Olive Oil - Great For Your Skin - Not So Great For Cleaning

by April Anderson
Just Another Natural Nut

What is Castile Soap?
 
The true definition of Castile soap is....... a soap made with olive oil. No other oils, no other ingredients except for the hydroxide needed to saponify it.

It is common within the industry to consider any soap made with vegetable oils and excluding all types of animal fats, to be a Castile soap but this is not correct. A European natural soap company has a great tutorial on the history and the story behind Castile soaps.  Click here if you would like to learn more

Does yours have just olive oil in it or is there other oils and ingredients?

Whether or not yours is a true Castile or a liquid soap claiming to be isn't really important for what we are discussing today but I believe that we should always be aware of what we are purchasing so we can make the best choice for ourselves and our loved ones.

Cleaning with Castile or Castile Like Products

Castile or Castile like liquid soaps probably have the ability to be great for some cleaning jobs but it has a habit of leaving behind a slippery residue that you normally don't see until you walk on it or wipe it....then it becomes very noticeable in the smudged and streaked aftermath.

Complaints I get from clients are the footprints on the floor left just hours after washing and the inability to remove the streaks and smudges from granite counter tops without major arm power from using products and creating recipes with olive based 'Castile' as an ingredient.

When looking for a natural all-purpose cleaning product or DIY recipes choose ones that do not contain olive oil or 'Castile' soap.....Saponified Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) and Sunflower Oil is my preferred ingredient as you will find them easier to work with and you end up using less which in the end saves you more.

Just Clean All-Purpose Spray

LIQUID SOAP RECIPE