I like the almond
Castile soap can be used as hand soap, face soap, body soap and shampoo. You can wash your clothes with it, as well as your dishes and even your food. By adding some baking soda, you can create an effective soft scrubbing cleaning paste.
Liquid Castile soap comes in a concentrated form and will always need to be diluted before using. Common dilutions are about 1/4 cup soap to 3-4 cups water for hand soap and dish soap.
Castile soap is quite alkaline, so you really shouldn't use it if you have any issues with a compromised barrier or any conditions where your barrier is easily compromised (rosacea, acne, ect.)
Castile soap has a low risk of causing side effects. That said, some people may find concentrated castile soap to be very drying, which could cause a reaction on the skin. Stronger reactions may be possible in some cases, such as allergic reactions to the soap or an added ingredient in it.
I like the almond Castile soap for washing my floors and the unscented for making hand and dish soap. All you have to do is combine 1/4 cup liquid soap with distilled or filtered water and then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a pretty and natural fragrance.
3 drops (2 squirts) of regular dish soap. 3/4 tablespoon of baking soda. 3/4 teaspoon of salt (1/4-1/2 teaspoon for soft water)
The formula is simple. It has 95% water, 0.63% sodium hydroxide (50% solution), 2.4% DDBSA (Pilot's Calsoft LAS-99), 1.2% cocamide DEA (Pilot's Calamide C), 0.77% sodium chloride and preservatives and dye as required.
“It doesn't have many additives and it generally tends to be pretty gentle,” continues Dr. Vij. “It's not going to strip away a lot of the natural oils from your skin like some other soap products. Instead, it can allow your skin to accept hydrating products a little bit easier than harsher soaps.”
You wouldn't think soap is capable of clogging your drains, but it definitely will.
Cohoon recommends a powdered mixture of washing soda, borax, salt, and citric acid powder. "Washing soda will obviously wash things up, while borax helps erase residue and remove baked-on stains and grime," she says.
Needs dilution: If you don't dilute castile soap with water, it can be very concentrated. This can make it hard on surfaces and the skin. Not for color-treated hair: If you have dyed hair, castile soap can strip some of the color from it due to its alkaline properties.
Add 4 cups liquid castile soap, 4 cups washing soda, and 4 cups borax to a 5-gallon bucket. Pour the boiling water into the bucket with the other ingredients and stir until everything is dissolved. Top the container off with 28 cups (1.75 gallons) of water (doesn't have to be boiling, cold water from the tap is fine).
Heat water to a boil and pour it into the bowl of washing soda and grated soap. Whisk the mixture until it is blended thoroughly. Add more of the grated soap to alter the texture of your homemade dishwashing liquid. Add a few drops of lemon and lavender essential oil.
Homemade dishwasher detergents, made with common ingredients found in your grocery store, can cost as little as 4 cents per load, which adds up to only $15 per year with everyday use.
Pour one cup of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe mug. The mug should be about 2/3 full of vinegar. Place the mug upright on the top rack of your dishwasher and then close the door of the appliance. Run the dishwasher on the normal cycle with hot water for extra sterilization.
Bronner's Castile soap with one cup of warm water and three tablespoons of lemon juice and stir together. This mixture will be your new favorite grease-fighting dish detergent. Add one tablespoon of the mixture to your dishwasher's detergent compartment, then run your dishwasher on a standard cycle.
Dispensing dish wand.
Dilute 1 part Castile Soap to 5 parts water, or 1 part Sal Suds to 10 parts water.
Use with Hard Water
Given its high mineral content, using castile soap with hard water can result in extra residue, which might leave surfaces feeling a bit sticky. To avoid this, boil the water first, use distilled water, or use a solution of water and vinegar on a cloth as an acid rinse to cut the grease.
For clothing, use about 1 to 1½ Tbsp. (15-22 mL) of Sal Suds or 3-4 Tbsp. (45-60 mL) of Pure-Castile Liquid soap for each large load in an HE (high efficiency) washing. Double these amounts in standard washing machines.
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