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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Healthy Habits: Castile Soap We Use & Love

Hi! Hope everyone is having a nice Wednesday! I recently came across a great website that taught me all of things that I can do with the Dr. Bronner's Castile Soup we already use and love. (It is at the end of this post.) 

I first learned about Dr. Bronner's soap when my mom gave me a bottle of the almond scented one. I just ran out and am embarrassed to even say how long I had it for. She would come over and see the bottle nearly full in our shower and ask, "Are you bathing? It looks like you barely use the soap." 
She was right about one thing, I use very little because that's all you need. It is oily so you feel it spreading across you very easily. Now that I am off to buy a new bottle, I think I will try the peppermint one! 

*Funny story: I bought the Lavender one for my mother in law as one of her Christmas gifts. When she unwrapped it she said, "Thank you! I can always use more floor cleaner!" 
I quickly responded, "NO! That's body wash! I would never give you floor cleaner for Christmas...That would make me the worst daughter in law ever." 

hahaha 
She wasn't totally wrong I suppose. The information below will show you how to use this castile soap in many different ways around your home and even for your dog! 

I buy mine at Bed Bath & Beyond because they have the best price so far and I can also use their 20% coupon on it.
 The LARGE bottle is about $10 I believe (so $8 with the BBB coupon) and the bottle I had before is the small one...so a large bottle will last you forever)
There are more scents than just these 4 above

These also come in bar soap options for my gentlemen friends that don't like "liquid body soap" (About $4 - Not sure if BBB carries the soap bars - I have seen them at Whole Foods though)




A little while after I started using Dr. Bronner's castile soap, I found it at Buy Buy Baby! I was so excited that I bought some for Ava and two more for baby shower gift bags that I was working on. (You can also use the 20% off coupon that Bed Bath & Beyond sends out via text, email, or mail at Buy Buy Baby since they are owned by the same company) 

I love using this non toxic wash on Ava. As a parent you already worry about what is going into your baby's body. After constantly reading about recalls and "improvements" on Johnson and Johnson baby products (removing formaldehyde for example!?!??!) I was SO over their products very quickly. At least with Dr. Bronner's being made with simple and organic oils, I don't have to worry about anything questionable going into our bodies or our daughter's. Remember, your body's largest and fastest growing organ is the epidermis - your skin.
What you put on it, goes in it (and into your body. Just because you're not eating it doesn't make it less important.) 


Castile soap, which originates from the Castile region of Spain, is a type of soap made from plant oils. It is a “true soap” and not simply a chemical detergent. It’s sensitive on skin, it’s bio-degradable and Earth-friendly making it a wonderful product to use when making your own household products.
Castile soap is incredibly versatile and can be used as a major ingredient to make all kinds of products from natural beauty items to natural cleaning supplies.
In this blog post, we will reveal how you can ditch many of the most toxic products in your home and replace with Castile soap, plus a few other natural ingredients, for a cheaper, more natural alternative.
Most of these homemade recipes call for the use of Unscented Baby Mild Liquid Castile Soap

Homemade Dish Soap
Simply replace your regular store bought dish soap with a squirt of Castile soap. It works better than any store bought alternative and it’s all natural!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup liquid Castile soap
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/3 cup salt
Dissolve the baking soda and salt in the two cups of warm water. Pour into a gallon container, add the liquid Castile soap and fill to the top with water. Use 1/4 of a cup per load so this recipe is good for about 64 loads!

Homemade Dishwasher Soap

Mix 8 oz of Citrus Castile Soap with one cup of water and two teaspoons of lemon juice and shake gently.
To use add one tablespoon of the above mixture into the OPEN compartment of your dishwasher and add a cup of white vinegar to the CLOSED compartment. Add more vinegar if your water is hard.

Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

In a spray bottle, fill a quarter of the way up with white vinegar, add water to the top and then add a squirt of liquid Castile soap plus a few drops of tea tree essential oil.

Homemade Glass Cleaner

Mix half a cup of white vinegar, two teaspoons of liquid Castile soap and two cups of distilled warm water. Optionally, add a few drops of tea tree essential oil to the mixture. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, shake and spray onto your windows and clean with newspaper for a streak free finish.

Homemade Tub Scrub

Fill a spray bottle with one third Castile soap and two thirds water. Spread baking soda liberally around the bath and spray the Castile soap mixture on. Scrub with a scouring pad or scrub brush.

Homemade Face Wash

In a foaming dispenser, add one quarter cup of liquid Castile soap, fill to the top with distilled water (approx one cup) and add five drops of tea tree oil. The tea tree oil is a great antibacterial and is particularly useful for acne prone skin.

Homemade Shampoo

Making your own shampoo with Castile soap is incredibly easy, it uses only one extra natural ingredient and it lathers unlike many other homemade shampoo recipes.
Simply mix together 1 Tbsp Castile soap with one tsp coconut milk for a single serving of shampoo.  You can make this in larger batches by storing in the fridge. It will keep for at least a week.

Homemade Hand Soap

Fill a foaming hand soap dispenser with three quarters water (boiled or distilled) and one quarter unscented liquid Castile soap.
Optional: Add 1/8 of a teaspoon of essential oil – such as tea tree for its antibacterial properties, lemon for its odor killing properties or lavender for its fragrant scent.

Homemade Dog Shampoo

Make sure your dog is wet and then squeeze a couple of squirts of Peppermint Castile Soap and rub into your dogs fur until you have a nice lather. Then simply rinse off with warm water. Be sure to keep the soap out of their eyes and water out of their ears.

(Information above taken from Natural Living Ideas)


XO 
Christina 

23 comments:

  1. Thanks, I'm going to look out for this soap - sounds awesome!

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    1. I'll just say "welcome to the club" now since you'll be hooked once you buy it.
      ;)

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  2. I love reading your recommendations on stuff like this! We are probably like 5 years behind you in going more natural, but I love getting ideas from you. :) Definitely need to see if I can find some!

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    1. Hi Whitney!
      So happy you enjoy these posts (they are my favorite to write haha SHHH!) Please remember, it is truly a journey that requires small steps and not getting overwhelmed when making these positive changes. I will always consider myself a "newbie" because there is ongoing information that we learn about all of the awesome things nature provides (rather then man-made chemicals). Enjoy the ride and I will continue posting as I learn!
      XO
      Christina

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  3. Oh this is so neat! I'm so glad I am now your newest follower! First of all can Ava be any dang cuter? (GEEZ!) and marrying your ELEMENTARY school sweetheart could be the best thing I've heard all week! Looking forward to following along! xoxo Jess

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    1. Hi! Yay! Happy to have you here :) ...and yes, I've had a crush on my hubby for a loooong time. haha

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  4. I love Dr. Bronner's :) We use this as our hand soap but will most definitely be using it for more now Xx.

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  5. Hey Christina! Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog :) I have used Dr. Bronner's soap before but had no idea that I could do so much with it! I will definitely be making the laundry detergent asap!

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    1. I know! That's the one I was so intrigued about too! Let me know if you do it and how you like it...

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  6. New to your blog and your daughter is just adorable. Her eyes and smile are SO presh! :)

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    1. Thank you, Sarah! :) Happy to have you! (Don't let her sweet face fool you...she's been how do we say "energetic" and "opinionated" lately haha

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  7. Thanks for introducing yourself on my blog. I love your blog and am excited to follow it!

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  8. I haven't heard of this product before. Thanks for the review!

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    1. Of course! I love sharing things I love with others knowing that it is a healthier and safer option. I do it as much as I can. Happy you appreciated it.

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  9. I'm going to have to try this out; it sounds amazing, and I love the packaging!
    Lori

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  10. Love this post! I found your blog while doing some late night blog surfing and I love this post (and other info you have shared for a chemical free life). I am slowly but surely eliminating these things for our home and diet as well. New follower and please keep these posts coming!

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    1. So sorry for the late response.... I am so happy you enjoy these posts! I will keep them coming :) I think my next one will be about cookware :) Stay tuned... I am THRILLED you found me and love those kinds of posts (they are my favorite to write ;)
      xx

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  11. I love how many uses this product has! It's so great that you have all the homemade options layed out.
    I'm all about non-toxic products, even before becoming pregnant. Now that I'm 33 weeks along, I've been collecting products for baby and I've been pleased about how many options are out there. I got Earth Mama Angel Baby soap/shampoo for my little boy already, but I would love to try this!
    xo kristen genevieve

    sunnywithachanceoflemons.blogspot.com

    sunny bloglovin

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    1. That's great, Kristen! Hope you like it. I just bought the lavender one for my best friend's bridal shower. I am going to print out all of the uses for her too to put in the card! haha Wouldn't do any good if you didn't know how to use it a ton of different ways. Let me know how much you love it ;) I need to buy some more for myself. My daughter is stocked but I need more. haha
      XO
      Christina

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  12. I ordered the almond one for me after reading your blog and I am in LOVE. I cannot get enough of it. I also ordered the Baby one for my daughter (3 years old) and we love it too. I think she is old enough to "handle" the almond one because I just LOVE the scent! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. aww YAY! Happy you like it! I just bought some for my best friend's bridal shower tomorrow. I bought her the HUGE lavender one. I need to try the peppermint one for myself... mmmm :) My daughter is stocked with the unscented one too - she is 17 mo. but yes, after she is done with this one, I want to get her lavender for the calming scent for bedtime.
      XO
      Christina

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I love hearing your thoughts and feedback!
Thank you for taking time to comment.
XO