Traditionally made from olive oil in the Castile region of Spain, Castile soap has come to mean any vegetable oil-based soap. Most commercially made soaps are animal fat-based soap, often a complex blend of detergents with a higher ecological impact due to the waste stream during manufacture and slower biodegradability. Dr. Bronner’s soaps are 100% true pure-castile soaps. The coconut oil based soap contains certified organic, fair trade and 100% vegan ingredients and uses no detergents, foaming agents or animal testing. The soap is packaged using 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, too.
You can use Dr. Bronner’s for more than just a body soap - in fact it has 18 uses! Lisa Bronner, granddaughter to the founder Dr. Emanuel Bronner, breaks it down for us.
Body Uses
Face 2-3 drops on wet hands, applied to wet face Body one small squirt on a wet washcloth, applied to a wet body Hair ½ Tbsp. in your hand, worked into wet hair, or dilute ½ Tbsp. in ½ a cup of water and work that into wet hair Bath Completely depends upon water amount, but roughly 2 Tbsp. soap in an average sized tub. (Doesn’t bubble, but still cleans) Shaving Face – 10 drops Underarms – 3 drops Legs – ½ tsp Work to a lather in wet hands and then apply to area. Teeth 1 drop on a toothbrush. (Yes, it tastes like soap.) Foot Bath 1 ½ tsp. in a small tub of hot water. Clearing Congestion 1 Tbsp. in a bowl of steamy hot water. Breathe in mist with a towel draped over the head.
Household Uses
Dishes (handwashing) Pre-dilute 1:10 with water. Squirt on a scrub brush and scrub dishes. Laundry 1/3-1/2 c. of soap for a large load in a normal washer. Add ½ c. vinegar to the rinse cycle. Use half of these amounts for HE Mopping ½ c. of soap in 3 gallons of hot water All-purpose cleaning ¼ c. soap in a quart of water in a spray bottle. Add ¼ tsp. tea tree essential oil if desired. Windows 1 Tbsp. soap in a quart of water in a spray bottle. Follow up with pure club soda, or half vinegar/ half water. Toilet Predilute 1:4 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.
Other Uses
Fruit and Veggie Rinse 1 dash (approx.. ¼ tsp.) in a bowl of water. Dunk produce and swish. Then rinse in clear water. Dog washing Amount varies widely depending on size, hair type and length, and overall dirtiness. I wet my dog thoroughly, then start to work in castile soap up and down their body until I have a good lather. Really massage it in down to the skin. Your dog will thank you for it. Plant spray for bugs 1 Tbsp. in a quart of water. Add ½ tsp. cayenne pepper or cinnamon, if desired. Ant spray (not on plants) ¼ c. tea tree soap in a quart of water. (This concentration will burn plants.)