Way back in the before, I worked in a beauty salon regularly visited by vendors of the products we used and sold as professionals. Every time one of these sellers of all things necessary for persons to present as civilized citizens, they would encourage us to take a sniff and point out that this new delicious scent was a major selling point because after all, ‘soap is just soap.’ If you recall I gave you a little history of how we switched from basic soap to detergents - from a natural occurring phenomenon to a synthetic commodity - and how that single commodity morphed into an army of products that you must have to maintain your body and home.
What if I told you soap is just soap and you can use soap to clean anything?
Mind blown? That maybe you don’t require hand soap, and dish soap, and laundry soap, and kitchen cleaner, and bathroom cleaner, and body wash - none of which are soap at all but synthetic detergents? That all these separate cleaning products can be replaced with one all natural, sustainable, vegan alternative? Let me reintroduce you to Castile soap.
Let me remind you of all the ways Castile soap is superior to detergents:
- It’s biodegradable and free of foaming agents, deconstructed fatty acids from vegetable oils, petrochemicals, and/or antibacterial agents.*
- It’s not tested on animals (check for Leaping Bunny certification).
- It’s concentrated, so a little goes a long way.
- It can do the job of bunches of personal care products and home cleaners.
Our Castile soap adds a couple more exciting features:
- It contains zero palm oil (responsible for deforestation and loss of habitat.)
- AND it’s packaged in eternally recyclable aluminum. No plastic.
Here are just a few ways that you can use your new best friend:
- In a foaming dispenser, you can dilute 1-1 with water for an excellent hand soap or body wash. As a shampoo, a teaspoon undiluted will wash the grimiest head of hair (follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse for amazing shine.)
- Add a 1 teaspoon or cap full to a sink full of cool water to wash fruits and veggies before eating. Soak for 5 minutes and rinse. Add a teaspoon to hot water and you have dish soap.
- Add 1 tablespoon per cup of water in a spray bottle for a basic all purpose cleaner for the kitchen or bathroom. Add a sprinkle of baking soda before you spray and you have a gentle sink or tub scrub. Follow with a vinegar rinse on granite or stainless for shine- we love this paired with a Swedish Dishcloth.
- 2 to 4 tablespoons makes a lovely laundry detergent that’s approved for even the most sensitive skin. Add baking soda or borax for a boost if you’re washing extra stinky loads (gym clothes etc.)
Use your imagination. From your menstrual cup and makeup brushes to your car and pupper, this is one soap to rule them all. If it’s dirty, chances are you can clean it with Castile effectively and without adding to our plastic problem. Furthermore, imagine having to buy ONE cleaning product instead of dozens.
When that aluminum bottle is empty, rinse it out and recycle - easy peasy. Happy eco-friendly cleaning!
