12 Things You Can Clean with Castile Soap

As sustainable cleaners become more mainstream, Castile soap has become an increasingly popular option. Not only is it biodegradable, it's also more affordable than most other products due to its highly concentrated formula.

Castile soap has been a popular hair and body soap for decades, but did you know you can actually clean your home with it, too? The fact that Castile soap is so multipurpose only adds to its appeal. Plus, it contains all-natural ingredients, making it safe for those with sensitivities. Learn more about this natural homemade cleaner and the surfaces you can clean with Castile soap.

What Is Castile Soap?

Castile soap is believed to have originated in the Castile region of Spain (hence the name) during the Crusades. The soap was made with the ingredient that were most accessible at the time—olive oil. Today, Castile soaps are typically manufactured using a combination of vegetable oils. Because they don't contain any animal products, they're considered to be vegan. Instead, Castile soaps are filled with oils such as coconut, hemp seed, and jojoba while leaving out any harsh chemicals or artificial additives. You can find a variety of scented Castile soaps infused with essential oils. However, if you’re prone to essential oil allergies, or plan to use it on sensitive surfaces in your home, look for an unscented version.

While there are virtually no downsides to using Castile soap, there are a few things to consider.

• Check the ingredients to ensure you’re not averse to any listed and that they’re safe to use on a particular material. You may want to spot-test an inconspicuous area before you clean something for the first time.
• Always dilute the soap before using it because it has a high concentration and can be harsh on surfaces or irritating to the skin. Even after dilution, know that a little will go a long way.
• Be aware that Castile soap doesn’t react well with hard water and, when mixed with it, will leave behind residue. So unless you plan to install a water softener or whole house water filtration system, we suggest keeping distilled water on hand for dilution purposes.

Things You Can Clean with Castile Soap

1. Countertops and Cooktops

Castile soap makes an effective all-purpose cleaner that you can use on most surfaces (excluding granite and marble). Using a spray bottle, combine one fourth of a cup of soap with one quart of water. Apply the solution across counters and cooktops and then wipe clean with a soft cloth. For stubborn grime or grease, sprinkle baking soda on top and gently scrub. Refrain from using this method on ceramic glass cooktops, however, as the baking soda can scratch them.

2. Flooring

Likewise, Castile soap can be used on most floor materials and is actually an ideal method to clean concrete floors. Add one half of a cup of soap to three gallons of hot water and use the mixture to mop laminate, tile, and even hardwood floors. Avoid using it on marble, granite, or waxed wood as the soap can strip the wax. To prevent soap deposits, thoroughly rinse floors after mopping.

3. Carpet and Rugs

Clean your carpets by using Castile soap as a shampoo inside a carpet cleaner machine. Use a ratio of one quarter of a cup of soap to one cup of water and clean your carpets and area rugs, including cowhide rugs, as usual. As a reminder, be sure to use distilled or soft water because the mineral traces in hard water will leave behind a residue. Even still, it’s a good idea to double rinse by adding vinegar and water to the machine’s reservoir and running it again.

4. Windows, Glass, and Mirrors

If you’ve recently run out of glass cleaner but have a bottle of Castile soap, you’re in luck. Add a mere tablespoon of it to a quart of water in a spray bottle and spritz on your windows and glass surfaces around the house. Use a lint-free cloth, newspaper, or a squeegee to achieve a streak-free shine. For a deeper clean, follow up by applying club soda with lemon or vinegar and wiping again.

5. Walls and Ceilings

Add approximately one quarter of a cup of Castile soap to some hot water in a bowl, dip a microfiber cloth in it, and then rub onto marks, like fingerprints, that litter your walls. As a bonus, use the same solution to clean ceiling fans, ceilings, and moldings (so long as they’re not made of waxed wood).

6. Showers, Bathtubs, and Toilets

Castile soap comes in very handy in the bathroom, especially if it contains, or you add, essential oils that have disinfecting properties, such as eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree. Combine one cup of soap with four cups of water in a large spray bottle to clean the bathtub, toilet bowl, tiles, sink, and counter. Don’t forget that you can use the glass cleaner you’ve already whipped up to tackle glass shower doors.

7. Dishes

While it becomes too sudsy to use in the dishwasher, just a small amount of Castile soap will help you tackle any hand-wash-only dishware. Blend one part soap to ten parts water and scrub pots, pans, utensils, and more. If your home has hard water, add a splash of vinegar when you’re rinsing them clean and hand dry dishes to avoid water spots.

8. Clothes and Towels

Castile soap makes for a DIY laundry detergent that’s all natural, meaning it’s ideal for those with sensitive skin. Pour one fourth of a cup of soap into high efficiency washing machines, or one half of a cup into a non-high efficiency washer, and run the load as usual. Feel free to add a bit of baking soda if you have hard water or want some extra whitening power. Additionally, you can add a tablespoon of Castile soap to a basin of water and wash delicate items by hand.

9. Produce

Pouring just one fourth of a teaspoon (really, that’s it!) of Castile soap into a bowl of water, you can safely wash the fruits and vegetables after they come home from the store or farmer’s market. Let produce soak for a bit, to remove dirt and even pesticides, before thoroughly rinsing afterwards.

10. Plants

Have you spotted mealybugs on your beloved beloved orchid? Just one tablespoon of Castile soap combined with one quart of water in a spray bottle should eradicate them in no time. The same concoction will also remove flea beetles, ants, soft-bodied scale, spider mites, whiteflies, and other insects and pests on your plants, both indoor and in the garden.

11. Your Hands

It’s not only good for handwashing dishes and clothing, it’s also good for handwashing, well, your hands. Mix one part Castile soap with three parts water in a foaming pump soap bottle for a custom hand soap. A few squirts on your hands or into a washcloth turns it into makeup remover, a makeup brush cleanser, face wash, body wash, and even a substitute for shaving cream.

12. Your Pets

There’s no reason to shell out a lot for expensive dog shampoo when you have Castile soap in the house. After they’re sufficiently saturated in the tub, lather a bit of soap all over them (using more for larger dogs), and rinse off. Note that you should only use unscented soap to avoid any reactions, especially since some essential oils are toxic to pets.