‘Castile soap’. You may have seen the label before on supermarket shelves.
Long a staple in environmentally-friendly cleaning, castile soap is a must-have in many households.
Castile soap can take care of grit and grime around the house with ease, from the bathroom to the kitchen. But what is castile soap? How different is castile soap from regular dish soap? Understanding how it’s used and its effectiveness is sure to get more converts.
What is Castile Soap?
Castile soap receives its name from a recipe originating from Castile, Spain. The original preparation of this type of soap uses olive oil. These days, castile soap is made from vegetable oils. The key characteristic to castile soap is it is made with no animal fats.
On the pH scale, castile soap is similar to other basic soaps and typically registers a 8.9. This is almost equivalent to baking soda and more alkaline than mild dish soap. Castile soap is less alkaline than bleach or tile cleaners.
Popular oils to use in making castile soap include coconut, olive, hemp, avocado, almond, and walnut.
How Does Castile Soap Work?
Castile soap is biodegradable and non-toxic. It is safe to use and safe for pets as well.
Castile soap molecules have two ends – one that attracts water and the other which avoids it. When combined with water, free-floating charged atoms travel attracting and capturing molecules like dirt and other non-water solubles.
Though a long explanation, this is the mechanism that makes castile soap so effective on greasy pots and pans. It is common to use it also on dirty countertops, sinks, bathtubs, toilets, and on flooring. Some even use it to replace their laundry detergent.
As long as it’s diluted, castile soap can also clean edibles like vegetables and similar food products.
The only warning we will give about castile soap is to never combine it with vinegar or a similar acid. The reaction that will occur essentially cancels out the potency of both ingredients. Unfortunately, should you come to clean with this mixture, it will leave behind a white film almost impossible to remove.
Where to Buy Castile Soap in Canada
One of the best brands of castile soap in Canada is from the Green Beaver Company. Concentrated Castile All-Purpose Soap is one of their signatures.
Created from traditional soap recipes using strictly plant oils, the Green Beaver castile soap is prepared using locally harvested organic sunflower seed oil. It is rich in antioxidants like vitamin E and carotenoids, and is blended with coconut oil to guarantee a gentle, silky lather.
Biodegradable and vegan, buy castile soap today from Lierre.ca.