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.
I recently found out I am allergic to hemp seeds, is there any Dr Bronner’s soap that doesn’t have hemp in it? Thanks
Hi Michelle – I am so sorry, but all of our soaps contain hemp. Our only products that don’t contain hemp are the toothpaste, Hand Sanitizer, Coconut Oil, and Sal Suds.
Hi Lisa
I love Casttle soap and would like to use as shampoo and conditioner for my hair volume and falls could help me, I try a few time making diy if the Casttle soap and essentials oil didn’t combine it’s so water and oily
Hi Sandy – After washing your hair with the soap, you need to do an acidic rinse, such as with Dr. Bronner’s Hair Rinse or with Apple Cider Vinegar, cut in half with water. This will make your hair strong and silky. You can read more about my own hair story here: https://www.lisabronner.com/from-shampoo-to-soap-%E2%80%93-my-story/.
I was reading a few comments on using Dr Bronners soap as shampoo and I’ve experienced the same, dry hair but, after a few hours it gets really soft. Sometimes I’ll just add a little coconut oil and it’s wonderful. I’ve gotten rid of all my cleaning products and am now just using Castile soap, I love it. So happy to find out I can use it as toothpaste, but I haven’t read any articles on that, do you have any? Also, I read that some essential oils can harm granite countertops, which soap do you recommend for granite? Thanks a million
Hi Lizette – Great to hear your success with our soaps! I’m with you in all that. It does work great as a toothpaste, but it tastes like soap – the only drawback. We do make a super tasting toothpaste, though. For granite countertops, the soap works fabulously. The issue with granite is that it can be etched by acidic cleaners. however, soap is alkaline, so it is not an issue. The concentration of essential oils in the soap is only 2%, which is very mild and will cause no harm to the granite.
Dear Lisa. I am from Singapore and a fan of the liquid castile soap. It has helped me greatly with my eczema skin. Since last year, there seem to be out-of-stock for the baby unscented and others like citrus and lavendar. Even till date, still no stock. Really hope to have stocks available in our local stores again soon.
Hi Cheryl – Glad to hear of your support! We have a great distributor, Nature’s Glory, in Singapore that sells through its website as well as to retailers. You can either order through their website, or contact them to ask which stores sell the products.
Thanks Lisa. Apparently even this distributor has no stock for the various castile soaps, including the baby unscented. Will u be able to advise when the new stocks be arriving in Singapore? It has been out of stock since mid last year. By the way, any difference betweem the hemp castile and the ones that did not indicate ‘hemp’? Cos the ones we got in Singapore are without hemp. Are the smell, cleansing properties etc similar?
Hi Cheryl – I am terribly sorry. I gave you old information. I just got updated info. Please look at our Hong Kong distributor, Well Spring, https://www.welspring.hk/. All of our Castile soaps contain Hemp oil. We began adding hemp oil to the soaps in 2000. Hemp oil contains the closest fatty acid profile to what our bodies naturally produce.
Thanks very much Lisa! I have ordered from this website call ‘Feelunique’. They carry the Dr Bronner’s hemp range too. Hope the re-stock will be in Singapore soon, it will be easier to purchase locally. We used to be able to get it easily from organic shops and big supermarkets.
Hi Lisa! Couple questions. You recommend microfiber cloths for cleaning in some comments. What particular product/brand do you recommend? Also, we have hardwood floors and currently use a wet jet product to clean them. Really used to that kind of dispenser and like it…any recommendations for something that would work with Dr. Bronner’s? And a particular scent (i.e. oil component) that would get the floors cleanest but gentle enough not to damage tgem? Thank you so much!!
Hi Rose Ann – I buy the pack of microfiber cloths Costco sells in the auto section. They’re a good value and good quality. Regarding the Wet Jet, are you able to refill the bottle that fits in it? If so, you can absolutely make your own solution with our Castile soaps or Sal Suds. I generally use Sal Suds on my floors, but the Castile would be great as well. I’m guessing the bottle is about a quart size, so for the Sal Suds, fill the bottle with water and put in a very small amount of the Sal Suds. Like 1/2 a teaspoon. If there is too much, you’ll be left with bubbles on the floor. For the Castile, use a little more like 1 tablespoon. Any scent is great. The soap base is the same for all of the scented ones. I always love the Citrus for housecleaning, but whichever brings a smile to your face.
Is the c in the above a cup or cap?
Hi Nikki – It’s for cup – 240 mL.
Hello!
In your article, you mentioned that diluting Dr. Bronners Castile soap shortens the shelf life. I am planning on making a body wash recipe that has vitamin E oil as an ingredient. I was wondering if adding vitamin E oil to a diluted recipe extends of the shelf life at all, or if it would still only be good for about two weeks? Any insight on this would really be appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi Alicia – Vitamin E is also what we use for preservation. Adding it to your solution will certainly prolong the shelf life. Excellent thought.
I used it as a shampoo. My hair was gross and greasy. I had to rewash twice with Dove to get it out.
Hi Karen – I’m sorry to hear that your attempt to use the soap as a shampoo didn’t go well. Did you happen to use an acidic rinse afterwards? This is needed to balance the pH. You can read more about it and my personal switch in this post: https://www.lisabronner.com/from-shampoo-to-soap-%E2%80%93-my-story/. Without the acidic rinse – either Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Hair Rinse or diluted Apple Cider Vinegar – your hair will be rough and dull – or gross and greasy.
Gosh, I didn’t know that. I have used Dr. Bronners Hemp Almond diluted for bathing in my glass foam dispenser for my shower and shampooing for 8 years with absolutely no problems. Great product. I have a dispenser at every sink in my home for hand washing. And in the bathroom shower.
Most likely you’re using the solution fast enough. I’ve never had a solution turn on me either.
hi
1. my daughter is 13 and has sensitive skin and has little spots on her face and hyperpigmentation …we have black skin ..what can u use please
2. does your toothpaste contain fluoride if not why and have you got any whitening toothapaste
Hi Rahana – Our Unscented Castile soap is excellent for sensitive skin. I have not heard customer feedback that it helps with hyperpigmentation, but it will help promote healthy skin in general which will give the skin a smooth glow. Our toothpaste does not contain fluoride. Over 75% of the U.S. has a fluoridated water supply. In the words of the CDC, most people are, “served by community water systems that contain enough fluoride to protect their teeth.” This means if people are already receiving enough fluoride through their drinking water, they would receive over-exposure if fluoride were also in their toothpaste. The toothpaste does contain whitening ingredients with the baking soda and calcium carbonate.
Hello Lisa,
I’ve recently decided to dabble in the exciting world of diy cosmetics. My first attempt is miscellar water. Can you please advise if Dr.B’s would be an effective surfactant in such a formula, as it wouldn’t be rinsed off. Also, what ratio should be used to the rest of the ingredients? Great thanks!
Hi Inga – Good for you, making your own cosmetics! That way you’ll know exactly what’s in them. I had to do some research because I had not heard of micellar water, and now feel quite behind the times. However, what I have discovered is that micellar water is simply mostly water with a tiny amount of a surfactant in it, and then often some glycerin and a few other things. This surfactant can be a detergent, as most commercially available ones are, or soap. You absolutely can simulate this with Dr. Bronner’s Castile. Have fun!
You also might find this post useful that I recently wrote: https://www.lisabronner.com/what-can-you-mix-with-castile-soap/
Is it safe to use unscented Dr Bronners castile baby soap diluted half water and half soap as a lid scrub?
Hi Michael – Yes, I wash my whole face with it and it does a great job removing the eye make-up I wear. Be sure to keep your eyes closed though as no natural soap is tear-free.
Hi Lisa!! I have seen many different answers from this site and on your videos on how much castile soap to use for laundry and wanted to know the most updated and clear answer. When using the Dr. Bonner castile soap, how much should be used for a regular load of laundry in US measurements?
Hi Leslie – For a regular washer, use 1/3-1/2 cup of Castile soap. Optional add-ins would be 1/2 c. of baking soda to the wash and 1/2 c. white vinegar to the rinse.
Hi, I was reading the description on Amazon and found a typo . ‘And’ should ‘an’. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00WXGWJJE/ref=aw_pd_cart_bxgy_1_2?ie=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00WXGWJJE&pd_rd_r=NNQHF9ZHM7RQ4H3WWMCD&pd_rd_w=bPWva&pd_rd_wg=xLkCu&psc=1&refRID=NNQHF9ZHM7RQ4H3WWMCD&th=1
All-One
“We pay farmers and organic premium with another 10% into a Fair Trade Fund that supports community development projects.”
My husband says I earned a free bottle of soap! Lol
Hi Patricia – Thanks for the heads up! I’ll pass it along to Quiverr, the retailer who sells our soaps via Amazon.
Hi,
I love your soaps! I was wondering, can essential oils be diluted into just the soap itself or does a carrier oil (olive, coconut, etc.) have to be added also?
Thanks!!
Hi Mercedes – You are welcome to add your own essential oils straight to the soaps. You would have to shake them to disperse, but this is a great way to customize your scents. You can read more about mixing various things into the soap on this post: https://www.lisabronner.com/what-can-you-mix-with-castile-soap/.
Hi Lisa!! I have seen many different answers from this site and on your videos on how much castile soap to use for laundry and wanted to know the most updated and clear answer. When using the Dr. Bonner castile soap, how much should be used for a regular load?
Hi Leslie – For a regular washer, use 1/3-1/2 cup of Castile for a large load. Baking soda can also add a boost for extra scrubbing and whitening. Use about 1/4-1/3 of a cup for that. If you have hard water, consider adding 1/2 c. of vinegar to the fabric softener compartment.
Thanks so much! I also 1 tbsp as well somewhere but maybe that was for Sal Suds and not the castle soap.
Yes, the Sal Suds is even more concentrated, so 1 Tbsp. for a large HE load works well.
Can I use it to was my car? If so, what is the dilution for car washing?
Hi Kim – No, I do not recommend it for washing your car. Castile soap reacts with hard water, which many of us have in our tap water, and can leave a film that is noticeable on shiny surfaces – like cars. Here’s a video I did on using our Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner on cars instead. It works really well. https://www.lisabronner.com/car-washing-with-dr-bronners-sal-suds/
Thanks Lisa, I’ll check it out.
Hello! I did your test for hard water and found out that ours is pretty hard. I recently began to use Dr Bronners as a hand soap (diluted) and body wash in the shower. However after using it I get a strange feeling on my skin which is difficult to explain… but it’s the opposite of slimey! It goes away once dry though. Just wondering if this is the “soap scum” residue from having hard water? Thanks for your time!
Hi Ashleigh – If you’ve switched to Dr. Bronner’s Castile from a synthetic cleanser, what you’re probably feeling is the fact that it is not leaving anything on your skin. Most commercial body washes leave some sort of skin softener behind and we get used to that. This would be my guess instead of its being a result of the hard water.
There will be a difference in feel for any natural product if you are used to the chemical products. This is completely normal. You will get used to it. I simply keep my Dr Bronners foam pump on one side of the sink and my natural lotion on the other side. I follow my hand wash with some lotion to keep moisturized, even before drying sometimes. Remember, the residue chemical products leave is still a chemical moisturizer. It was an adjustment for me too but we are so inundated with chemicals through pollution, in food and in products everywhere, the last thing you want is chemicals being soaked up by your skin. I have not tried this myself but I have heard of some people adding a drop of a natural oil to their mixture, then you must shake the bottle prior to use.
Do you have any advice for carpet cleaning? Not for heavy soiled, but for general cleaning.
Hi Danielle – Check out this post on general carpet cleaning with Sal Suds – https://www.lisabronner.com/cleaning-carpets-with-sal-suds/. This is another one for spot cleaning – https://www.lisabronner.com/sal-suds-on-my-carpet-has-left-me-speechless/.
I was wondering if the baby unscented formula was ok to use in the washing machine on cloth diapers?
Hi Casey – Check out this post on washing cloth diapers – https://www.lisabronner.com/washing-cloth-diapers-with-sal-suds-and-sunshine/. I recommend the Sal Suds over the Castile in general.
Hi, I want to use my smaller sized pressure washer to clean my litter boxes. Is Sal Suds safe for that use? Thanks.
HI Julie – Yes, the Sal Suds works well in pressure washers. Use only a tiny amount.
Hi how do I find out the expiry date of your toothpaste? Thanks.
Hi Janice – The shelf life of the toothpaste is at least three years from the date of manufacturing. You can find out the date of manufacturing by looking at the numbers stamped on the crimped end of the tube. You’ll see four numbers (ignore the letters). The first number tells you the last number of the year, and the next three numbers tell you the day of the year by Julian date. So if the numbers are 7202, That’s July 21, 2017.
Trying to find out the ratios for making hand wash with a 250mL foam dispenser.
Hi Rae – Use a 1:3 soap to water ratio for a foaming pump. You can adjust it to your liking to make it more or less concentrated.
Hi Lisa
How is the Tocopherol sourced?
Thanks
Hi Rachel – The tocopherols we use are from non-GMO sunflower oil.
Excellent, thanks for your response
I’ve been reading lately about the importance of adding a preservative (like Optiphen Plus) whenever you are adding water to Castile Soap as bacteria can start growing within days. Can you advise how you determined the product is safe mixed with water for a couple of weeks? Were any tests completed to determine this? Love the products but want to make sure I’m keeping my family safe. Thank you!
Hi Rachel – To back up a bit, know that the Castile soap is naturally preserved because of its alkalinity, and we also add Tocopherols (vitamin E) as an extra preservative. Certainly, when you dilute the soap, you are diluting the preservative. However, using filtered or distilled water would not immediately introduce bacteria into your solution. The issue is that bacteria in the air might eventually get into the solution and there wouldn’t be enough preservative to combat it. All that being said, your solution is safe for a while. If you notice that it is smelling off, then dump and remake.
Specifically about Optiphen Plus, this particular preservative is only effective in acidic solutions below a pH of 6. (See https://www.ingredientstodiefor.com/item/Optiphen_PLUS/87/) Since soap is alkaline, it would not be effective in any solutions you might make up. In fact, Optiphen might even break down the soap.
Hi, Lisa,
Can the unscented liquid Castile hemp soap be used to hand- wash delicate clothes, scarves, lingerie, loose knits, etc?
If so, what dilution proportion would you recommend?
If not, is there another Dr. Bronner unscented, fragrance- free product that would be safe and gentle for this purpose?
Thank you very much for all of this great information!
Hi Rena – Yes! The Baby Mild Castile makes an awesome wash for delicates. Put a capful into a sink of cold water and dunk and swish the clothing. You can let them soak for a few minutes and then gently rinse and lay out to dry.
Hi Lisa,
I have the 18 in 1 lavender castille spray. I also have a variety of essential oils including tea tree and orange. I want to make an all purpose cleaning spray that I’m hoping to use in my classroom to clean the desks and other things. Does the water need to be distilled? What would be the best ratio to use? Is there a way to make it a spray without having to use a damp cloth/ avoid leaving a film on the surface?
Thank you!
Hi Sarah – The simplest spray, which is what I use around my house, is 1/4 c. of the Castile soap in 1 qt. of water. I use RO water because I happen to have it. If you use tap water, you’re probably fine, although you will notice white precipitates at the bottom of the bottle. They are harmless. If you want to give the spray an extra antibacterial boost, add 20 drops of the Tea Tree essential oil. You can throw the orange in there for fun – it’s my favorite scent. If you use a damp microfiber cloth, the grippiness of the microfiber will pick everything up and you won’t need to wipe again. That’s why I like these cloths. Plus they’re washable and reusable.
Thank you for response? How long can the spray last/ sit out?
Hi Sarah – I have never noticed a batch going bad, although sometimes the scent fades. I’ve had sprays that have sat around for a couple months with no ill effects.
I am in Australia and have tried the conversions suggested in above UK post but have found that my ceaserstone bench is very streaky.
Can I check in australia 1 cup = 250 ml, how much castile soap would you use per cup/250 mls?
MANY THANKS!
Hi Jacqui – For every 250 mL, you would add about 15 mL of soap. Feel free to fiddle around with that. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. If you’re seeing streaks, you might try a little less soap.
Hi – I have a maltese puppy that has tear stains and nothing seems to be working to get rid of her stains. Do you recommend using Dr. Bronner’s baby unscented pure-castle soap on them?
Hi Gail – A good friend of mine has a maltese with similar issues. Although the Castile soap would probably do a great job getting rid of the tear stains, using the soap that close to the eyes is not recommended. The soap would irritate the eyes if it came in contact. Pure coconut oil does a very good job at lifting the stains, as well as nourishing the skin beneath.
I’ll give the coconut oil a try to see what happens – Thank you!
Hi Lisa
I’m from the UK and have searched every website for metric conversions but can’t seem to find any….. so for all purpose cleaning dilutions if 1 cup is 240 ml, I presume that when you say 1/4 of soap in a quart of water that means equal measurements of 60ml soap to 60ml of water?
Thanks
Hi Rebecca – Yes, you have the conversions correct. This is something I definitely need to address for our customers around the world. Thank you for the reminder!
Surely 1 qt of water = 2 pints?
Which is 1136ml!
I’d really like an unscented soap, but I read somewhere that the formula for the baby mild is not the same as for the scented soaps. What does “mild” mean in this case? I assume it would affect the mixture proportions on your cheatsheet, wouldn’t it? Thanks for your advice.
Hi Jean – The ratio of saponified olive oil to coconut oil is doubled in the unscented Baby Mild Castile. There is still the same amount of soap content, though, so the dilutions for the recipes would be the same.
Hi!
I was introduced to the peppermint ages ago and love it! Thank you for keeping the product line alive!
Recently, I read a cleaning hint using Castile almond but I can’t find the article. I am deep cleaning my house to be put on the market. One of the things I dislike is the plastic coated wire closet sections. They feel sticky and greasy. Just funky. Is it possible the article I can’t find used this product for cleaning that stuff? Do you think it would work and if so, what dilution should I use?
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Hi Liliana – A belated Merry Christmas to you, too! I’m so sorry I didn’t see your question earlier. I am with you in not being a fan of the plastic coated wire closet shelves. Any of our Castile soaps would do a great job of cleaning them though. I would make up a small bucket of solution – a quart of water with a couple cap fulls of soap – and immerse a microfiber cloth in it. Wring it out and use that on the wire organizers. You won’t need an extra rinsing step and this should work without dripping everywhere. Best wishes in selling and moving.
Liliana,
We have used Bronner’s to clean our shelving and surfaces at our Montessori Preschool since we have opened. It surpasses all of the other cleaners. We simply use a spray bottle of water with about a capful of Bronner’s. If you use too much Bronner’s it can get sudsy so we err on the lower end. After we are done cleaning we then just empty out the bottle in a sink full of toys and wash the toys for a non-toxic clean. There is also no residue left behind though if there were it would not matter because it is chemical free for our little 2 years olds who love putting their hands and mouths all over every surface. We have used Almond, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Rose, and Orange scent with the same great results. We buy it by the gallon because we use it for all of our cleaning needs around the preschool. Then I do not need a hundred different bottles taking up space in our facility. We use it for hand soap, dish soap, dish soaking, toy soaking, surface washing, paint brush cleaning, window washing and more than I can remember. It is cost effective for our bottom line costing about $.50 per oz. We only use 1/3 cup per foaming soap bottle, rinsing dishes are quicker because it doesn’t have the soap residue from commercial chemical soaps. I can’t praise it enough for its convenience to our business and home because I also use it at home. We feel great knowing we are providing a chemical free solution that is safe so there is no risk of poisoning if ingested by a toddler.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Diana!
Hello . I was wondering if I could use the recipe with the bar soap.
Hi Anisa – You can convert the recipes to use with the bar soaps, although there would be some slight differences in the outcomes. The bar soap dissolved in water will make a cloudy liquid. If it is not diluted enough, the bar soap will turn the water into a gel.
As far as converting the recipes, our Bar soaps are 5% water, while the liquid soaps are 61% water. The chemistry is a little different for both, but considering that a bar soap is 5 oz., and thus 4.75 oz. of non-water soap, you would need 12.18 ounces of liquid soap to equal the non-water content of a 5 oz. bar. This means that roughly the bar soap is 2.5 times more concentrated than the liquid.
I got a stain on a favorite shirt and I noticed it after the wash. I was going to rub sum bar soap in to it, but I thought “what the heck” and used my 1 part 18 in one peppermint and 3 part water spray (I use this in replacement for soap at the sink and in the shower). I left it for a few minutes, then threw it in the wash with some other clothes. Low and behold the stain was gone! I am very pleased. You might want to pass on your products stain removal powers!
Fantastic!! So glad to hear it and will certainly pass it on!
Is the soap safe for septic systems?
Thanks for any info!
Hi Suzi – Yes, our soaps and Sal Suds are safe for septic systems. We had them analyzed for biodegradability, specifically for the use in grey water systems in Australia. The issues are the same for septic. The soaps biodegrade and will not harm your system.
Can I use liquid castile soap in my dishwasher and if so, how much?
Hi Deana – I am sorry to not have seen your question last month. Unfortunately, our soaps do not work well in automatic dishwashers. They bubble too much. It’s something we’ve been wanting to develop but haven’t figure it out yet.
I will be handwashing laundry for next 3 weeks or so. Washer finally died. How much soap for a kitchen (2 basin) sinkful of wash water. And do I still need to add vinegar to the rinse?
Hi Sandy – I’m so very sorry I didn’t see your question last month, and you have my sympathies on the demise of your washer. That would be a hurdle for me too. If it’s any help to you or any other reader, if I were washing in my sink, I’d start with about 1/4 cup of the Castile, but I have a pretty large sink. You can start with less and then add more soap as needed. AFter you wash the clothes, rinse them in clear water. If your water is hard, or if these are towels, I’d do a second rinse with a half cup of vinegar added to the rinse water.
hello what is the abbreviation “c.” mean please? cap? cup? somehting else?
thanks. I am specifically interested to use for laundry machine.
Hi Allison – I am going to guess you are outside the U.S., somewhere that uses the much more sensible metric system instead of our odd “U.S. Standard” system. The initial “c.” stands for “cup” which is a standard measurement of 16 fluid ounces. This converts to approximately 240 mL. Thank you for reminding me that I should include metric in my recommendations for our many international customers!
16 fluid ounces? or 8.
Oh goodness! See what I mean?! Despite the fact that I’ve lived with this bizarre system my entire life, and I cook a lot, I still get it wrong. Sandra Jean, you are entirely correct. 8 fluid ounces equals 1 cup. 16 dry ounces equals 1 pound. So crazy. Thank you for catching that!
Do not use on your hair! I learned this the hard way, made my hair feel and look like dried straw!! It was horrible. And using it to brush your teeth is beyond disgusting, vomit inducing even.
Hi Becca – I am sorry to hear of your experience with Dr. Bronner’s. Washing hair with soap instead of shampoo is a very different process, and the transition between the two can take several weeks until our hair acclimates to it. We have written a couple different guides to this including my own story here, https://www.lisabronner.com/from-shampoo-to-soap-%E2%80%93-my-story/, and one on the Dr. Bronner’s website, https://www.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/2017/03/definitive-guide-washing-hair-dr-bronners/.
I had this problem at first. I have a lot of thick hair, and was probably using too much soap just to get it to reach all of my hair and lather up, and it became hard to thoroughly rinse. Now I dilute before use and don’t get any lathering action, but after a good rinse my hair is soft and clean.
Thank you so much for your swift reply. Maybe some day your alcohol-based hand sanitizer could come in a larger pump bottle for keyboard warriors who have to put up with colleagues who do not wash their hands after visiting the washroom :>
hi Lisa, is it possible to create my own hand sanitiser using your liquid soap? I want to have a big pump bottle (not the small travel pump size) at my desk, but it’s really hard to find something I can feel comfortable with without breaking the bank. Since I have the liquid soap, I might as well use it to make my own eco hand sanitiser. Any suggestion? Thanks!
Hi Tucu – Soap really only works if it is washed off. Soap bonds with dirt and grime, but unless it is rinsed away, it just sits there. So a spray on hand sanitizer with it would not work. We do make an alcohol based hand sanitizer. I wonder if you could also make your own with essential oils, glycerin, and alcohol. I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
Hello Lisa,
I wanted to know if you could give me the exact dilution to wash my beard using the baby unscented liquid castile soap?
Thank you!
Hi Jesse – For a beard, I wouldn’t pre-dilute. I’m basing this on washing my hair, since I don’t have a beard. But if you get your beard wet, it will already be holding so much water, that a small squirt of soap lathered in will be diluted by the water already present there. If you predilute, you’ll just have to squirt in a lot more. The amount entirely depends on the magnitude of your beard, but if we’re talking a close cropped beard, maybe a few drops. If we’re talking waist-length, then a squirt equalling 1/2 tsp.
Our daughter is expecting our first grandchild this February and was told that Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Baby Unscented is the best to use on a newborn. Would you please advise on how to use for baby’s first bath as their skin is so delicate?
Thank you,
Laurie
Hi Laurie – Congratulations! Yes, our Unscented Baby-Mild Castile is excellent for baby’s delicate skin. It was first requested from us by the UCLA Medical Center Maternity Ward for use on their newborns. I wrote about my using it with my own little ones here: https://www.lisabronner.com/using-castile-baby-mild-soap-on-babies/. As awesome as it is for their skin, it is important to note that no soap is tear-free, so do not use it on the face.
Hi Do you have any information on the Potassium Hydroxide in the soap. Is is safe..It says ** None remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin but what does that mean??
Hi Karen – Ooh! I love talking about soap chemistry! Soap is made, and has been made for millenia, by combining oils with strong alkalis. In our case, for the oils we use a blend of coconut, olive, palm (or palm kernel), hemp and jojoba. For the alkali we use sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The oils need a powerful alkali that is strong enough to break apart the oil molecule. An oil molecule has four parts: one glycerin section, and three fatty acid section. This is why it is called a triglyceride. Tri=three, glyceride for the glycerine. The alkali is a combination of either a sodium or potassium atom attached to a hydroxide (which means one hydrogen and one oxygen atom). When the oil and alkali gets together, all the molecules come apart. The fatty acid sections from the oil molecule recombines with either the sodium or potassium ion from the alkali and forms a salt of a fatty acid, otherwise commonly known as soap. The glycerin stays separate and makes the soap more nourishing, and then those hydroxide sections of the alkali combine with each other and form water. We test every batch to make sure all those alkali molecules got consumed so that there is none left in the final product. I hope that helps! Please let me know if you have further questions.
Hi! I purchased a bottle of 18-in-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure Castile Soap. You have on your cheat sheet that it can be used to mop floors. I have a greasy build up on my hardwood floors from using a different soap over the years. Is it ok to use the Peppermint soap on hardwoods? Also, to remove the greasy build up how would you suggest I use it and in what ratio to water? Thanks.
Hi Val – Yes, I think the Castile will do great with removing the build up. Because the amount of grime on your floors sounds a little higher than average, you may need more soap. Use about 1 1/2 gallons hot water and add 1/2 c. of soap.
I am curious to find out if Dr. Bonner’s Sal’s Suds are safe to clean stone floors with a wet mop? (Travertine & Limestone floors and Travertine Shower surround.
Hi Sue – Yes, it is safe for softer stones. The concern with softer stone is that acidic cleansers can etch them. Sal Suds, however, is alkaline, and when diluted for mopping, the pH is practically neutral.
We carry DR Bonners in store and need info for customers.
Hi Susie – I hope this helps. Let me know if any specific questions arise from your customers.
Hello friends,
I want to share a solution that I have been using to help my family use Dr Bonners castile soap as hand soap in the bathroom without wasting it. I make a “gel” using a product called Clear Gel, used to make homemade canned pie filling. It is inexpensive, white powder similar to cornstarch. Depending on how much you make will depend on how much castile soap you use but for instance I made an XL batch the other day and used about 4 cups of water, 1 cup or less powdered Clear Gel, heated on the stove until thick then added about 1/2 cup of Dr. Bonners. I can then add essential oils like tea tree or a scent and maybe some added coconut oil for dry winter skin and put it in a regular pump dispenser and Voila! I hope this helps some of you Dr. Bonners fans.
Hi! Our siding to our house has algea/mildew on it. I was wondering if I could use Dr. Bronner’s to clean it. If so, what ways should I go about doing it? Can I use it in my power washer? Or would it be best to dilute in a bucket and scrub the siding with it? Looking forward to hearing back!
Hi Angela – The Castile isn’t the best option to use outside if you have hard water because it can leave a whitish film. A better option is the Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds. Just a drop mixed with water in your solution compartment of your pressure washer will do a great job. It is biodegradable and won’t harm any landscaping.
Hi Lisa,
I’ve just recently discovered Dr. Bronner’s and after researching how beneficial it can be, I’ve ordered the Tea Tree castile liquid soap. My main purposes to use the Tea Tree soap are to cleanse my face, rid acne and scarring, and remove my makeup in lieu of a makeup wipe.
How much soap should I start with when diluting as a face wash? What is the proper way to use the Tea Tree soap as a makeup remover? Also, would you recommended another moisturizer besides the Lavender Coconut Lotion?
Looking forward to using your products very soon.
Hi Nicole – Glad you found us! The Tea Tree Castile is an excellent option for a facial wash. I do not predilute the soap for this as I find that several drops from the 8 oz. bottle I keep by my sink does the trick. I wet my face, lather several drops of soap in my hands and then massage on to my face. I do this twice a day. If you prefer, you can dilute the soap in a foaming pump dispenser at a ratio of 1:3. The only time I need something more is when I’ve been wearing waterproof mascara or heavier eyeliner. Then I use coconut oil, which is very gentle on the eyes, to lift the make up. When my face is especially dry, I use a nightly masque of coconut oil once a week – about a pea-sized amount of coconut oil massaged into the face before bedtime.
Here are a couple of posts that might be helpful: Coconut Oil as Make-up Remover and I Wash My Face with Castile Soap
Hi, Lisa.
I’m just wondering if any of your customers have given you any feedback about using Dr. B’s soap for cleaning partial dentures and what their experiences have been regarding effectiveness, abrasion, etc.
Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.
Sandra Jean
Hi Sandra Jean – I have not had feedback on this topic, but my grandfather (Dr. Bronner) used the Peppermint castile to clean his own dentures. He had full dentures, though, and I am not sure the details. Personally, I use the Castile to clean the bite guard I wear at night. I’ve had it for years and the soap has worked excellently.
Other readers please weigh in here!
I have a partial denture made of thermoplastic (the kind you are not supposed to soak or clean with anything abrasive). My dentist told me that some of his patients had tried soaking theirs in antiseptic mouthwash (the most popular brand), and it had eroded the plastic. Eek!
I almost exclusively use Dr. Bronner’s soap to clean my partial. I just (very gently) work some of the soap into it by hand, rinse away with warm water, and then leave it to air dry as instructed by my dentist. The only time I don’t use the Bronner’s is if I’m out of it or don’t have access – and then, I try to use as mild a soap as possible.
Hope that helps! 🙂