My Dear Readers,
As readers of my blog, you may share my passion and sincere dedication to living a healthier lifestyle. Once our Whole Naturals Castile Soap was available to our community, I understood that our family had developed a product that was addressing a real need. An organic soap that was versatile enough for heavy cleaning, yet gentle enough for body cleansing!
Each week, I receive comments and questions - and I read each one! In this week's blog, I decided to highlight some of the most frequently asked questions - and some more unique ones! So strap in....and let's answer SIX questions about Whole Naturals Castile Soap.
1. What is the SHELF LIFE of Whole Naturals Castile Soap? (is there an expiry date?
Castile Soap does not have (nor need) an expiry date, but we know that certain storage conditions are better than others. If you keep your Castile Soap in a COLD environment, you may find that it turns white. It doesn't affect the quality, and once it comes back to room temperature, the color will return. Keeping Whole Naturals Castile Soap in a HUMID and warm environment may affect the scent (but not the effectiveness.) We suggest storing your Castile Soap in a dry, room temperature location away from direct sunlight.
2. Is Castile Soap Anti-bacterial?
We love this question - and we'll answer this question, with another question: What does it mean to be "anti-bacterial?"
Anti bacterial soaps contain chemical antimicrobial agents like Tricoslan and Benzethonium chloride. These kill but don't remove contagions.
Whole Naturals Castile soap does not contain toxic chemicals. It's made from certified organic ingredients including organic carrier oils that clean surfaces by lifting off dirt, grime, and pathogens including bacteria and viruses. Castile soaps work because it attaches to dirt and germs and rinsing them away, leaving behind a clean surface.
3. What is NEEM OIL and can Castile Soap be used with NEEM OIL to keep insects away from my plants?
We love using NEEM oil - it's great for pet wash too! Did you know: Neem oil is a natural, plant-based extract? It's made from the seeds of the NEEM tree (and has been used in India and other parts of Asia for centuries!)
NEEM oil works great when combined with Castile Soap to spray on your plants! Here's our favorite recipe:
You will need:
A spray bottle
funnel
1 Tbs (0.5 fl oz ) Whole Naturals Castile Soap
1 Tbl NEEM oil
16 oz distilled water - using distilled water helps keeps the measurements precise
10 drops peppermint oil (optional)
Instructions
Combine the soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray plants thoroughly. It's important to spray the stems and locations under the leaves (bugs love to hide!!) I tend to spray in the morning hours, and then again in the evening. It keeps the unwanted visitors at bay, and they don't come back! (plus it doesn't leave a residue on the leaves!)
4. Is it safe for grass? We would like to recycle our water for use to water the lawn. Will this harm the lawn?
YES!!! DILUTED Castile soap is safe for grey water lawn irrigation - with the following caveats:
Make sure it is diluted
It should not have additional essential oils (some essential oils are fine, others may harm your lawn
Make sure you haven't added any additives to the dilution (Borox, salt, vinegar etc.)
5. Is Whole Naturals Castile Soap gluten free?
We understand how important it is for our Whole Naturals Castile soap to be free of potential allergens! As Allergies and sensitivities are so important to address, Whole Naturals Liquid Castile Soap is not only grain, dairy, and soy free, it's also gluten-free and vegan! (and cruelty-free - never tested on animals).
6. What's the difference between Coconut Oil and Palm Oil?
Coconut oil and palm oil are not the same. The difference between them is in the raw materials they're produced from. Coconut oil is made from the fruit of the coconut palms, whereas palm oil is made from the fruit of the palm tree. In fact, to be even more specific - Coconut oil is extracted from the kernel or meat of matured and harvested coconut; while Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of palm fruit.
Whole Naturals is the 1st Castile Soap Company in the World to be third party Certified Palm Oil Free - certified by POFCAP, POFCAP is the world's first palm oil-free certification standard for products, companies and manufacturing processes.
I hope that these questions are helpful, and I'm always available to you, my dear readers with any questions or comments. Keep them coming!!