Whole Naturals Castile Soap is a magical, affordable and all-purpose cleaning solution! We like to call it the "Swiss-army-knife of cleaning!" From laundry soap to bubble bath, it's safe for your body, surfaces and even fabrics. With so many uses in and around your house, we have a great list of what you could and should DO with Castile Soap:
Dilute according to your favorite recipe
Enjoy its versatility as a home cleaning product, body wash and more!
But are there things you should never do with Castile Soap? We have a few suggestions of ways to maximize its benefits! Here are five things you should know before using Castile Soap.
Don't Mix with ACIDS
Let's travel back to high school! There are two categories of substances - Bases & Acids, and they are measured by their PH. Most soaps are bases, with a PH above 7. Acids (Vinegar, lemon juice and things with sour tastes) will have a PH below 7. And now for the chemistry lesson: Acids and bases react to each other and sometimes not in favorable ways. If you add an acid DIRECTLY to Castile Soap, it will cause the soap to return to its unsaponified state, causing it to curdle.
So what are some ACIDS that you should not mix directly with Castile Soap?
Epsom Salt
Hydrogen Peroxide
Oxygen Bleach
Lemon Juice
Vinegar
Alcohol
Apple Cider Vinegar
Even though you should not mix an acid with Castile Soap, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work great as rinse aides after washing dishes, or laundry! Apple Cider Vinegar is fabulous as as an after-shower hair rinse!
Let's Talk Hair
Using Castile Soap as Shampoo - diluted according to our recipe, will leave your hair feeling squeaky clean! If you have color treated hair, I would suggest you doing a spot test to ensure that your color stays as vibrant as you like it (or stick to a color-safe shampoo)!
If you suffer from DRY hair, I would suggest adding half a teaspoon of essential oils to each cup of Castile soap.
Here's where the acid comes in handy - our community tells us that Apple Cider Vinegar works great as a natural hair rinse!
Hard Water
In our previous blog, we talked about why distilled water works best with Castile Soap. Now, let's talk about how to best use Castile Soap if you find that you have hard water in your home. You may find that after using Castile Soap (if you have hard water) there may be residue left on the surface. You may notice your water’s hardness if your soap doesn’t give great foam. Or, if you’ve washed your glasses, and they are left with spots. The best solution? Back to the ACID! Use a vinegar rinse for you glasses, and surfaces.
It's Easy to be Green!
We love the way houseplants brighten the house!! But we also know that they attract some unwanted critters...so Whole Naturals Castile Soap is a natural and organic way to keep them at bay, and to keep unwanted visitors from coming back. Plus with Whole Naturals Castile Soap, there won't be a build up on your leaves. Castile Soap works great to keep your outdoor plants insect-free too - but don't use it too much! It can remove a plant's protective coating.
Castile Soap Recipe for Houseplants
1 Tbs (0.5 fl oz ) Whole Naturals Castile Soap
16 oz distilled water
10 drops peppermint oil
Instructions
Combine the soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray plants thoroughly. Be sure to spray stems, and under the leaves where bugs hide. Spray early in the morning or evening so that the heat of the day does not evaporate the spray immediately and is effective longer.
TIPS
We recommend a food-ish scent just in case the plants absorb some of the essential oils. Peppermint, Citrus, and Unscented are all great options. If your water is particularly hard, consider using distilled or filtered so that mineral deposits don’t build up on leaves.
Give your plants a quick share to loosen bugs before spraying
Storage
Whole Naturals Castile Soap does not have an expiry date and at 64 oz, one bottle can last a long time! We suggest storing your Soap in a room-temperature location not prone to excessive humidity or in direct sunlight. You will know if your soap has gone bad if it starts developing a strong smell, or its texture changes. If your soap is stored in a cold location, you may find it turns whitish - that does not affect the soap's efficacy.
Castile soap IS the perfect answer to all your cleaning needs! Ditch all your old shampoos, floor cleaners and detergents. Make the move to Castile Soap - you'll be so glad you did!
Cheers!
