Marseille Soap is a French soap that dates back to the 1300's that was designed to be an all-round multi-purpose soap. Now, because of its friendliness to the environment and its many many uses, it is starting to be loved by many again, and I can see why!
Not only is this soap bar plastic free, but the one I source for Eco-Sal is also vegan, organic, natural and palm oil free. What's not to like!
Here are 10 ways you can use this fantastic multi-purpose soap:
1) Washing Up
You can easily use this soap to make a washing-up liquid by grating some of the soap into hot water. You can also rub your usual scourer or dish brush directly onto the soap bar and then onto your dishes. If you use this method, let it dry in between uses on a soap dish to make it last even longer.
2) Laundry Detergent
To make a laundry detergent liquid use this recipe:
Ingredients
60g grated Marseille soap
2 litres of water
¼ Cup Baking Soda (as softener - this is optional)
¼ Cup White Wine Vinegar (as fabric softener - again this is optional)
Method
Melt the Marseille soap shavings in boiling water.
Once melted, allow to cool before mixing in the baking soda and vinegar (optional).
Use in your washing machine as normal laundry detergent.
If you want a nice fresh laundry smell, you can add some eco-friendly scent boosters into your wash as well.
3) Stain Removal
The soap bar can be used as an eco-friendly stain remover to remove stains from all types of material. For clothes, rub the soap directly onto the stain before washing. It can also be used for removing stains on carpets and furniture, however I would advise that you do a patch test on the material before applying the soap to the stain.
4) Floor and Surface Cleaner
You can use Marseille soap to clean all types of surfaces in your home. Similar to the washing up liquid, you can either make up your own multi-purpose cleaning solution by mixing the soap shavings with hot water before applying the solution to surfaces. Or rub a wet cloth directly onto the soap and then onto the surface or floor you’re cleaning.
5) Hair and Body Wash
As this wonderfully eco soap is full of natural vegetable oils, it's gentle on your skin and is therefore known for being especially good for those with eczema or sensitive skin. You can lather it directly onto your body to use as a body wash or use like you would a normal shampoo bar to wash your hair.
6) Pet Shampoo
This soap bar is gentle on us but also our pets too so it won’t irritate your pet's skin. No need to buy a separate product for your furry friend. To wash your dog or cat, gently rub the wet soap bar directly onto their fur and thoroughly rinse to ensure no residue is left.
7) Clean Your Iron
You can extend the life of your iron by wiping a small bit of the eco-friendly soap bar onto a still warm iron plate and then iron over a piece of material. This will help to clear the iron of gunk from melted fibres.
8) Insecticide For Your Plants
Firstly, always test a small part of the mixture on the leaves of the plant before applying all over. Follow the recipe below to help out your plants.
Ingredients
150g grated Marseille soap
1 litre boiling water
1 tbsp olive oil
Method
Mix all of the ingredients together and decant the solution into a spray bottle. You can then spray the solution onto your plants.
9) Shaving Soap
Lather up the required area with the soap as you would your usual shaving gel/foam and shave as normal.
10) Bring a Shine Back To Your Jewellery
Last but by no means least, Marseille soap is fab for cleaning sterling silver jewellery. Soak your jewellery in a mix of soap shavings with hot water for around 10-15 minutes. Once soaked, you can rub the jewellery clean and rinse off under the tap.
This is just one of the many eco-friendly and plastic free cleaning solutions available. You can see the entire range at the link here eco-friendly cleaning products for more ideas.