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onner's Timeline Q: What does "Castile" mean? Is the bar soap also a castile soap like the liquid? What is the difference between the bar and liquid soaps? Q: What is "Organic" and why is it so great? Q: How should I use the liquid soap? Q: Do your soaps contain any foaming agents/detergents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? Q: Where can I buy your soaps internationally? Q: What are the uses and dilutions for your soap? Q: Why do we use organic grain alcohol in the lotions?
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Q: Why do you use organic beeswax in your lip and body balms? Q: Can I shampoo and condition my hair organically? Q: What are the 18-in-1 uses?

What does "Castile" mean? Is the bar soap also a castile soap like the liquid? What is the difference between th bar and liquid soaps?

In earlier centuries, an all-vegetable based soap was made in the Castile region of Spain from local olive oil. By the turn this century, "Castile" had come to mean any vegetable oil-based soap, versus animal (tallow) fat-based soap. "PureCastile" is now also your guarantee that what you are using is a real ecological and simple soap, not a complex blend of detergents with a higher ecological impact due to the waste stream during manufacture and slower biodegradability. Unfortunately, many synthetic detergent blends are deceptively labeled as "Liquid Soap" even when they contain absolutely no soap whatsoever.

Both our bar and liquid soaps are pure-castile, as they are all vegetable oil-based. The bar soap wrappers prominently state that they, too, are pure-castile, like our liquid soaps. The difference between the liquid and bar soaps is that the liq soaps use potassium hydroxide to saponify the vegetable oils, versus sodium hydroxide used to make the hard bar soap

What is "Organic" and why is it so great?

The term "organic" refers to both sustainable farming practices and to products ecologically made from materials produc on certified organic farms. According to federal standards, such products have to be at least 70% organic by non-water, non-salt weight. Organic products not only support sustainable farming, but also farm worker health and ecological processing methods.

Unfortunately, the hollow market-driven needs of some "natural" body care companies are making a mockery of organic principles. Underneath fluffy, feel-good "organic" floral waters and infusions, many "organic" body care products are real just composed of the same synthetic cleansers, conditioners and preservatives found in mainstream products, often in p or wholly derived from petroleum. Culprit companies are inflating organic content by counting ordinary distilled water in "floral water" as organic, a practice which is not allowed under the National Organic Program.

How should I use the liquid soap?

For everyday body-washing: Get wet and pour several drops of soap full-strength onto hands-washcloth-loofah. Lather u scrub down, rinse off, and tingle fresh and clean. For other uses: Dilute from one part soap into 40 parts water for light cleaning, to cutting it in half or using it full strength heavy-duty grease-cutting jobs. For laundry: Use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed depending on the hardness of your water. Adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better.

My liquid soap turned cloudy. What happened, and what should I do to clear it up again? Our liquid soaps are so concentrated that they are nearly solid. Thus, when the temperature drops to about 50 F, the fa acids begin to solidify and cloud out. Just put the soap in a warm room, or warm water, and it will clear up at about 70 F But clear or cloudy, the soap works just the same.

Do your soaps contain any foaming agents/detergents like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? Absolutely not. Our soaps are 100% true pure-castile soaps. The high foaming lather of our soaps is from their high coconut oil content, which makes a more luxurious and rich lather than any detergent can ever create. "Pure-Castile" is your guarantee that what you are using is a real ecological and simple soap, not a complex blend of detergents with a higher ecological impact due to the waste stream during manufacture and slower biodegradability. Unfortunately, many synthetic detergent blends are deceptively labeled as "Liquid Soap" even when they contain absolutely no soap whatsoever.

Where can I buy your soaps internationally?

Our soaps are available in Australia, Canada, England, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. We have listed the information for our international distributors for you to consult. Depending on the distributor, they may sell to you direct or refer you to a retailer in your area.

What are the uses and dilutions for your soap?

Although the label claims eighteen uses, we do not have the space to write all these uses on the label and still accommodate for my grandfathers philosophy, as well as the new labeling laws that are periodically implemented. In reality, there are far more than eighteen uses, as people constantly write in to tell us about yet another utility of the soap We wont detail them all, but below are some of the major uses and dilutions.

For everyday body-washing: Get wet and pour soap full-strength onto hands-washcloth-loofah. Lather up, scrub down rinse off, and tingle fresh and clean.

For other uses, dilute from one part soap into 40 parts water for light cleaning, to cutting it in half or using it full strength for heavy-duty grease-cutting jobs.

For shampoo, people have been telling us for years that they like using our soaps to shampoo their hair. Now, paired w our new Citrus Conditioning Rinse and Organic Leave-In Conditioning Crme, it works better than ever. For details,click here.

For the laundry, use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed depending on hardness of water. I've be told that adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better. For pets, lather up well and apply to their body. Be careful to keep the soap and the lather away from their eyes. I find a mixture of peppermint and eucalyptus works best.

For toothbrushing, apply a drop or two of Dr. Bronners Magic Soap (I prefer the peppermint) to a wet toothbrush. Brus as you normally would, rinsing accordingly. Be careful about using more than a couple drops of soap, as you might start foaming at the mouth (last time I checked "rabid chic" was not hip). Many people with sensitive or softer teeth like to use our soap as toothpaste because it lacks abrasives.

If you're very interested in specific ratios & uses, you could find the book "Clean House, Clean Planet" by Karen Logan a published in 1996 by Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster. They give a blurb on how individual consumers can place orders by writing to Mail Order Department, Simon & Schuster Inc., 200 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, NJ 07675 She presents hundreds of great ideas and manners to clean the non-toxic way, which gives rise for many examples that use an all-natural liquid soap like Dr. Bronner's.

Why do we use organic grain alcohol in the lotions? Organic cane alcohol (ethanol) is used as a natural preservative at a level that helps absorption without being drying. Why do we no longer make 'naked' unscented lotion?

Under US law, the certified organic cane alcohol we use must be "denatured" or rendered undrinkable by adding one of various approved substances, and the only options to do this naturally and organically are a small amount (~0.18%) of peppermint, lavender or rosemary essential oils. Our Lavender Coconut variety is "lightly scented" as it contains only the small amount of organic lavender oil needed to denature the organic alcohol. Since no other fragrance is added, the natural delicious coconut fragrance of our organic extra virgin coconut oil combines with the small amount of lavender fo subtle, sublime scent.

Why do you use organic beeswax in your lip and body balms?

Although our line is otherwise vegan, we do use certified organic beeswax in the lip and body balms. We could not find a certified organic plant-based wax, and Sue anyway insisted that she has not found a plant-based alternative that can substitute for the amazing qualities of beeswax: based on her experience and extensive training and mentoring under th Native American herbalist Keewaydinoquay, Sue formulated her original lip balms with just avocado oil and beeswax, because beeswax has natural antibacterial and sunblock qualities and provides a superior barrier to keep moisture in. W buy our certified organic beeswax from New Zealand, and we checked to make sure that the queens are not killed each year as happens sometimes with conventional beekeeping to maximize yields.

Can I shampoo and condition my hair organically?

1) Shampoo with your favorite Dr. Bronners soap. True soaps clean hair well but can leave a tangly look & feel; howeve

2) Rinsing with our new Organic Shikakai Conditioning Rinse results in spectacular look and feel! Just stir 1- 2 capfuls o this rinse into a cup of water, close eyes and slowly pour while massaging into hair. Keep hand combing hair until hair fe entirely sleek (~30 seconds). Rinse out well. Repeat if necessary in extra hard water conditions or with longer hair.

3) After drying lightly with a towel, massage in Dr. Bronners new USDA Organic Leave -In Conditioning Crme for added silkiness and softness.

What are the 18-in-1 uses?

Dr. Bronner recorded the "18 in 1 uses" on his label, which we have left mostly intact since his passing in 1997; howeve people have told us many, many more uses for it than that. Here is his version. A more paraphrased one follows. Dr. Bronner's version: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Always dilute for Shave-Shampoo-Massage-Dental Soap-Bath! Peppermint is nature's own unsurpassed fragrant Deodorant! A drop is best Mint Toothpaste; brushes Dentures Clean! A dash in water is the ideal Breath Freshener & Mouth Wash! Peppermint Oil Soap for Dispensers, Uniforms, Baby, Beach! Dilute for ideal After Shave, Body Rub, Foot Bath, Douche. Hot Towel-Massage the entire body, always towards your heart. Pets, silk, wool & body tingles head to toe - keeps cool! 3 dashes in water rinse most Sprays Off fruit & vegetables! 1/4 oz in qt H2O is Pest Spray! Dash, no rash Diaper-Soap!

Paraphrased:

For everyday body-washing: Get wet and pour soap full-strength onto hands-washcloth-loofah. Lather up, scru down, rinse off, and tingle fresh & clean. For other uses, dilute from one part soap into 40 parts water for light cleaning, to cutting it in half or using it full strength for heavy-duty grease-cutting jobs. For shampoo, though we now recommend our new Shikakai soaps for this, many people are fond of using it as such. The method of application is to wet hair and scalp very thoroughly, squirt some soap into hands and work into a lather. Wash hair, then rinse well. Afterwards use our new citrus hair rinse and leave-in conditioners as directed. For the laundry, use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed depending on hardness of water I've been told that adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better. For toothbrushing, apply a drop or two of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap to a wet toothbrush. Brush as you normally would, rinsing accordingly. Be careful about using more than a couple drops of soap, as you might start foamin at the mouth. Many people with sensitive or softer teeth like to use our soap as a toothpaste because it lacks abrasives.