Summary
Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap is great for cleaning your whole home naturally and without chemicals. The non-toxic castile soap has many uses including cleaning your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and laundry. I’ve included simple recipes to make your own castile soap cleaners including all purpose, toilet and window cleaners.
Introduction
I’ve always used Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap in the shower. It’s 100% certified organic and smells great. It has no synthetic preservatives, no detergents or foaming agents. And not only does Dr. Bronner’s make it their mission to keep the planet clean, they are also making sure humanity is safe too by using only fair trade ingredients, that is, they use only farms that have been certified to provide fair wages and safe working conditions for all their employees.
And you can clean your whole house with it for an eco-friendly, non-toxic home!
What is castile soap?
Castile soap is a soap made with vegetable oils. It originated in the Castile region of spain and was made with olive oil mixed with sodium carbonate as early as the 16th century. The benefits of castile soap are numerous as it is not made with animal fats so is vegan friendly and completely all natural and non toxic. Castile soap uses are as numerous for your house as it is for your body.
Who was Dr. Bronner?
Emanuel Bronner, born in 1908 in Germany, was a third generation master soap maker of Jewish heritage. He grew up apprenticing with his soapmaking family but his revolutionary soapmaking ideas and powerful personality led him to clash with his father and uncles.
In 1929, he emigrated to the US to advise American soapmaking companies. Tragically, with the rise of Hitler, the Nazis nationalized his family’s company in Germany and sent his parents to concentration camps where they were killed. Shortly after, Emanuel founded the Dr. Bronner’s company in Los Angeles. Always espousing for unity among all, he decided to put his 3,000 philosophy on the now iconic label and by the 60s it became a movement as well as a soap.
Dr. Bronner passed in 1997 but the company is still run by his family.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap uses for cleaning and recipes
The great thing about Dr. Bronner’s is that it comes in bar form or liquid form. And the liquid form is powerful enough that you only need a small amount to do big jobs. This list is by no means exhaustive as far as what you can clean (we would be here all day) and the ratios can be adjusted. This list is courtesy of Dr. Bonner’s granddaughter Lisa. Check out here wonderful blog for everything you need to know about going green.
Dishes soap (handwashing):
Pre-dilute 1:10 of Dr. Bronner’s with water. Squirt on a scrub brush and scrub dishes.
Laundry soap:
1/3-1/2 cup of Dr. Bronner’s soap for a large load in a normal washer. Add ½ cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. Use half of these amounts for High Efficiency washers.
Floor cleaner:
½ cup of Dr. Bronner’s soap in 3 gallons of hot water.
All-purpose cleaner:
¼ cup of Dr. Bronner’s soap in a quart of water in a spray bottle. Add ¼ tsp. tea tree essential oil if desired.
Window cleaner:
1 Tbsp of Dr. Bronner’s soap in a quart of water in a spray bottle. Follow up with pure club soda, or half vinegar/ half water.
Toilet cleaner:
Predilute 1:4 of Dr. Bronner’s with water in a squirt bottle. Add ¼ tsp. tea tree oil. Empty toilet, squirt bowl thoroughly, sprinkle baking soda on the brush, scrub bowl, let sit 10 minutes, turn water on, flush.
Different Types of Dr. Bronner’s Soap
With these eight different scents, your house will always smell wonderful!
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- Almond
- Baby Unscented
- Citrus
- Rose
Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner
Dr. Bronner’s had created a dedicated detergent for cleaning purposes. This is quite different from their castile soap but equally ecofriendly.
Sal Suds vs. Castile Soap
The main difference between Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds and Castile Soap is that Sal Suds is a detergent, while Castile Soap is a soap. Detergents are made with synthetic surfactants, while soaps are made with fats and oils. This difference in composition gives Sal Suds and Castile Soap different properties and makes them better suited for different purposes.
- Sal Suds is more effective at cleaning grease and tough stains. This is because detergents are better at breaking down oil and grease than soaps. Sal Suds is a good choice for cleaning dishes, laundry, and other surfaces that are likely to get greasy or dirty.
- Castile Soap is more gentle on the skin. This is because soaps are made with natural oils that are moisturizing and nourishing. Castile Soap is a good choice for body wash, hand soap, and other personal care products.
- Both Sal Suds and Castile Soap are biodegradable and non-toxic. This means that they are safe for the environment and for your health.
They now make hand sanitizer as well!
See great recipes for DIY all natural cleaning products here.
Also, check out my guide to reusable paper towels to really have an eco-friendly home!
About The Cleaning Lady
I’m a professional house cleaner with 20 years of experience cleaning houses under my belt, and I’ve learned a lot about cleaning, organizing and how people react to these tasks. I’ve worked with hoarders, people will mental disorders and the young and old. What I’ve learned is everyone has different levels of “clean” and most people hate to clean. I give you cleaning and organization tips that are easy to use and don’t take all your time. And I am a fan of gadgets that will help you clean. My motto is “Clean smarter, not harder!”