27 Aug Fast Facts on Castile Soap

What if we told you that you could clean your home beautifully, from top to bottom, using little more than pure olive oil? You might think it’s reserved for use as a healthy cooking oil or natural moisturiser – but our green cleaning gurus  swear by the magical multi-purpose olive oil cleaner also known as castile.

If this is all sounding a little too good to be true, we’ve got news for you! Here’s everything you need to know about this natural cleaning must-have:

What it is:

Castile is a natural cleaning product, in liquid or solid bar form, made with natural olive oil. This cleaner is eco-friendly, biodegradable and really mild, with natural antibacterial properties that send germs packing. It’s named after the region of Castilla (English: Castile) in Spain, which is renowned for the quality of its olive oil.

What it isn’t:

Castile soap ISN’T harsh or hazardous – to your family or to our planet’s precious waterways. This cleaner is free of synthetic preservatives, additives and perfumes. And while some traditional castile recipes included animal fat, the castile soap at our green online store is free of animal ingredients.

How it’s made:

Caustic potash, an alkali also called lye or potassium hydroxide, is used to turn the pure olive oil into a liquid soap. Once the potash has been thoroughly mixed with the oil for about 4 – 6 hours, it becomes neutralised, leaving behind a mild and safe cleaning liquid.

This soap-making process is simple and creates very little waste.

What it does:

What doesn’t it do? Here’s a list of the ways you can use castile to clean your home:

• Laundry detergent
• Tile cleaner
• Bathtub & toilet scrub
• Dishwashing liquid (or automatic dishwasher detergent)
• Carpet cleaner
• Glass & window cleaner
• Fruit & veggie wash

Tip: Mix a few drops of your favourite essential oil in a spray bottle with some castile liquid, to make an all-purpose spray that deodorises your home while you clean.

In short, castile soap can replace eight or nine price cleaning products with one affordable, natural alternative. And because it’s so mild and gentle, castile can be diluted to make a natural body wash, hand wash or shampoo for your family too!

What our customers say:

Pure Simple Castile Liquid Cleaner

“I wash ALL my laundry with Pure Simple, after a long and difficult battle to find a product compatible with my chronic allergy to perfume.” – Karen

“Awesome product! I make my own doggie shampoo and all purpose cleaner using this liquid soap and it’s the best ever. Cost effective and safe enough for my dog who now has the whitest coat ever.” – Bronwin

“I love my rented loft, but cleaning the expansive shiny tiled floor is no joke! With 10ml Pure Simple Castile Liquid Soap, a few drops of SOIL Tee Tree Oil and a micro fibre mop I have a streak free, fresh smelling, fly repelling end result! Happy cleaning at last!” – Adele

Try something new and you’ll find you have only one thing to say about your green home’s latest natural cleaning addition: