How Much Could You Save With Castile Soap?

Castile soap has so many uses! We explore how you can use it and how much it can save you. (Hint: This cleaning solution could save you hundreds!)

When it comes to cutting corners, most of us begin with our own budget. We make a list of expenses and start the elimination process.

However, there are many items we can’t do without like household soaps, washes, and detergents. In that particular instance, it helps to think of products that could be invested in to make life easier and cheaper.

You’re probably asking yourself what could possibly take the place of virtually all your household soaps. The answer is Castile soap, an all-natural plant based soap, which is often made of lye and fractionated plant oils like coconut.

So What Will Castile Soap Cost You?

That depends on where you purchase it, the brand, and the size of your family.

You may have seen pricey bottles of Castile soap in holistic supermarkets, but the savings really kick in when you buy in bulk.

I buy a 128 fluid ounce unscented jug online for about $55 to $60 with free shipping, and I invest in a few basic essential oils to scent the soaps I make. However, that’s just for one particular brand. Some jugs can be purchased for $40 or even less with some shopping around.

For my family of two, I use two jugs of Castile soap annually, and I am able to make my own shampoo, body and face wash, hand and dish soap, laundry detergent, and any other soap I need. Meaning, I pay approximately $9.17 to $10.00 per month for all of those products, along with the added cost of baking soda (about a cup per month), which is about 32 to 35 cents.

Also, I rarely ever factor the essential oils into my yearly price because they last so long, but if you used one $5 to $10 bottle of oil within the year, it would cost about $.08 to $.83 per month. This means my maximum total price for household soaps is roughly $10.32 per month, beating my previous monthly total of roughly $30 spent on commercial products.

You can imagine how thrilled I was by making the investment, which cut that area of my budget by over half. Within the first year of switching to Castile soap, I was able to save a yearly total of approximately $244. For a family of four, these estimations should be doubled. Instead, about $20 per month would be spent with the investment of Castile soap. Therefore, if your family is spending more than $30 each month on various soaps, making the switch would be well worth the investment.

How To Start Saving With Castile soap

Ready to get started, but don’t know where to begin?

It’s hard to imagine buying a certain product all the time like shampoo or laundry detergent and replacing it with something homemade. Although some might be skeptical, I’ve noticed only beneficial differences. It’s also incredibly quick and easy to do, and it can become a fun hobby.

Here are a few simple recipes to get you started:

Citrus Laundry Detergent

1 cup of unscented Castile soap
1 cup baking/washing soda
30 to 40 drops total of lemon, lime, and sweet orange essential oils
hot water
1 medium sized empty laundry detergent bottle

Use an empty laundry jug (I use a medium size because there’s only two of us, but feel free to go large and double the recipe) and mix together your soap, soda, and oils. Put the lid on and give it a good shake. Fill the bottle with hot water to the top and shake. I use 1/4 cup for small laundry loads, 1/2 cup for medium to larger loads, and 3/4 to 1 cup for heavier loads. I do laundry almost every week, and this generally lasts me the entire month.

Related: Homemade Natural Dishwasher Detergent on the Cheap

Rosemary Shampoo

equal parts Castile soap and water (or coconut milk)
20 – 40 drops rosemary essential oil (depending on family/batch size)
a few drops of oil like olive or coconut (for drier hair)
an empty 16 fl. oz. or 32 fl. oz. bottle (depending on family/batch size)

Begin with your empty bottle and grab a measuring cup with a spout, which will make for easy pouring. I alternate between pouring the equal measurements of Castile soaps and water/coconut milk until I near the top. Then I include the oils, using 20 drops for a 16-ounce bottle and 40 drops for a 32-ounce bottle. Finally, I top the shampoo off with more water if there’s room. Give it a good shake and make sure to shake it up before each use. Apply just enough shampoo to get your hair soapy and lathered. Rinse well.

Now that you have the tools and knowledge about how to invest in Castile soap, why not give it a try this year?

Make the switch so you can watch your savings pile up and put that cash towards something more important.

Related:

• 50 Uses for Vinegar That Can Save You Money
• Homemade Natural Dishwasher Detergent on the Cheap
• 7 Household Baking Soda Savings
• 7 Frugal Homemade Cleanser Recipes

Reviewed March 2023