Stop Using Castile Soap to Clean

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen a cleaning recipe call for castile soap. And when that same recipe calls for vinegar to be mixed with it… yikes! Don’t get me wrong, castile soap is a great product, but when it comes to cleaning, there are better options.

I’ve been making my own cleaning products for more than a decade and one thing I’ve learned is that just because two natural ingredients are great on their own, doesn’t mean they work well together. Vinegar and baking soda are a classic example. Combine the two and you get lots of fizz and bubbles, but once the reaction is over you’re left with water and salt… not an effective cleaner. Another combination many DIY recipes recommend is castile soap and vinegar. Let’s take a look at why this is not going to work.

Affiliate links may be used. Please see our advertising disclosure for more information.

I love castile soap… I really do. It makes the best foaming hand soap ever! But when it comes to cleaning, I don’t think it’s the best choice. Castile soap is a soap, which is great for washing your hands and face… not so great for washing floors and counters.

But seeing castile soap in DIY cleaners isn’t what makes me cringe (I’m sure it can remove dirt and stains as much as any hand soap could), it’s when I see a recipe call for castile soap and vinegar together; that’s where I draw the line.

Take a look at what happened when I poured a little vinegar over some castile soap.

Castile soap that has curdled once vinegar was added

It immediately curdled and after a couple hours, formed a thick, oatmeal-like paste.

Chunky mixture showing what happens when you mix vinegar and castile soap

Watch What Happens…

So… what’s happening?

Castile soap is a base and vinegar is an acid; when combined, the castile soap separates, leaving a chunky mixture that no one wants in their cleaning products.

So please… stop combining these two products!

What to Use Instead… Sal Suds

Sal Suds is a concentrated cleaner (not soap) made by Dr. Bronner’s. I use it in my all purpose cleaner, dish soap, and floor cleaner. And a little goes a long way… one bottle lasts me years!

Sal Suds mixed with vinegar shows a clear liquid

Castile Soap vs. Sal Suds

Best Ways to Use Castile Soap

Castile soap is my go-to for bath + body recipes.

Foaming Hand Soap… that doesn’t dry out your skin! | Foaming Green Tea & Honey Face Wash

Best Ways to Use Sal Suds

Sal Suds is best for cleaning recipes.

DIY Floor Cleaner | DIY All Purpose Cleaner | DIY Dish Soap

Hope this helps!

Common Questions About Castile Soap & Sal Suds

Can I Combine Sal Suds & Vinegar?

Can you? Yes. It is not going to separate like castile soap. But should you? Probably not. Vinegar can reduce the cleaning power of Sal Suds. I do use both in my dish soap recipe and I tried Sal Suds in my shower cleaner to compare it with dish soap, but generally speaking, I have found that adding a few drops of essential oil to the Sal Suds and diluting it with water makes an excellent cleaner.

Word of Caution: I would not recommend combining Sal Suds and vinegar in a spray bottle. For some reason, the mist is very overpowering.

If A Recipe Calls for Castile Soap, Can I Replace It With Sal Suds?

Maybe. First, let’s clarify. Never use Sal Suds for bath & body care. For cleaning, however, you can often use Sal Suds in place of castile soap, but the amount of Sal Suds needed will be much less. For example, I use 1/2 teaspoon of Sal Suds to make floor cleaner! There also may be some ingredients that don’t combine well with Sal Suds. Here is a cheat sheet for what you can (and cannot) mix with Sal Suds.

Can I Use Castile Soap to Clean If I Don’t Add Vinegar?

As mentioned above, I’m sure castile soap can clean… it is soap after all. But just like I wouldn’t reach for hand soap to clean my counters, castile soap wouldn’t be my first choice either. And there’s another thing soap is known for: soap scum. Castile soap can leave behind a white film, which is made worse when used with hard water.