Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap

Important note on cleaning products

When I choose soaps and cleaners for my home, I focus on limiting exposure to unnecessary chemicals that can irritate skin, impact indoor air quality, or leave residues on surfaces where food is prepared. I avoid synthetic fragrances, parabens, methylisothiazolinone (MIT), quats, bleach, ammonia, and other harsh detergents that aren’t needed for everyday cleaning. I also avoid vague “fragrance” labeling, which often signals undisclosed additive blends.

What this soap is

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap is a concentrated, multi-use soap made from saponified organic oils. It’s plant-based, biodegradable, and free from synthetic detergents or foaming agents. The formula relies on simple, recognizable ingredients like organic coconut, olive, and hemp oils that have been turned into soap through saponification.

Because it’s highly concentrated, this soap can be diluted and used across the home — for handwashing, body care, dishes, and general surface cleaning — without needing multiple specialized products.

What I like

I like that the ingredient list is short and transparent, so I know exactly what’s coming into contact with my skin, dishes, and countertops. There are no synthetic fragrances, dyes, or preservative systems like methylisothiazolinone, which is commonly used in conventional cleaners and can be irritating for sensitive individuals. This fits how I approach low-tox living: choosing products that clean effectively without adding unnecessary chemical load to my home.

I also appreciate that it’s plant-based and biodegradable, which matters to me both for daily exposure and long-term environmental impact.

Things to keep in mind

This is a true concentrate, so dilution matters. For hand or body use, diluting well can help prevent dryness. For dishes, I prefer mixing it with water in a separate bottle rather than applying it full-strength. For surface cleaning, adjust dilution based on the task and rinse as needed, especially on food-contact surfaces.