After our last blog so many of you have been asking about Savon de Marseille French soap and its uses. So here are some top tips for getting the most from this great versatile French market soap.

Savon de Marseille soap is a firm favourite in our house, due to it being so pure and gentle, and it has natural anti-bacterial properties, which is also a bonus! We have found it lasts twice as long as ordinary soaps. It can be grated, shredded or blended to be used in different ways around the home, so is great value too.

Homemade laundry soap

To make homemade laundry soap*, grate a cup of Savon de Marseille French soap and melt this into about 3 to 4 litres of boiling water. Take it off the heat to cool slightly then add about half a cup of bicarbonate of soda, stirring well until the soap is dissolved. It should look milk-like in colour. Pour the milky liquid into an empty bottle and it’s ready to use. We recommend shaking the bottle before use. The bicarbonate of soda will act as a softening agent in the water and fight help get rid of odours. You can also add half a cup of vinegar to the mix as this will act as a fabric softener too.

*Quantities are approximate and for guidance only as can be adjusted to personal preference.

For stains, you can use the Anti Stain Savon de Marseille soap (Savon Detachant) which is specifically for removing stubborn stains. Or you can use the traditional Savon de Marseille soap just by rubbing the cube when slightly damp onto the affected area. Let the garment dry and then wash it as normal. This artisan French soap can be used for most stains, and with four children this gets used a lot in my household!

Cleaning art brushes

For the artists out there Savon de Marseille Artisan French soap is great for cleaning your brushes! Add warm water to the circular indent in the soap cube and rub the brushes, et voilà, beautifully clean! It also works on make-up brushes using the same technique.

Pest control for your summer plants

I love this one! I am not very green-fingered in the garden but this tip is great to know as it can be used on all plants including edible ones such as fruit trees and grapevines as once they are rinsed the fruit is safe to eat. It has saved our lime tree many times! In a spray bottle pop in 2 tablespoons of grated Savon de Marseille Natural French soap and fill up with hot but not boiling water. Shake the bottle until you can see all the grated soap has dissolved, and you have a great safe eco-friendly anti-pest spray. The soapy liquid is best stored in a spray bottle rather than a watering can.

So our luxury French soaps, made in Marseille, Provence, can be used in a variety of ways other than washing your hands and body.

We have a wonderful range of natural French soaps that can be for everyday use and we also have a wide variety of gift boxes for any occasion. Why not take a look and get 15% off your first order!

If you can’t find what you are looking for or you want a personalised selection of French soaps made up from our French soap range then please call Katie on 07867 486402 or email info@frenchsoapstore.co.uk, she will be delighted to help.