by Angela Pohlman, Category Manager—Wellness
We’re all looking for ways to tighten our belts during this uncertain time. Looking back at some of the lessons learned by the “Back to the Land” movement in the ’70s can provide some inspiration. Looking beyond gardening and food dehydrating to cleaning, Dr. Bronner’s castile soaps are versatile, affordable, and biodegradable and can be used to clean your body and your home.
Back before cell phones, we spent our toilet time reading these intense bottles which sport jam-packed writing on each, and honestly some of it felt a little over the top. But now we can see how progressive and ahead of their time Dr. Bronner’s was—organic and Fair Trade before it was cool, standing up for immigrants and Black lives, promoting hemp agriculture and psilocybin research. If it supports People or Planet, Dr. Bronner’s is there.
How do I use the stuff?
Dr. Bronner’s makes several sizes of their liquid castile. The most economical of course is the full gallon, but you can also choose the 16 oz., 8 oz., or 2 oz. for travel. There are several scents to choose from: Unscented (you can add your own essential oils!), Peppermint, Lavender, Almond, Citrus, Tea Tree, Rose, or Eucalyptus. There are also bar soaps, hair products, lotions, shave gels, lip balms, hand sanitizers, coconut oil (edible!), or Sal Suds (their multi-purpose cleaner, smells of spruce).
Dr. Bronner’s has a lot of support materials on their website to help you incorporate this soap into your daily life. They claim 18 uses in one bottle! It’s really true. Here are some of them:
Bodycare
Any scent will work; I love peppermint to feel all tingly clean! It’s awesome on hot days.
• Face wash: 2-3 drops on wet hands, applied to wet face.
• Body wash: One small squirt on a washcloth or pouf.
• Bath: Start with 2 Tbs. of soap. (doesn’t bubble).
• Wash your hair: 1/2 Tbs. in your hand, worked into wet hair. Bronner’s recommends following up with an acidic conditioning rinse, such as diluted apple cider vinegar or their Conditioning Rinse. (They have an entire shampooing guide on their website that breaks down options based on hair type and water hardness—check it out!)
• Brush your teeth: 1 drop on a toothbrush (...or you could buy their toothpaste, another natural affordable option).
• Shave your face: 10 drops.
• Shave your armpits: 3 drops.
• Shave your legs: 1/2 tsp.; work into a lather.
• Soak your feet: 1 1/2 tsp. in a small tub of hot water.
• Clear the congestion: 1 Tbs. of peppermint or eucalyptus soap in a bowl of steaming hot water; breathe in with a towel draped over your head.
• Wash your dog: Wet dog thoroughly, work in soap until you have a good lather (amount varies by dog size and fur length).
Household Cleaning
Any scent works here. I generally prefer the citrus or tea tree.
• Hand-washing dishes: Dilute 1:10 with water
• Laundry: 1/4-1/2 cup for a large load in a regular washer. Can add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. If your machine is HE, half the amounts.
• Mopping: 1/2 cup in 3 gallons of hot water
• All-purpose: 1/4 cup in a quart of water in a spray bottle.
• Windows: 1 Tbs. of soap in a quart of water in a spray bottle (follow up with club soda, or half vinegar half water).
• Toilet: Dilute 1:4 with water in a squirt bottle, empty toilet, squirt soap all over, sprinkle baking soda on the brush, scrub bowl, let sit 10 minutes, flush.
• Fruit and veggie rinse: 1/4 tsp. in a bowl of water. Dunk and swish produce, then rinse.
• Plant spray for bugs: 1 Tbs. in a quart of water. Add 1/2 tsp. cayenne or cinnamon.
• Ant Spray (not on plants): 1/4 cup tea tree soap in a quart of water.
Yup, there are the 18 uses!
Camping
They also discuss using their products while camping. Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap is absolutely biodegradable; however they advise using it at least 200 feet from any body of water as even natural soaps can change the pH of water and devastate aquatic life.
On Sale
Dr. Bronner’s goes on Co-op Deals fairly regularly, so watch our sales flyers for great deals! You can buy several scents to mix up your aromatherapy experience. We also have the liquid soap in bulk, or you can invest in a full gallon. It lasts so long and is so easy to use.
We’re proud to carry Dr. Bronner’s products and hope you will give them a try today!