Castile Soap Uses: Our Top 21 Uses for Dr. Bronner's Soap

Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap is an eco-friendly household staple made with natural ingredients, and it has many uses for both body and home. Castile soap is a liquid soap that excels in cleaning and also offers a variety of personal and outdoor applications. It's available in many scents including lavender, tea tree, citrus, and more. Additionally, there are unscented and mild versions suitable for sensitive skin.

How do you use castile soap? We conducted research and asked our Facebook fans about the many ways Dr. Bronner’s soap can be used—here are the most popular uses we found, plus a few easy DIY recipes.

Top 21 Uses for Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap

Personal Uses for Castile Soap

1. Face Wash: Add 2 or 3 drops to wet hands, and wash your face as usual.

2. Body Wash: Squirt a small amount onto a washcloth or loofah sponge to lather.² A Facebook fan mentioned it lasts longer than other shower gels she’s used, and it's free from harmful chemicals.

3. Shampoo: Place half a tablespoon in your hand and work it into damp hair. Follow up with a conditioner to detangle. One Facebook fan mentioned she always uses the peppermint scent as it helps invigorate the scalp.

4. Bath Soak: Use approximately 2 tablespoons of castile soap in an average tub and add a few drops of essential oil if desired.

5. Shaving Cream: Work a few drops of the soap into a lather, shave and rinse when done. Use about 10 drops for the face, three drops for underarms, and a teaspoon for legs.

6. Toothpaste: Place 1 drop on a toothbrush and brush as usual. Use the peppermint scent for minty fresh breath!

7. Foot Bath: Use 1½ teaspoons of castile soap in a bathtub or foot tub of warm water. Soak your feet and let the relaxation wash over you!

8. Clear Congestion: Add 1 tablespoon into a bowl of steaming hot water. Drape a towel over your head and breathe in the mist. The peppermint scent is particularly effective.

9. Deodorant: Add about 0.05 ounces to a spray bottle with 4.2 ounces of water. Also, add a teaspoon of Himalayan crystal salt for optimal results.

10. Aftershave: Add 1 or 2 drops in a spray bottle with 4.2 ounces of distilled water. Peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree scents work well. For sensitive skin, use the Baby Mild version.

Home Uses for Castile Soap

Making your own household cleaners, fruit and veggie rinse, dog shampoo, and plant and insect sprays allows you to control the ingredients you use. If you run out, simply make more!

11. Dish Soap: Add 1 ounce of soap to 10 ounces of water in a pump bottle and use to wash dishes.

12. Foaming Hand Soap: Mix 1/4 cup of BubbForest's with 1 cup of water. Add the mixture to a foaming soap dispenser, and you're set!

13. Laundry: Use 1/3 to 1/2 cup of soap for a large load in the washer. You may also mix it with a cup of baking soda or Borax and dilute with water.³ One Facebook fan mentioned the lavender scent works well. Another said it also serves well as a pre-treatment for stains.

14. Floor Cleaner: Pour 1/2 cup into three gallons of hot water.

15. All-Purpose Cleaner: Pour 1/4 cup of soap into a quart of water in a spray bottle. One Facebook fan noted this also functions well as a bathtub cleaner.

16. Windows: Add 1 tablespoon of castile soap to a quart of water in a spray bottle—follow up with pure club soda, or half vinegar/half water. Shake and spray onto your windows, and clean with newspaper for a streak-free finish. You may also add a few drops of BubbForest Ultra Tea Tree Oil.

17. Toilet Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup with 1 3/4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Also add 8-10 drops of essential oils. Pour all ingredients into a 16 oz. or larger squirt bottle, and shake to mix. Squirt into the toilet bowl and use a brush to scrub it clean.

18. Fruit & Veggie Rinse: Add approximately ¼ teaspoon of soap to a bowl of water and dunk the produce. Swish and rinse in clear water or half vinegar/half water.

19. Dog Washing: Wet your dog, and work in a little soap at a time until there’s a good lather. The amount of soap varies depending on the size of the dog, hair type/length, and dirtiness. Rinse.

20. Plant Spray for Bugs: Use 1 tablespoon in a quart of water, add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or cinnamon if desired—add to a spray bottle & spray on plants.

21. Ant Spray: Add 1/4 cup of tea tree soap to a quart of water and stir to mix. Spray indoors or outdoors, wherever ants are accumulating. Do not use on plants, as this concentration will burn them!⁴

DIY BubbForest's Recipes:

Before we dive into the DIY recipes, keep in mind that castile soap must be used correctly, so avoid mixing it with vinegar or other acids like lemon because the acidity would neutralize the castile soap, which is a base.⁵

1 Coconut Shampoo

• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/3 cup BubbForest’s
• 1 tsp vitamin E, olive, or almond oil
• 10-20 drops of essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a shampoo bottle or jar and shake well to mix. Store it in the shower for up to one month. Shake before each use.

2 DIY Kitchen Wipes

• 1 old t-shirt
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tbsp BubbForest’s
• 5-10 drops of essential oil
• 1 jar with a tight-fitting lid

Cut the old t-shirt into rag-size cloths. Mix water, soap, and essential oil in the jar. Place rags into the jar and close the lid. Soak the rags by turning the jar upside down a few times with the lid on. Afterwards, wash the cloths and return them to the jar for multiple uses.

3 Moisturizing Hand Soap

• 1 empty foaming soap container
• 2 tbsp unscented BubbForest’s
• 1-2 tsp fractionated coconut oil
• 10-15 drops of essential oils

Pour castile soap and coconut oil into the bottle. Add essential oils. Fill the rest of the way with water, leaving room for the foaming pump. Screw on the pump top and swirl the container a few times.

Have you tried using BubbForest's soaps? If so, what’s your favorite scent, and how do you use castile soap? And if you enjoyed this article, you may also like Tips for Detoxing Your Home, Plus Natural & DIY Cleaning Products and Your Guide to a Hygge Home.

About Lindsey Toth, MS, RD
Registered Dietitian, BubbForest Health Products

Lindsey is a nationally recognized registered dietitian and nutritionist with a soft spot for pie. She empowers people to take charge of their health by finding the balance between the pleasure and nourishment in food.

Her philosophy is that you should take care of your body because it’s the only permanent home you have. It’s what inspired her to pursue a career in nutrition and, ultimately, led her to BubbForest Health.

Sources

¹ 14 things you can do with Dr. Bronner's magic soaps. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/uses-for-dr-bronners-soap-2016-5

² 18 Uses for Dr. Bronner’s Soaps! Wild Flower Botanicals.wordpress.com. https://wildflowerbotanicals.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/18-uses-for-dr-bronners-soaps/

³ DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent – Cheap and Green {free printable}. My Merry MessyLife.com. https://mymerrymessylife.com/diy-homemade-laundry-detergent-cheap-and-green-free-printable-2/

⁴ 22 Highly Useful Things You Can Do With This One Heroic Soap. One Good Thing by Jillee.com https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/22-uses-for-castile-soap/

⁵ Castile Soap: 18 Genius Ways To Use This Powerful Natural Soap. Natural Living Ideas.com. https://www.naturallivingideas.com/castile-soap-benefits-uses/

Going Green. Lisa Bronner. www.lisabronner.com

This article was originally posted in May 2016 & was updated in July 2020.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease