11 Ways to Use Marseille Soap

Last updated on Friday 18th March, 2022 at 18:10pm by Charlie Gill

What is Marseille Soap and What Can It Be Used For?

Let's get to it. What is Marseille Soap?

Originally from France, hence the name, Savon de Marseille, the soap's creation dates back to around 1370 and was designed to be the ultimate multi-purpose eco-friendly cleaning product. Now it’s making a comeback.

As a multi-purpose soap you can use it for all sorts, but make sure you get the real thing. There are a lot of fakes out there that are made using cheaper ingredients, which won’t be as effective and may contain animal fats. 

The Marseille soap we source is 100% vegan and natural, and made entirely from olive oil and coconut oil, which means it's eco-friendly and palm oil free. And to make it even better, this soap can easily last up to six months. 

So without further ado, here are our top 11 ways to use Marseille soap.

1. Wash the Dishes

To wash your dirty dishes with the Marseille soap you can make a washing-up liquid by grating some of the soap and mixing the shavings with hot water. You can also rub a wet scourer directly onto the soap bar and then onto your plates. If you use the solid bar, leave it out to dry on a soap dish between uses to make it last even longer.

2. Clean Floors and Surfaces

You can use Marseille soap to clean all types of surfaces. Make up your own eco-friendly cleaning solution by mixing soap shavings with hot water and apply it to surfaces. Or simply rub a wet cloth onto the soap and then onto the surface or floor you’re cleaning. It couldn’t be any easier. 

3. Do the Laundry

Potentially one my favourite discoveries - you can use the Marseille soap to create your own laundry detergent. To make this liquid use the following recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 Cup / 60g grated Marseille soap
• 2 L Water
• ¼ Cup Baking Soda (as water softener)*
• ¼ Cup White Wine Vinegar (as fabric softener)*

*optional

Method

• Melt the Marseille soap shavings in boiling water.
• Once melted, allow to cool before mixing in the baking soda and vinegar.
• Use as normal laundry detergent.

Not only can you use it for everyday laundry, but it's known for its effectiveness at washing wool and leather, too. Use the same recipe as above for hand washing any woollen clothes and/or leather goods.

Marseille soap has even been recommended as one of the most effective ways of removing the smell of chlorine. Simply soak your swimming costume overnight in a bucket of soap shavings mixed with hot water. Rinse in the morning. Simple.

4. Stain Remover

The soap can be used to remove stains from all types of material. For clothes, rub the soap directly onto the material before washing. The eco-friendly cleaning product can even be used for stains on carpets and sofas, though it’s always advised to patch test the material before applying the soap to the stain.

5. Clean the Toilet

To make toilet cleaner from the Marseille soap, melt some shavings from the soap with boiling water. You can then pour this liquid into your loo and brush as usual. The liquid will foam, leaving you with a nice and clean toilet bowl.

6. Clean Yourself

As the eco soap is full of natural vegetable oils, it's also really kind to your skin. It's known for being especially good for those with eczema or sensitive skin. You can lather it directly onto your body to wash yourself.

As well as nourishing your skin, the Marseille soap’s oils are great for your hair, too. To apply, simply use the soap as you would a normal shampoo bar.  

7. Pet Shampoo

That's right, the soap can be used on animals too. There’s no need to buy a special shampoo, as the soap bar is gentle and won’t irritate your pet's skin. 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. Your pet's coat will be sparkling clean and shiny.

8. Clean the Iron

Ever wondered how to clean your iron and extend its life? Just wipe a small bit of the eco-friendly soap onto a still warm iron plate and then iron over a clean sheet. This will clear the iron of gunk from melted fibres and result in lovely crisp clothes that are creaseless.

9. Shining Jewellery

Another of my favourite uses for the Marseille soap is cleaning sterling silver jewellery. Simply soak the 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. Trust me, you won’t believe the difference it makes.

10. Insecticide

The soap can even be used to protect your plants from insects. Just make sure you always test a small part of the mix on the leaves of the plant, before applying the rest of it.

Follow the recipe below for a quick and easy way to help out your plants.

Ingredients

• 150 g grated Marseille soap
• 1L boiling Water
• 1 tbsp Olive oil

Method

Mix together and voila! It's ready to go. Simply spray the solution on your plants.

11. Shaving Soap

Finally, you can even use the bar as a shaving soap, along with your reusable safety razor. Lather up your chosen body parts and you're all set for an eco-friendly shave.

Conclusion

Marseille soap is a versatile eco-friendly cleaning product that deserves to be in every home and once you start using it, you'll never look back. It's all about finding out its best uses and applying it to your routine. Good luck!

Try it out for yourself and click the link to get your own Marseille soap bar. The one we have is made from 70% organic olive oil, 30% coconut oil, water and sea salt.

This is just one of the eco cleaning solutions available, view our eco-friendly cleaning products for more ideas.

If we missed any other uses, please comment below!