Update May 2022 —I’ve added a few uses to both the Sal Suds and Castile Soap Cheat Sheets. Plus: All four Cheat Sheets are now available in Spanish! (See the side bar to download or print.)
Dilute! Dilute! OK!* But how much? Here is a quick reference. None of this is a hard and fast rule. If your stuff is really dirty or your water is really hard, then you may want to use more than the recommended amount. However, this should get you started. You’ll notice that for some applications, I recommend pre-diluting the Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap—combining the soap with water in a container. For other applications, the soap is diluted by the water present in the situation. It’s a matter of personal preference. Keep in mind that if you predilute, you are also diluting the preservation system (tocopherols – vitamin E), so the shelf life drops. Use within a couple weeks. And yes, there are 18+ uses here.
* Long time Dr. Bronner’s users will remember this expression from the old labels.
Body Uses
Face: 2-3 drops on wet hands, applied to wet face.
Body: One small squirt on wet hands or washcloth, applied to a wet body.
Foaming Pump Dispenser: Dilution of one part soap to 3 parts water.
Wipe-Off Castile Body Wash Spray: Use when running water isn’t an option due to illness, large cast or bandage, or when hiking, camping, etc. Combine 1 ½ tsp. (7.5 mL) soap and 1 c. (240 mL) room temperature water in a spray bottle. Spray body wash lightly on skin, and wipe with a wet (not dripping) cloth. Dry skin.
Makeup Removal: Wet face and lather several drops of soap into hands. Massage into skin. Rinse.
Hair: A couple drops for close-cropped hair or up to ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) for long hair, either worked directly into very wet hair or pre-diluted in a cup of water. Follow with a capful of Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Organic Hair Rinse diluted in one cup (240 mL) of water or dilute apple cider vinegar in half with water.
Bath: Completely depends upon water amount, but approximately 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) soap in an average sized tub. (Doesn’t bubble, but still cleans.)
Shaving: Face—10 drops; Underarms—3 drops; Legs—½ tsp (2.5 mL); Work to a lather in wet hands, apply to area.
Teeth: 1 drop on a toothbrush. (Yes, it tastes like soap.)
Oral Appliances: Removable retainers, nightguards, etc. & dentures: Wet device. Add 1-2 drops of soap to a soft toothbrush. Brush gently, then rinse.
Foot Bath: ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) in a small tub of hot water.
Clearing Congestion: 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Peppermint or Eucalyptus Castile soap in a bowl of steamy hot water. Breathe in mist with a towel draped over the head.
Household Uses
Dishes (Handwashing): Pre-dilute 1:10 with water. Squirt on a scrub brush. Alternatively, add 1-2 Tbsp. (15-30 mL) Castile Soap in a large sink of water. Use a small squirt of soap for one pot, or more if needed. To avoid water spots in hard water conditions, dry dishes by hand.
Laundry: 2–4 Tbsp. (30–60 mL) for HE washers. Add ½ c. (120 mL) vinegar to the rinse cycle. Optional: For whitening/deodorizing, add ¼ c. (60 mL) baking soda to wash cycle. Double these amounts for standard washers.
Handwashing Delicates: 1 capful (1 Tbsp. or 15 mL) Castile Soap in about 1 gallon (4 L) cold water. Swish gently. Let soak 10 minutes. Swish again. Rinse with clean water. Gently press out excess water with a towel. Hang or lay clothing flat to dry.
Mopping (Wood, Laminate, Vinyl, Stone & Tile Flooring): 2 ½ Tbsp (38 mL) of soap in 1 gallon (4 L) of hot water. Dunk mop (microfiber, preferably) and wring thoroughly. On wood and laminate, avoid excess water and mop up wet areas.
For smaller areas, add 2 tsp. (10 mL) Castile Soap to a quart (1 L) of water in a squirt bottle.
All-Purpose Cleaning Spray: 2 Tbsp. (30 mL) soap in 16 oz. (500 mL) water. Spray and wipe with a damp cloth. Optional: For extra microbial punch, add ¼ tsp. (1.25 mL) tea tree essential oil. Use on any surface that is safe in contact with water-stone countertops & tile; wood (painted or sealed, not waxed); plastic toys and such; stainless steel; sinks & toilets; and more!
Windows: ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) soap in 16 oz. (500 mL) water. Spray and squeegee. Follow up with pure club soda, or half vinegar/ half water and squeegee.
Toilet: Predilute 1:4 with water in a squirt bottle. Add ¼ tsp. (1.25 mL) tea tree oil. For best results, empty toilet. Spray or squirt 2-3 drops of Castile Soap directly on toilet brush. Sprinkle baking soda on the brush, scrub bowl, let sit 10 minutes, turn water on, flush.
Other Uses for Liquid Castile Soap
Fruit & Veggie Wash: 1 dash (approx. ¼ tsp.) in a bowl of water. Dunk produce and swish. Then rinse in clear water.
Dog Washing: Wet dog thoroughly. Massage in enough soap to create a good lather. (Amount varies based on size, hair type, and overall dirtiness.) Really massage it in down to the skin. Your dog will thank you for it. Rinse thoroughly.*
Cleaning Makeup Brushes: Wet the make-up brushes in water. Add 1-2 drops soap to the bristles. Massage in gently for 10+ seconds, then rinse. Repeat as needed until water runs clear.
Plant Spray for Bugs: 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) in a quart (1 L) of water. Optional: Add ½ tsp. (1.25 mL) cayenne pepper or cinnamon. Spray plants twice daily in the cool of the day until infestation clears.
Ant Spray (Not on plants): ¼ c. (60 mL) Tea Tree Castile Soap in a quart (1 L) of water. (This concentration will burn plants.)
I’ve tried to keep this short and sweet. If you have any questions, please ask away!
Not sure when to use Sal Suds or when to use Castile Soap? Head over to my blog post, Sal Suds or Castile Soap—Which to Use?
If you’re interested in using the Castile Bar Soap for house cleaning, check out my Bar Soap Dilutions Cheat Sheet.
Further reading
- Sal Suds Dilution Cheat Sheet
- Sal Suds or Castile Soap – Which to Use?
- GIY All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
- Bar Soap Dilutions Cheat Sheet
*Avoid using the Tea Tree scent to wash your pets, as tea tree oil can be toxic to them.
This dilution and many more are in my book, Soap & Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Home, Your Body, and Your Spirit with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, available now in hardback on DrBronner.com or at your favorite bookseller, and as an eBook and audiobook (read by me!) from wherever you download or listen.
Hi, if I want to use the soap for laundry, do I place this directly on the clothes or in the drawer compartment?
Thanks!
Hi Maria – Either way is fine. I don’t have that separate compartment so I put it directly on the clothes.
Hi Lisa! I’m wondering if your soaps are good for washing delicates if diluted?
Hi Mika – Yes, they’re great on delicates. If you’re handwashing, I’d add a capful to a sink of cold water. In the machine on the delicate cycle, add a couple Tablespoons.
Hi Lisa ! Wondering if Castile has any disenfecting properties if used for mopping or on counters or for all purpose cleaning etc?
Also wondering what type of ratio I should work with if I want to fill my soap dispense in the bathrooms ? I don’t know if it directly on my hands is safe ? I can really smell the essential oil in it! Smells great though
Thanks !
Hi Grace – Yes, the soaps are disinfecting. They will remove germs from your floors and countertops. Using the soap straight is perfectly safe. The only reason I recommend diluting it is because you can end up using much more than you need and wasting it. You can use a couple drops straight from the bottle for each hand washing, or you can dilute it in a foaming pump dispenser at a ratio of 1:3. We do not recommend using the soap in a regular pump dispenser as the soap inevitably dries in the pump and causes the solution to shoot out sideways. If you’d like to use a traditional pump, we have formulated our Organic Pump Soaps (https://shop.drbronner.com/organic-sugar-soaps) for just that purpose. They do not need to be diluted.
HI! I have always liked Dr. Bronner’s product and recently just switched back to it for use on my body/face in the shower. My face is super predictable- not too oily, not too dry skin. My face can go days without washing and no break-outs. If I do have a breakout I typically put a drop of tea tree essential oil straight on zit and it is gone within a few days. SO basically around the time I started using Dr. B’s (32oz tea tree liquid castile soap) i have been breaking out specifically on my face, (and not just one zit many little bumps and a few big ones.) It is very peculiar to me, and I’d like to blame it on just about anything other than the soap. I came across the dilution methods here, and so I will try using less soap, but I’m not convinced it’s a matter of too much soap…. Anyway have you heard of anything like this? any suggestions?
Hi Emma – I am very sorry to hear this. Has it been more than two weeks since you started using the Tea Tree again? I found that during the first two week, my face did break out more, and I figured it was just bringing lots of stuff out and some was getting caught on the way.
Any other readers have thoughts on this?
Hi Lisa, great list! Thank you.
I use the Dr. Bronners for a number of household uses and am very happy with it.
However, I’d like some input on using the liquid soaps in the dishwasher.
Can Dr. Bronners Liquid Castillo soaps be used in any way in the dishwasher to clean dishes – full strength or diluted?
Thank you.
Hi C.G. – I’m glad to hear of your success with Dr. Bronner’s! Unfortunately, I don’t have a great answer for you with the dishwasher. This one has eluded me personally, although you will read from other commenters various combinations that they have tried. If I come up with something that I like, I will definitely let you know.
Recently just started transitioning to green cleaning. We use a lysol hand soap dispenser in our kitchen to hand wash dishes. I used your dilution and initially worked well. I think the soap went to the bottom of the dispenser and was therefore dispensed and as it emptied lost its cleaning ability. Should we get rid of the dispenser and/or use the salsuds & castille soap. New to all this! Thank you!
Hi Jenn – Welcome to the journey! I find the Sal Suds to work better on dishes in general, although when I camp and I want to pack light, the Castile is what I bring. It is certainly possible that your solution settled and the soap went to the bottom. I notice that with my spray bottles some times when I haven’t used them for a while. This doesn’t seem to happen with the Sal Suds.
What ratio would you suggest for hardwood & ceramic tile floor? I would like to premix it into a spray bottle, to spray directly on the floor (not use a bucket). How long will it stay good for?
Hi Krista – You need a pretty light solution to spray these floors. With the Castile soap, try just 1 Tbsp. of soap in a quart of water. This would be fine for 2-4 weeks. If you won’t use that much, then cut the measurements in half.
Hi Lisa, Can I use the Castile Soap in the carpet wash machine? If so, what’s the dilution rate? Thanks!
Hi Eileen – I have only used our Sal Suds in a carpet cleaning machine (read about it here: https://www.lisabronner.com/cleaning-carpets-with-sal-suds/), but I think you could use the Castile. Try just 1/2 Tbsp. of the soap mixed with water in the cleaning compartment.
Are you able to pre-dilute for hand soap? I have the soap in my daughter’s bathroom and she is using way too much at a time. Can I mix the soap with water in the bottle dispenser to dilute prior to her using? Thank you for the help!!
Hi Sarah – I have had the same difficulties with my kiddos. I use a foaming pump dispenser for them and fill it with 1 part soap to 3 parts water. Works great.
I’ve been using Dr. Bronner’s castile soaps for years but mainly just in the shower. I started using the unscented version to clean my makeup brushes and it works beautifully. I think it works better than the specialty products designed to clean makeup brushes. It requires less product, water and manipulation to remove all the makeup and easily rinses clean. The bristles are left in like new condition and the soap doesn’t dry them out. Glad I came across this dilution cheat sheet (thanks for making it available); I’m looking forward to getting similar results throughout the rest of the house.
Fantastic! Glad to hear it!
So…
Skimmed through the recent comments to confirm, but there’s no way to get the castile soap to make the wonderful gel consistency that you can get the Sal Suds to do when creating your dish (Lisa’s) soap recipe, huh. (The one with equal parts water, Sal Suds, white vinegar; then some lemon juice and the magic ingredient of kosher salt)
I would so love to be able to make a shower gel consistency stuff out of the castile soap, as the Sal Suds is not for general constant skin use; as well as messing with it until I could make a consistent liquid-gel soap for regular-not-foaming hand pump soaps.
At worst, I/we just completely cover the pump nozzle with my/our hand(s) to get some soap to prevent spraying it all over ourselves and walls. Guests, however…
Any and all advice welcome!
Hi Ericka – A couple drawbacks to exchanging the Castile for the Sal Suds in the recipe you mention – the vinegar and lemon juice will both react with the soap and break it down. Also, the Castile soap may leave a film on your dishes if you have hard water. For your shower, one thing to try that you might like is to put it in a foaming pump, diluted 1:3 with water. Guests would be able to use that just fine as well. As far as mixing anything with it to thicken it, we haven’t found anything that we recommend.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I have just ordered a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap (peppermint) as I am converting to natural and healthy alternatives, and I want a house that is clean AND doesn’t smell like chemicals. And, after researching various DIY recipes, I realized that I want to keep things simple …. I don’t want to buy many different products and mix several different bottles. The Pure-Castile Stop and the Sal’s Suds come to my rescue! Now I can mix just a few bottles and use them according to your cheat sheet. Thank you again!
I would like to bring castile soap while traveling, so I have just a few questions. 1) How much should I use for hand washing clothes? 2) Is it ok to use the scented soaps, like lavender or rose, for brushing teeth? 3) Is it ok to combine different scents into one bottle (I have small amounts of each and it would be cheaper than buying a whole new one)? Thank you so much for answering these questions and for this great cheat sheet!
Hi Michela – It’s great for travelling. For handwashing clothes, it is dependent on the amount, type, and dirtiness of clothes, but let’s say you’re washing in a typical sink, which would hold about 2 gallons of water. I’d put in a couple capfuls of soap. Or, if we’re talking outdoors, I would wet the clothes well, then put a few drops of the soap directly on each item and then suds them up. It’s fine to use the scented soaps for teeth brushing, and it’s fine to combine scents. Some of my favorite combos are Citrus & Almond and Peppermint & Eucalyptus (very refreshing when camping!), but really there’s no problem with combining any or all. Happy trails!
I love your soap, have fond memories of first hearing of dr bronners peppermint soap in college in the 70’s, such a cooling experience when showering!
For Tea tree oil, people need to be aware that tea tree oil, even in diluted forms, is quite toxic for cats
Hi Barb – It’s great to hear from such a long time customer! Yes, you are absolutely right. We only recommend our unscented Baby Mild for cats. They are much more sensitive to essential oils and with their grooming, they are more likely to ingest them.
Hi Lisa! How can I remove gum and taffy from a canvas backpack?? Thank you!
Hi Alyson – I’ve been there. Except it was silly putty. It’s now banned from my house. Rubbing alcohol is what you need. Alcohol works great to remove both gum and taffy. It loosens it fairly quickly and you’ll be able to scrap it off with a metal butter knife. I happened to use the Dr. Bronner’s hand sanitizer but normal rubbing alcohol is fine.
Hi Lisa,
I am very interested in buying your Sal Suds soap to combine it with Neem Oil for my organic vegetable garden. I have seen a number of well known YouTube organic gardeners who recommend using 2 Tbsp Cold Pressed Neem oil and 2 Tbsp Sal Suds to 1 gallon of warm water to spray for pests in the vegetable garden. My one concern is the sodium laurel sulfates. I have a hard time thinking that it would be good to spray on our vegetables that we’re eating, and so I was wondering if the Castille soap would be better since it doesn’t contain any SLF’s. I have a son with severe Crohn’s disease, and I try to feed him foods that are as clean as humanly possible (not easy), but I also have an insect infestation that is decimating my garden so I need to do something now. Please let me know what your thoughts are on the matter. Thank you!!
Hi Melanie – I agree with you that the Castile soap would be a better option here and I don’t see any drawbacks to using it in this solution instead of the Sal Suds.
Can i use the unscented castile soap for teeth brushing for my 6 yrs old kid? I read that 1 drop for adults to brush teeth. What about for children? Really love the castile soap as face and body wash! Thanks.
Hi Cheryl – Yes, you can use the castile soap for brushing teeth, but it does taste like soap and your 6 year old may object. If so, consider the Dr. Bronner’s toothpaste (https://shop.drbronner.com/toothpaste) as an alternative. My kiddos like the Anise and Peppermint in particular.
As a Dog Groomer for many yrs I love using Dr Bronners peppermint liquid soap to bathe
mine & my clients dogs. I dilute it 16:1 and
it really cleans their coats well. I follow up with a 2nd bath & then us a conditioner. My clients
love how clean it gets them and how safe it
is for the dogs & the environment.
Great to hear from a professional on this, Holly! Thank you for sharing.
Hi, I went by My organic store today and saw this! I bought the rose soap bar. I was wondering does the bar soap work as tooth paste to? Thanks!
Hi Ali – Yes, the bar soap will work as a toothpaste. You can just swipe your brush over it a couple of times. If you do want a more traditional toothpaste, we do have that as well. But if you’re traveling light, it’s great to have one soap that cleans it all.
I have recently purchased a large bottle of the lavender castile soap for a homemade laundry detergent (which i love!) But my question is using this scent for more things…i’m reading a lot about hand soaps but what about a bath soap for my kids — how would I dilute it?
Hi Lindsay – For my kids in the bath, I didn’t predilute the soap since there is already so much water there. I just used a couple drops on a wet washcloth and scrubbed them down. Or you could add a good squirt directly to the bathwater. Not only would the aromatherapy be very soothing, but they would get clean by the soak. I still scrub them down with a cloth, though.
Hi Lisa!
I see you have noted that the hair link you have listed that the products are not good for colored hair. Just wanted to be sure you are suggesting that no Dr. Bronners soaps/hair products are good to use on colored hair?
Also, for the laundry- is Apple cider vinegar okay to use or do you suggest regular, white vinegar?
Hi Shawna – It is the soaps that are not good for colored hair – The Castile and the Sugar Soaps. These have an alkaline pH that cause the hair follicles, where the dye is stored, to open and leach out. The Hair Rinse and the Hair Cremes are fine for colored hair.
For the laundry, ACV would be fine, but I normally opt for regular white for the cost.
I’m planning on making dish soap with essential oils. What ratio should I use for a 16oz storage bottle? I’ve tried researching dilution ratios & haven’t had any luck!
Hi Hannah – For a dishwashing soap for hand washing in a 16 oz. bottle, fill the bottle mostly with water and add 1 1/2 Tbsp. of Castile soap and 10 drops of essential oil. If this isn’t concentrated enough for you, feel free to add more soap to it.
I would like to replace my current detergent for fine washables with Dr. Bonner’s Castile soap. Do you have a recipe? Thanks.
Hi Nora – The Castile soap is great for delicates. Use one capful in a sink of water. Swish them around a let them soak for 10 minutes or so. Swish them some more and rinse well.
Hey Lissa,
Ive got scalp bulit up. At what proportion should i apply Dr Bronners castile soap.
I already brought baby mild unsented castile soap
Hi Sachu – For hair, I really prefer not to pre-dilute, but rather to get my hair really wet and then sprinkle some drops straight out of the bottle. For my long hair, I end up using about 1/2 Tbsp. For super short hair, probably just 4 or 5 drops.
I have a large bottle of the lavender castile liquid soap. How can I dilute it to make regular liquid hand soap?
P.s. I miss the 18 uses printed on the bottle, instead of the 10 it lists now.
Hi Katie – Sounds like you’ve been a long time user if you remember some of our previous bottles! There is so much info required on there that some of the good stuff had to go. For hand soap, you can either use a couple drops straight out of the bottle, or dilute it in a foaming pump dispenser at a ratio of 1:3. The soap does not work well in a regular pump. It will clog it and shoot out sideways, but in a foamer it does well.
I have been using Dr. Bronners Hemp Almond castile soap for seven years now. I have a glass bottle, foam dispenser pump at my kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and in my shower. I use it head to toe with no problems ever.
I drink distilled water and use it for mixing up my cleansers. I use Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds for hand washing dishes, mopping the floors, and general cleaning. If I run out, I will use the castile soap.
Really appreciate the way it cleans and rinses so well. Great product.
Hi Leta – Great to hear! I’m glad you shared!
Have you tried making a soap using the citronella plant as a way to repel Mosquitoes? I love the smell and I feel sure it would work great as a new verity.
Hi Rita – We haven’t but that sounds very intriguing. I will share that with my brothers and see what we can do! Great idea!
where can i get a foaming dispenser to dispense my dish soap and hand soap? I have tried regular pumps and putting in the bottle ,but no foam and the pump gets clogged and soap squirts everywhere….
Hi Ellie – A couple options – either buy a foamer that already has something in it, which might be the least expensive way, or you can buy one empty. I’ve done it both ways. The empty ones I got online. They’re Cuisipro brand.
Thank you Lisa.
I found this on Amazon last night:
Cape Cod Importers
Foaming Soap Dispensers Pump-Bottles for Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soap, 250ml (8.5 oz) – Pack of 3
4.4 out of 5 stars 287 customer reviews | 19 answered questions
#1 Best Seller in Bathroom Countertop Soap Dispensers.
I thought I would try this… 🙂
Is it safe to use Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap to clean eyeglasses that have anti-reflective coatings? If so, what should the dilution ratio be? Thanks.
Hi Mark – I really don’t know. I wonder what’s in the solution they recommend? If it’s alcohol based, I would recommend using the Dr. Bronner’s hand sanitizer. If it’s a mild soap, then the Castile would be fantastic. Make a super diluted solution (actually putting it in one of our hand sanitizer bottles would be perfect) – maybe 1 tsp. per cup of water?
Hello Lisa!
We love dr bronners soap. Trying not to buy plastic though. If I grate and melt my bar soap
Do these conversions work?
Thanks
Amy
Hi Amy – We hear you on the plastic. We’ve given it a lot of thought ourselves, which we discuss in this article from our website: https://www.drbronner.com/about/our-earth/packaging-innovations/.
The bar soap does not melt easily. I’ve tried this. However, you can try grating it into water and boiling it. It certainly won’t look like the bottled castile – it’ll be cloudy and when it cools it will become somewhat gelatenous. I haven’t tried using this in my formulations, though. And I am not sure of the amount of water. I realize this isn’t fully helpful, but maybe another reader will weigh in here who has done this.
Is this cleaner safe for wood floors?
Hi Shelby – Yes, it is safe for wood floors. Dilute it as for mopping. Be sure the mop is not sopping, as it is water that will harm the floor.
[…] this? Not really. Their liquid soap is already diluted so according to Lisa Bronner’s website Going Green, it would take 1/3 to 1/2 cup of their liquid soap per load. Today’s cost of Tide: $9.99 for […]
I have always had difficult skin and no time or money to chase the answers or remedies. Finally found a dermatologist that can put my eczema/psoriasis to sleep with strong medications but tough skin remains. I and many who know me have purchased so many products that might appear promosing but within 10 days I’m back to square 1. I use Cal-Ben Liquid to hand wash dishes. It is the only thing I am consistently willing to purchase because I know what the results will be. Please tell me what program/products you would suggest.
Hi there – We have received very positive comments regarding our Unscented Baby Mild Castile soap and Tea Tree Castile soap from our customers with skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and oily skin. Since I haven’t tackled either eczema or psoriasis myself, here are some responses from customers:
• “I’ve had psoriasis for 10 or 11 years. I’ve used prescribed creams and ointments even tried over the counter stuff. They helped in their own way, but are loaded with who knows what. Recently, I switched form a Dove product to Dr. Bronner’s [castile] bar soaps and I’m so glad I did! I mostly use the hemp teatree. But, throw in the peppermint from time to time. Sometimes I even mix them! Haha! Thanks, guys! You make great stuff!”
• “I have plaque psoriasis on my neck,scalp and ears. I have found that using your unscented baby castile soap is the best base for my diy shampoos and hand wash. Even the “natural”, “hypoallergenic” soaps make me flare up.”
I would also recommend our new unscented Magic Balm for softening tough skin. https://shop.drbronner.com/organic-magic-balm
Can I use a foaming soap dispenser to dispense a shampoo dilution? If yes, would I use the same 1/3 cup soap per cup of water as I would for a hand soap in a foam dispenser?
Thanks!!
Tanya
Hi Tanya – Start with that dilution and feel free to adjust it to your liking.
Diluted this to wash dishes, it foamed up straight away but then fizzled away, doesn’t seem to cut through grease, using lemon.
Hi Emma – I find that it works best to use the dilution in a bottle and squirt directly on dishes, rather than to make a sinkful of suds. For super greasy stuff, feel free to increase the concentration. Also, don’t mix lemon juice with the soap. Lemon juice (and vinegar) react with the soap and break it down. You can read more about that reaction here: https://www.lisabronner.com/a-word-of-caution-about-vinegar-and-castile-soap/
Hi Lisa, I meant I had the lemon scented one, not I put lemon juice with it 🙂
I will give the spritzing a go, thanks for the tip, it’s working fab as a hand cleanser though. Woohoo!
Got it! Makes sense!
Lisa, how much would you suggest diluting Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap when using a foam pump dispenser? I have a few that came with another good quality (no chemicals) liquid soap, and they are wonderful, but the Dr. Bronner’s does have to be diluted. Is 25% liquid soap to 75% water too dilute?
If you want to use the Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap for dishes, how much would you dilute it if you want to squirt it into a dishpan of water?
I think that is all the questions I have for now! Thank you!!!
Hi Rhonda – the 25%/75% dilution you mention is perfect for foaming pumps. For dish soap, it entirely depends as you might expect on the volume of water in the sink, But I’d do a couple good squirts. For me, I usually squirt the soap on the dish cloth and wash away so that I can keep the amount down and the soap gets where I want it to. Whatever works best for you!
Hi Lisa
Could u kindly out of experience provide a decent dilution for face wash. Something that foams well. How many cups of water to how many cups of the castle soap?
Hi Jerry – To make a nice foaming face wash, use a foaming pump dispenser at a ratio of 1 part soap to 3 parts water. I recommend the Tea Tree Castile for the face.
For dish soap, I followed the dilution recipe however, there are no suds, it doesn’t soap up at all. Any advice or is that just how it is?
Hi Natalie – Since there aren’t any synthetic foaming agents, the Castile doesn’t produce the copious bubbles of a conventional detergent. As much as we’ve been trained to think otherwise, bubbles aren’t a sign of cleaning power. The dilution definitely still cleans, though. If you’re washing really greasy stuff, you might need to up the concentration.
We are traveling and need to take something with us to wash laundry if needed. Why do you suggest using vinegar in rinse water? I don’t think TFA will clear that :). Thanks!
Hi Mary – Vinegar acts as a rinse aid and fabric softener. It’s really only needed if the water is particularly hard. You can probably do without it, but if you’re concerned, take the Sal Suds along instead. It is clean rinsing even in the hardest of water.
Hi Lisa,
I have a question in regards to using castile soap to brush my teeth.
I tried it for the first time yesterday. My teeth look and feel great, I even think it’s better for removing plaque than my normal toothpaste cause my teeth felt cleaner than they have in a long time.
I’ve always heard that I need a toothpaste with flour to protect my teeth from cavity and decay. Will the castile soap also protect my teeth from cavity and decay? Is there a difference of protection to what sent you use? I used the non sent baby mild one.
Hi Lena – There would not be a difference from scent to scent in their ability to clean the teeth. The soaps have been great through the years for teeth brushing, but we did release a line of toothpastes two years ago that do contain coconut flour, if that’s what you had heard about regarding the flour. I am thinking that perhaps you got auto-corrected and meant flouride, though. Neither our toothpastes nor our soaps contain flouride, and they do a great job of keeping teeth healthy and decay-free.
I’ve been using Dr. Bronner’s organic shikakai soap, but it is so expensive and we go through a real lot of it. Is there any way to slightly dilute the regular castile soap and use in a foaming soap dispenser without it getting clogged? You indicate to use drops for various uses, but how do you pour a couple drops from such a large bottle? Thanks so much for the help!
Hi Margie – For a foaming pump, use a ratio of 1 part castile to 3 parts water. This works really well.
Just to Add to Lisa’s ratio is that if it sits for a couple days, you might have to just give it a little shake to remix it. I actually have done this for my brother who I stay with when visiting from out of state, and he likes this a lot. Now to get the rest of their foam pumps converted is my new mission.
Thank you! I was thinking I would put it in a pump bottle. But I think just a small bottle full strength in the shower might be ok.
I honestly just keep a small bottle in my shower and use it full strength on my body loofa. It is the best soap and mainly the only soap for my body. I might be adding the tree soap for my hair.
If you use this as a laundry detergent do you have also use vinegar
Hi Tiffany – For laundry, the Castile works great. Vinegar is useful as a fabric softener. Add it to the rinse water, or the fabric softener compartment. You don’t want the vinegar to mix with the castile. I use about 1 cup of vinegar for a large load.
All good and all appreciated. Glad I found your products again.
Awesome thank you so much for this info!!! I am new to the Dr Bronners family and I love it already!!! I bought the large bottle of the baby magic castile soap and we love it.. In fact we all use it as a body wash, we feel squeaky clean after using it and I am so happy to get rid of so many chemicals in our household!
I have used Dr.bronners soap for even more uses than the ones listed. I have also used it to clean windows, car, bicycle, motorcycle and really anything that gets dirty because there is nothing else I would rather use. I spend too much buying this soap but there is nothing that makes me happier than having it with me at all times. We can all thank Emmanuel for this!
I have used dr.bronners soap for even more uses than the ones listed. I have also used it to clean windows, car, bicycle, motorcycle and really anything that gets because there is nothing else i would rather use. I spend too much buying this soap but there is nothing better beside the story of Emmanuel.
I have a fungal rash on my skin. Will this soap help?
Hi Edward – The Tea Tree Castile in particular has been found helpful in clearing all sorts of skin conditions.
I dont know if this is the right space for this, but my ex-boyfriend (now best bud) swears that the peppermint and/ or lavender soap will help keep me from being eaten alive by mosquitos (and ticks). I am one of the lucky few who get huge welts from bug bites.
I know I love the smell of both of these (and my pit bull love her tubby in the peppermint!) and am hoping this might help me in my quest for bug repellent that won’t poison my animals and myself..
Thank you!
♡ Bunny… Norway Maine
Hi Dawn – While Peppermint is a great natural deterrent to mosquitos, it might not be enough to keep them at bay if they are really swarming and are intent on eating you. It’s a great start, though, and couldn’t hurt. Long sleeves and pants are a good idea, and you might need something more. I’ve also found the peppermint castile to be very relieving to itchy bug bites afterwards.
Thank you♡ It is black flies (in the mornings and afternoons) and mosquitos (afternoons and evening) season here in Maine. ANYHING to help keep them away (even a little) is worth a try. PLUS my skin feels incredible♡
Thank you for this post! I was having a painful experience with bites and swelling from Mosquito and spider bites too. I was so uncomfortable, I decided to apply my hand soap to the bites.I make hand soap and clean using Dr Bronner’s eucalyptus soap.. Now I’m certain the natural properties and soap help!
Hello I am just writing about the palm oil in products. Where are these sourced from I would like to buy your products but do not buy products that have palm oil from countries that destroy rainforest such as Indonesia. Also are your products tested on animals? I know people may think that I am just being fussy etc but I am very aware of the problems associated with animals and testing of products etc so I need to be aware of the products I buy. THANKS
Hi Jessica – I love talking about this stuff and I’m glad you’re looking into it. Short answer, is we are just as concerned at palm oil and responsible sourcing as you are. Take a deeper look into where we get our materials here: https://www.drbronner.com/about/our-suppliers/projects-and-partnerships/. We also are certified with the leaping bunny logo, which means we are cruelty free and do no testing on animals. You can read more about that certification, and the others we have, here: https://www.drbronner.com/about/our-customers/product-certifications/.