No matter where you are, germs are around. They’re in the air, on your food, water, and even on your body. Luckily, your immune system regulates the majority of these germs. For the bacteria that your immune system doesn’t eliminate, you’ll need a great cleanser.
With the number of toxins and chemicals in commercial cleansers, you’re putting you and everyone in your home in danger. To remove germs and stay healthy, you need a gentle cleanser. A great natural cleanser for your body and home is castile soap.
What’s in Castile Soap?
One of the most significant aspects of Castile soap is its healthy ingredients. For one, Castile doesn’t use animal byproducts or harsh chemicals. Often, they use vegetable oil bases mixed with essential oils and natural fragrances.
When you purchase this soap, you’re likely to find some of these ingredients:
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has a variety of health benefits. It’s excellent for healing burns and wounds. It’s also known for its antimicrobial properties and protects the teeth, hair, and skin.
Hemp Oil
Hemp oil is excellent for all skin types, mainly since it works without clogging your pores. If you suffer from chapped skin or inflammation, then hemp seed oil also acts as a natural pain reliever. You can also use hemp seed oil for hair growth. Hemp oil strengthens the hair follicles and improves scalp health.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil protects against UV radiation, skin damage, and heals irritated and chapped skin. Typically, avocado oil acts as a beneficial carrier oil in numerous beauty regimens.
Depending on which castile soap you use, they’re typically scented with essential oil. Popular essential oils used to fragrance this soap are lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oil. In addition to their unique smells, essential oils have excellent cleaning properties.
For instance, tea tree oil is a great cleaning agent based on its ability to clean mold and mildew. Tea tree oil also has antiseptic and antiviral properties. Lavender essential oil is antimicrobial, antibacterial, and works as a disinfectant.
Lavender also promotes a calming effect that lasts after cleaning.
Peppermint essential oil is an excellent disinfectant. It’s also great for naturally eliminating pests like insects and rodents from your home. Unlike other pest repellents, these are safe for pets and children to inhale.
You can purchase this soap in liquid and bar form. If necessary, you can convert the bar into liquid form. Based on its healthy, natural ingredient list, Castile soap can be an expensive cleaning agent.
Luckily, it’s concentrated enough to clean after being diluted–and quite effectively. And, of course, you cannot hang a price tag on better health. Right?
Learn why essential oils are safer for housecleaning.
15 Ways to Use Castile Soap to Cleanse Your Home and Body
This cleanser is one of the few soaps gentle enough to cleanse the body but strong enough to clean your house. Although it’s lather isn’t as prominent as commercial soaps, it’s still working. Often, chemicals in soap cause them to foam or froth.
Castile soap is a great cleaning agent for nearly any surface. Here’s a list of ways to utilize this gentle cleanser.
1. Wound Cleaner
Everyone, from time to time, gets a minor wound around the house. Whether it’s a paper cut or a knee scrape, you’ll need to clean the wound to avoid infection. The chemicals in commercial soaps frequently burn, making it difficult to clean the injury effectively.
When you use Castile to cleanse your wounds, you’re also adding healing agents that speed up your recovery.
Add two teaspoons of soap to 2 cups of filtered water. A study proved using this cleansing mixture minimized the risk of wound complications. Best of all, your children can use this solution as they learn to cleanse their wounds.
2. Laundry Detergent
Chemicals and toxins in name brand laundry detergents not only irritate the skin but cause your clothes to deteriorate quickly. When making your detergent, mix a bar of shredded or 2 cups of liquid soap with one cup of baking soda. Baking soda acts as an exfoliant and helps remove dirt from your garments.
If you’d like scented laundry with an extra bit of cleaning power, add 30 drops of essential oils to your mixture. Mix these ingredients in an airtight container and use up to a quarter cup per large load. If necessary, adjust the amount of detergent, especially for delicate or smaller loads.
3. Shampoo
Some people struggle with growing robust and healthy hair. They don’t realize it’s their store-bought shampoo. Commercial shampoos use plastics, dyes, and chemicals that make hair dry and brittle.
Some even disrupt your scalp’s natural balance, which interferes with growth. Making your shampoo allows you to customize your cleaning routine based on your specific hair and scalp needs.
When washing your hair, there are two effective methods. You can either use a small amount of pure soap or a premade mixture.
Wet your hair and apply a small amount of undiluted soap to your hair and scalp. Even though it doesn’t lather like traditional shampoos, your hair will get clean.
For premixed shampoo, add one cup of water and one tablespoon of soap to a container and lightly shake. If you have a bottle with a pump or pourable lid, you’ll have better portion control. Wet your hair and apply the soap to your scalp and strands.
4. Facial Cleanser
This mild soap is excellent for cleaning your skin without stripping your natural oils. Wet your face and apply a few drops of soap to your face. After lathering, rinse, and pat dry before applying toner and moisturizer.
5. Body Wash
In addition to a facial cleanser, you can also use it on your body. Simply add a few drops to your washcloth or loofah for additional exfoliating and shower as usual.
6. All-Purpose House Cleaner
From countertops to toilet seats, Castile soap is strong enough to clean multiple surfaces. Add up to 2 cups of soap to a quart of water. You can strengthen your mixture with 20-30 drops of essential oil. Additionally, the essential oils provide a clean and fresh smell to your household.
Add your mixture to a spray bottle and spray your surfaces. Let sit for a couple of minutes and wipe clean.
7. Mop Solution
If you have pets or small children, you need a natural cleanser to keep your floor clean. Mix a half cup of soap with three gallons of hot water for a mopping solution. You can even spray your all-purpose mixture on the floor and follow up with your mopping solution.
8. Toothpaste
Ingredients like coconut oil are great for cleaning and strengthening enamel. It’s an acquired taste, but adding a couple of drops to your toothbrush keeps your teeth clean. You can also add peppermint essential oil to boost benefits.
9. Produce Cleaner
Both conventional and organic products come with dirt and other contaminants on their journey to the grocery store. By adding a tablespoon of this soap to a sink full of water, you can clean your produce. Be sure to rinse off the soap before eating thoroughly.
10. Makeup Remover
Commercial makeup removers contain harsh chemicals that can hurt your skin. For a natural alternative, mix one-part soap with one part carrier oil. Dip a cotton ball into your mixture and remove makeup.
11. Pet Wash
This gentle cleansing agent is versatile enough to clean your pets. The amount of soap you use depends on the size of your dog and their hair. If possible, avoid using essential oils and avocado oil on your pet in case of a reaction.
12. Bug Repellent
If bugs eat your plants, you can create a bug repellent for your garden. Mix a quarter cup of soap with a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray your plants. Try a spot test before spraying your garden.
13. Shaving Cream
When you shave, you need a lubricant to minimize cuts and scrapes. Start by wetting your shaving area and add several drops of soap. This process creates a slippery surface that helps your razor glide as it cuts your hair.
14. Dish Soap
When you clean dishes, the chemicals in soap linger on your dishware. Instead, add several drops of soap to your wet washcloth or sponge and clean your dishes.
15. Glass Cleaner
Not only does glass cleaner contain chemicals, but it can also be expensive. By mixing two teaspoons of soap, 2 cups of water, and a half cup of vinegar, you’ll have a natural, affordable, streak-free glass cleaner.
Final Thoughts on Using Castile Soap for Natural Cleansing
Castile soap is beneficial for the entire family. If you’re worried about your baby or smaller children, several brands offer tear-free Castile solutions. Based on its all-natural ingredient list, you don’t need to worry about chemical reactions and skin irritation.
Whether you want to use this soap for beauty or household care, its versatility makes it an excellent investment. Even if it appears a bit pricey, it saves money based on its ability to replace your commercial cleaners.
If you care about the overall wellness of your entire family, consider purchasing a bottle of castile soap. You’ll immediately see an improvement in your cleanliness and health.
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