Bathroom
Use a Castile soap scented with powerful disinfecting essential oils, such as tea tree or eucalyptus, full strength or diluted, such as in this do-it-yourself Castile soap multi-surface spray, to clean bathroom countertops, tile, tubs, toilets, and more. For extra cleansing action, use Castile soap to make a natural soft scrub.
Carpets
To get your carpets looking like new again, try a very small amount of Castile soap as a carpet shampoo in carpet cleaning machines, being sure to test it on an inconspicuous area first. If you have hard water, use distilled water. Otherwise, a residue will remain in the carpet because the soap will react with the minerals in the water to form a salt. After cleaning your carpets, rinse them thoroughly with water and then rinse again with a 10 to 25 percent vinegar solution added to the rinsing reservoir of your machine. Vinegar disinfects and breaks down any remaining traces of soap.
Floors
Like commercial, eco-friendly multi-surface floor cleaning products, Castile soap can work wonders. Add about 1/8 to 1/4 cup to a bucket of hot water for mopping or simply use a Castile soap spray and mop up with a microfiber mop. Do not use Castile soap on waxed wood floors, because it will break down the wax. If you have product build-up on your floors, try cleaning them with a solution of vinegar and hot water first (do not use this on marble).
Kitchen
In the kitchen, Castile soap can clean multiple surfaces from countertops to cooktops. Use an uplifting Castile soap scent, such as citrus or peppermint, in place of dish soap for hand dishwashing. If you notice spotting on dishes, add a little vinegar to your rinse water. For kitchen sinks and scrubbing away grease and grime, use Castile soap to make a cream cleanser.
Laundry
In place of laundry detergents, lavender or unscented Castile soap is a natural alternative. Use 1/8 to 1/6 cup for HE machines and twice that amount for non-HE machines (preferably added to the wash water directly). If you have hard water, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup baking soda or a DIY laundry booster to boost the soap’s effectiveness. Pre-treating stains with a dab of Castile soap works well, too. For the rinse cycle, try a DIY lavender vinegar rinse, which will remove any remaining traces of soap and impart a lovely, natural scent to your laundry.
Walls
To remove dirty fingerprints and greasy spots from walls, add 1/8 to 1/4 cup to a bucket of hot water. For best results, use a microfiber cloth, which is especially great for textured walls for easily removing dirt, grime, marks. For hard to reach higher walls or ceilings, use a microfiber broom that has been sprayed with a Castile soap spray.
Woodwork
Add a few squirts of Castile soap to a bucket of hot water and use a microfiber cloth dampened with the solution to effectively clean painted or sealed woodwork (not oiled or waxed). To get built-up dirt out of any nooks or crannies, such as between the woodwork and the wall, use an old toothbrush as an essential green cleaning tool.
