Homemade Washing-Up Liquid with Castile Soap
Castile Soap makes a simple, fragrance-free washing-up liquid. Dilute it in a bottle, or add a little straight to the sink.
Takes 1 minute
What you’ll need
- 1 part (or 1–2 tbsp per sink) Castile Soap
- 10 parts Hot water
- Sponge, Sponge Cloth, Pot Brush, Scourer or Microfibre Cloth
Method 1:
- Combine one part Castile Soap with ten parts water to make your own washing-up liquid.
- Apply a squirt of this mixture to a sponge and use it to clean your dishes.
- Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
- For the best results, hand dry your dishes.
Method 2:
You can also mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of the soap directly into a sink full of water. For heavily greasy or dirty pots and pans, apply a squirt of soap directly onto the surface or onto a pot brush and scrub away.
Create an easy washing-up liquid substitute.
Soap breaks up grease and food so it rinses away. It won’t make mountains of bubbles, but bubbles aren’t what cleans.
The science: How oils become soap (ScienceDirect) → · Hard water and soap scum (USGS) →
Waxed floors:
Do not use Castile Soap on waxed or oiled wood floors, because it could break down the wax.
Mixing with acids:
Since Castile Soap is alkaline, you shouldn’t mix it directly with acidic substances like lemon juice, Citric Acid or vinegar. Acid will react with the soap itself and break apart the soap molecules and neutralise its effects.
Hard Water:
Whilst Castile Soap is a very reliable and mild cleaner, it can leave a residue on shiny or hard surfaces, especially when it’s used with hard water (the soap reacts with minerals from the water to form a salt). Use Castile Soap with distilled water if you live in a hard water area or cut through the leftover residue by applying an acid rinse afterwards like this Citric Acid solution: 1 tbsp Citric Acid in 250ml, spray onto surfaces and wipe away any residues.
Store Castile Soap sealed tightly, in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children and pets.
Our fragrance-free Organic Castile Soap is hypoallergenic, pet- and skin-safe, which means it’s less likely to cause allergic reactions than other types of soap. Needs dilution: If you don’t dilute Castile Soap with water, it can be very concentrated. This can make it hard on surfaces and the skin.
B&M Pro-Tip 1:
Let greasy dishes soak in hot soapy water first; the heat and soap do most of the scrubbing for you. Hot or cold water? →
B&M Pro-Tip 2:
Lemon or Orange Essential Oil add grease-cutting power to washing-up water. Which oil for which job →
Quick questions
Why are my glasses spotty?
Hard water minerals. Rinse in cold water and dry by hand.
Can I use it in the dishwasher?
No. It foams too much for a dishwasher.
Try this next: Tea & Coffee Stains →
