Zote Soap: A Versatile Cleaning Product with Surprising Skin Benefits

Zote soap is a versatile and affordable cleaning product that has been used for generations in many households. This bright pink soap bar is widely recognized for its powerful cleaning properties and pleasant floral scent. While it was initially marketed as a laundry detergent, Zote soap has numerous other uses, including as a household cleaner, stain remover, insect repellent, and even as a beauty product. Zote soap is a laundry detergent bar made with natural ingredients such as coconut oil and beef tallow. Yes, Zote soap can be used as a beauty treatment for the skin. Yes, Zote soap is an eco-friendly alternative to many commercial cleaning products.

A bright pink bar of Zote soap with a floral pattern

While Zote soap is generally safe to use, it can cause skin irritation in some people. It's important to test a small area of skin before using the soap on a larger area. Zote soap is a versatile and affordable cleaning product that offers numerous benefits for households and individuals alike. Its natural ingredients make it an eco-friendly alternative to many commercial cleaning products, and its powerful cleaning properties make it effective at removing tough stains and eliminating odor. Whether you're using it as a laundry detergent, household cleaner, insect repellent, beauty treatment, or any of the other many uses we've mentioned, Zote soap is a practical and efficient solution for all your cleaning needs.

What Is Zote Laundry Soap?

Every homeowner has a cabinet (or closet) full to the brim with cleaning supplies they've tried, loved, and even abandoned. But what if there was a singular product that combined laundry detergent, stain remover, and fabric softener all into one bar of soap? Zote Laundry Soap first launched in the United States in the early 1980s after the Mexican manufacturer's noticed an unprecedented demand by American housewives. The soap has a myriad of uses, but it is first and foremost an incredible laundry soap. If you're curious about the product, its uses, and how to actually use it, read on for a comprehensive explainer as to what Zote soap is, and all the reasons we swear by it.

Available as both a bar and as flakes, Zote soap is a Mexican cleaning product that was brought to the United States in the 1980s. The product is extremely versatile, and many people use it for nearly all of their household chores. It is part of a line of laundry products offered by Fabrica de Jabon La Corona, a Mexican manufacturer of soap, detergent, toothpaste, and cooking oil.

What Can I Use Zote Laundry Soap For?

Zote can be used to clean nearly every surface of your home. While it's not a disinfectant, the bar of soap is a great cleanser and stain remover. Primarily used for laundry, it is also effective at cleaning appliance surfaces, dishes, soap scum, and even flooring.

  • Fabric softener
  • Stove cleaner
  • Oven cleaner
  • Dish cleaner
  • Showerhead cleaner
  • Floor cleaner
A collage of different household cleaning tasks that can be done with Zote soap

How to Use Zote Laundry Soap as a Stain Remover

Zote soap is best used on natural stains-food, drink, oil, grass, and other naturally occurring stain causes. It will not work on ink stains or dye-based stains (hair dye and fabric dye).

Step One: Pretreat the Fabric

After locating the affected area, rub the bar of soap over the stain and work it into the fabric fibers with your fingers. Allow the garment to sit for at least 10 minutes prior to washing or rinsing.

Step Two: Wash as Normal

Zote soap is effective in any temperature of water and any washer setting. Whether you plan on washing the garment by hand or by machine, continue your laundry routine as normal. If the stain remains, repeat the process and leave to rest longer.

How to Use Zote Laundry Soap as Detergent

While it may seem like common sense not to simply throw the entire bar of soap into your machine, we feel that it's worth stating: Do not throw the entire bar into your washing machine. Not only will you be faced with a laundry room full of bubbles, but you may also break your appliance.

Step One: Make Your Laundry Mixture

Purchase Zote flakes or shred your Zote soap using a cheese grater. Measure out 1 cup of grated soap. In a large, resealable container, combine the one cup of soap flakes, one cup of baking soda, one cup of washing soda, and one-half cup of borax. Mix the ingredients well with a large spoon. Store the container in a cool place and keep it well-sealed. Use 1/2 a cup of the mixture per load of laundry.

Step Two: Choose Your Cycle

This mixture can be placed directly into the detergent slot of your washing machine (or directly in the bin), and simply run your washing machine like normal.

Zote Laundry Soap FAQs

What is Zote soap good for?

Zote soap is a true multi-tasking product and can be used for everything from laundry to face wash. See below for a few of the non-traditional uses users and reviewers swear by:

  • Face wash
  • Mosquito repellant
  • Paint brush cleaner
  • Catfish bait
  • Shoe deodorizer
  • Car cleaner
  • Jewelry cleaner
  • Eyebrow setter

What is the difference between pink and white Zote soap?

Pink Zote soap is scented while white Zote soap is not.

Zote vs Fels-Naptha Soap Cleaning Test!

Zote Soap for Skin and Beauty

Reddit users swear this cheap laundry detergent (you can find it at your local hardware or dollar store) does a fabulous job moonlighting as a makeup-brush cleaner. Makeup artists explain that the bar makes it easy to clean brushes by holding it under water and running the brush back and forth until all the color comes out. This is particularly useful for those who wash their tools frequently.

However, when it comes to direct skin application, there are important considerations. The soap's harsh ingredients, such as sodium tallowate, can strip your skin of its natural oils, compromising its natural barrier and making it more susceptible to bacteria. Additionally, Zote soap lacks key ingredients needed to address the root causes of acne, making it an ineffective long-term solution.

Zote soap's harsh ingredients can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to increased dryness and irritation. This disruption can lead to issues like redness, peeling, and irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Relying solely on this soap to treat acne can lead to disappointing results because it lacks the key ingredients necessary to target the root causes of breakouts. For acne treatment, it is recommended to incorporate products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide into your skincare routine.

Furthermore, Zote soap can clog pores by causing the accumulation of dead skin cells, leading to acne breakouts, including blackheads and whiteheads. For a healthier complexion, consider acne treatment systems that target acne at its root, preventing clogged pores and helping you achieve clear skin.

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