge in this solution and use it to scrub sinks, ceramic tile and bathroom fixtures.
Step 4
Wipe the surface you’re cleaning until all dirt or grease is gone. You may need to rinse the sponge or rag you’re using several times before the surface wipes completely clean.
Step 5
Rinse the surface you just cleaned, if possible, until the water runs clear with no trace of grime or suds. If you can’t rinse the surface, rinse your sponge or rag clean and wipe the surface again, rinsing the sponge or rag repeatedly as necessary, until there's no trace of soap residue.
Tips and Warnings
- If the soap just won’t dislodge heavy grease, mix equal parts white vinegar and castile soap. Apply this mixture to the grease and let it sit for a couple of minutes before scrubbing. Other cleaning uses for castile soap include cleaning your car’s exterior and tires, and cleaning marble. RealSimple’s Green Living 101 recommends a concentration of 2 drops soap to 1 qt. warm water on a barely damp sponge for cleaning leather, and 1 tbsp. soap in 1 qt. warm water for marble countertops.
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Sponge or rag
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