10 Clever Uses for Castile Soap

Castile soap is natural, inexpensive, and oh-so-versatile. Here are 10 clever uses for castile soap–from body care, cleaning, and pet care to ant repellent (yes, really!).

Castile soap is a must-have ingredient when you start making and using natural cleaners. It’s made from natural vegetable oils and lye (as opposed to other soaps traditionally made with animal fat, like tallow).

The name comes from the Castile region in Spain, which is famous for its olive oil soaps. Today, castile soap is made from olive oil and a variety of other oils.

You can get castile soap in a bar or liquid form, and I use both types. I like Kirk’s Castile bar soap for handwashing and showers, and use unscented liquid castile soap for most DIY recipes.

Why You Should Never Use Vinegar with Castile Soap

Both vinegar and castile soap are popular natural cleaning ingredients, so it’s not too surprising that they sometimes end up in the same recipe. But this is a big mistake!

Vinegar is acidic and castile soap is naturally alkaline. When these ingredients are mixed together, they basically cancel each other out. That means your castile soap will un-saponify and no longer function as a soap. You’ll just be left with chunky curds like this.

Always Dilute Your Castile Soap

Castile soap is naturally concentrated and should be diluted before using. This is one of the reasons that it’s such an economical staple. A little bit goes a long way!

10 Castile Soap Uses You Need to Try

Ready to learn a ton of new uses for castile soap? Here are some of my favorites:

#1 – DIY Foaming Soap

My DIY foaming soap recipe is all-natural and very simple to make. I like to customize the scent with essential oils–lemon and rosemary is my favorite.

#2 – Quick All-Purpose Cleaner

Add one tablespoon of liquid castile soap to one cup of warm water to make a quick general-purpose cleaner. Add 5 drops of tea tree essential oil for some extra cleaning power.

#3 – Ant Repellent

That all-purpose cleaner you just made? It can be used as an ant repellent too! Simply spray into corners and crevices where ants tend to travel. Let it dry and it will keep ants at bay.

#4 – Castile Honey Face Wash

To make an all-natural face wash that is gentle on your skin, combine these ingredients in a pump or squeeze bottle:

• ¼ cup liquid castile soap
• ¼ cup raw honey
• ¼ cup filtered water
• 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

#5 – All-Natural Dog Shampoo

Mix one part castile soap to three parts water to use as a shampoo for your furry friend. Massage into their coat and rinse well.

#6 – Homemade Soft Scrub

Use castile soap, lemon peel powder, and a few other ingredients to make natural Soft Scrub cleanser. Use this scrub to scour your sink, shower…anything that needs a gentle scrub.

#7 – Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Add one teaspoon of castile soap per gallon of warm water in the sink. Add produce and soak for 1-2 minutes, then swish gently to loosen dirt and debris. Rinse with cool water and your produce is all clean!

#8 – Deep Clean Body Wash

For a deep clean, mix the following in a pump bottle to make a refreshing, natural body wash:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup witch hazel
• 2 Tablespoons liquid castile soap
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil
• 5 drops rosemary essential oil

#9 – Makeup Brush Cleaner

Along with makeup, bacteria and other gunk can build up in makeup brushes–and you often don’t realize how dirty they are until you’ve cleaned them.

Make a natural brush cleaner by mixing 1/3 cup witch hazel, 1/3 cup water, and 1 teaspoon of liquid castile soap in a shallow bowl. Swish your brushes in the cleaner, let sit for 1-2 minutes, and then rinse clean with warm water.

#10 – Makeup Remover Wipes

Need makeup wipes without all the chemicals? Make your own! Mix the following ingredients in 4-ounce jar:

• ¼ cup witch hazel
• ¼ cup liquid castile soap
• 1 Tablespoon aloe vera gel
• 1 Tablespoon sweet almond oil

Shake the jar gently to mix, then add 15 cotton or fabric makeup remover pads to the jar. Press them down in the jar and shake gently to help them absorb the mixture. Use as needed to remove makeup.

What castile soap uses have you tried?

Have you tried any of these uses for castile soap? Which is your favorite? Share in the comments below!

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