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DIY Foaming Hand Soap

Katie Wells Avatar
Katie Wells

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DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe - all natural and frugal
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » DIY Foaming Hand Soap

I started making my own foaming hand soap pretty early in my switch to a more natural lifestyle. With concerns over antibacterial ingredients in many hand soaps and potty-training little ones who found the need to wash their hands/arms/the counter with soap a thousand times a day, I needed a healthy and frugal option.

Thankfully, there is a natural, homemade and incredibly simple option that works just as well and doesn’t cost $3.59 a bottle like the foaming versions at the store.

The recipe itself is literally so simple that I now have my six year old refill the bottles and it takes just seconds to make. I keep the few simple ingredients on hand and we never have to buy hand soap or worry about running out…Surprisingly, this foaming version also makes a decent shaving cream in the shower…

Before you begin, you’ll need a foaming hand soap container. I originally ordered this pretty but pricey foam dispenser online before I realized that  there was a much more frugal and inexpensive option: Buy a bottle of foaming hand soap, pour it out if it isn’t natural, and reuse after the soap is used up.

DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe - all natural and frugal
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4.11 from 67 votes

DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe

This easy foaming hand soap contains only water, organic liquid castile soap, a moisturizing oil, and optional essential oils for a simple and frugal homemade soap.
Prep Time5 minutes
Yield: 0
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • Fill the soap dispenser with water to within about 1 inch of the top.
  • Add at least 2 tablespoons of liquid castile soap to the water mixture. NOTE: do not add the soap first or it will create bubbles when the water is added.
  • Add the oil and any essential oils if you are using them.
  • Close and lightly swish to mix.
  • Use as you would any regular foaming soap.

Notes

You will need a foaming soap dispenser for this soap. Either buy one online or reuse the bottle from a store-bought foaming soap.

Do you make your own soap already? If not… will you start now? Share below!

This easy foaming hand soap contains only water, organic liquid castile soap, a moisturizing oil and optional essential oils for a simple and frugal homemade soap.

Sources

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

292 responses to “DIY Foaming Hand Soap”

  1. Ronda Ryan Colavito Avatar
    Ronda Ryan Colavito

    I’m so excited you posted this. I was thinking about making my own foaming soap and hadn’t gotten around to finding a recipe. If I wanted to use it as body soap, would you recommend adjusting the ingredients at all?

    Reply
    1. Jenn Avatar
      Jenn

      I use liquid castile soap and coconut milk (equal parts) for a body wash, I love it. I use Dr. Bronners mild….that with the coconut milk gives it a very light fresh scent that isn’t drying.

      Reply
        1. Jenn Avatar
          Jenn

          I keep my last bottle in the shower. It lasts me about a month before I run out…I don’t know if it would last longer.

          Reply
      3. Heather Avatar
        Heather

        Just a q– coconut milk from the can or the carton in the fridge? Thanks!

        Reply
  2. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    Can’t wait to try it. Just switching over to more natural products. Love your site. I’ve found tons of useful information.

    Reply
  3. Marci Carley Mitchell Avatar
    Marci Carley Mitchell

    Your website is awesome! Ran out of foaming hand soap this morning and sure enough, there’s a recipe on here for it! Thanks! Makes me feel that one day I might be free of WalMart! lol

    Reply
  4. April McBride Avatar
    April McBride

    I just made this soap and put it in my handmade mason jar dispenser! This is the creamiest foaming soap I’ve ever used! Thanks a bunch!

    Reply
    1. christy Avatar
      christy

      is your mason jar dispenser for foaming soap or regular hand soap?

      Reply
    1. Teresa Greslik Avatar
      Teresa Greslik

      I use a different recipe but I use a few drops of tea tree oil for the antibacterial properties.

      Reply
      1. Juliana Avatar
        Juliana

        Do you become immune to the tea tree oil? I have been using dr. bronner’s hemp/tea tree liquid soap in a pump dispenser for a long time, it does dry my hands out a lot, so I am trying to figure out a better hand soap option. Why would I want a foam soap rather than a liquid soap? I need to find an easy hand soap for frequent use that is moisturizing. I like the tea tree for it’s antibacterial property, but maybe using it all the time is not a good idea? Thanks for any help.

        Reply
  6. Nikki Avatar
    Nikki

    After making this, how long is it good for in the dispenser? I can’t wait to try this! Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    1. Sylvia Molina Avatar
      Sylvia Molina

      I have been using this method for a year, I use Dr Bronners peppermint scent and add vitamin e and sometimes coconut oil. I also use the food coloring in liquid to give it color for the different decor. Up to two weeks

      Reply
      1. karen Avatar
        karen

        Doesn’t the coconut oil harden and clog up your dispenser (unless it stays warm)?

        Reply
        1. Nichole Avatar
          Nichole

          it shouldn’t, but it depends on the temp in your home. You could try some Vit E oil instead! Good for the skin and won’t harden.

          Reply
        2. Catherine Avatar
          Catherine

          You could use fractionated coconut oil if you are worried about it hardening. Fractionated CO is liquid at all temps.

          Reply
  7. Joy Shank Avatar
    Joy Shank

    I love this soap recipe but keep having a problem with the dispenser. The pump is not recoiling (you have to pull it back up). I have bought two different foaming soap dispensers and it happened with both within a few days of making this soap. I have 2 little ones and it’s difficult for them to pull the pump back up every time. Any suggestions?

    Reply
        1. Jill Avatar
          Jill

          4 stars
          Could be the lid is tightened too much. Like with baby bottles & water bottles, sometimes if the lid is too tight it won’t let enough air in and even out pressure for suctioning contents out. Downside is if you have to loosen too much it could leak if turned on the side.

          Reply
    2. Nikki Avatar
      Nikki

      I have the exact same problem with the pump getting stuck. I made liquid soap from a natural bar soap, which is quite goopy/jelly, but works alright in a regular soap dispenser, but in the foaming dispenser, the pump gets stuck… I ended up dumping it out of the foaming pump and now I might have to go back and try again but add some oil??

      Reply
      1. Kat Avatar
        Kat

        5 stars
        You need to add water. The kind of soap that works in a traditional hand soap dispenser needs to be watered down by at least half to work in a foaming one.

        Reply
  8. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    Just made this using, Bronners castille peppermint liquid soap, sweet almond oil, and lemon lime essential oil. After a couple of pumps it had dried my hands out terribly. Anyone know what to add – take out to make it less drying. Thanks

    Reply
    1. Randall Rodriguez Avatar
      Randall Rodriguez

      Not all the people responds equally to olive oil soap.

      I have found that for some people high percentage olive soaps can clean too deeply the skin drying it out.

      I prevent that using 30% olive oil, 25% sunflower, 5% castor and 40% palm, yes, palm… I am from Costa Rica and we have very good laws protecting the workers and environment and the lands have decades with the same palm trees that were planted for rebuilding the economy of agricultural little towns that collapsed after the big banana companies left the country and thousands of unemployed people, in other words no orangutans in danger (we don’ t have them anyway) The castor has to be added after trace and it will be very moisturizing.

      Reply
      1. Stephanie Hammond Avatar
        Stephanie Hammond

        5 stars
        Thanks for the heads up about Palm Oil in Costa Rica! Congratulations to your country for having a truly sustainable product. As a conscious consumer I’m always on the look out for products grown sustainably. Also, thank you for the additional ingredients to the recipe.

        Reply
    2. Emily Freeman Avatar
      Emily Freeman

      My girls have trouble with the peppermint & citrus soaps making their hands exceptionally dry. I use almond, rose, or lavender Dr. Bronner’s and they haven’t had any more problems. I don’t add the oil either, just the soap & water and it works just fine (used the same dispensers for over a year).

      Reply
      1. Kristen Avatar
        Kristen

        Lemon, (& most citruses) is a degreaser so it will strip all of the oil from your hands. That’s why it is used regularly in laundry and dish soap. Also, citrus oils are predominately made of monoterpenes which are prone to oxidation and become skin irritants when that happens. Peppermint has menthone, a ketone, which is a skin irritant in large amounts, or if a lower grade is used. Adding some skin nourshing essential oils comprised of alchols, esters, and other ketones will help to avoid these issues….think Lavender, Rosewood, Myrrh, etc., like you you. Adding a skin soothing carrier oil will help prevent these problems as well.

        Reply
    3. Cassie Avatar
      Cassie

      5 stars
      Hi. I have heard that Jojaba Oil is GREAT for eliminating dry skin (hands). I get dry hands so so bad in the winter esp if I have em in water too often. So I’m currently making my first NON TOXIC foam soap! Although I have coconut oil, I realized I need Jojaba oil too to take care of my dry hands:-)

      Reply
  9. Shannon Avatar
    Shannon

    I make my own liquid Castile soap from a bar and when mixed in the dispenser it is getting gel like. It does not do it in any other dispenser and I have a few. Just the method foaming dispenser – the gel seems to be clogging it. I tried a lesser amout of Castile soap and the same thing. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I’ve never tried with homemade liquid soap, so I’m not sure, but that sounds like it is the problem…

      Reply
    2. Shasta Avatar
      Shasta

      I have made my own liquid Castile soap from eco-friendly websites, and mine too gels. I kept mine in large Ball jars and now can’t get it out to put it into dispensers. Not sure why this is – none of the recipes seem to come with that warning or how to reverse the gelling.

      Reply
    3. Theresa Avatar
      Theresa

      5 stars
      I make my own liquid Castile soap and added some to test in a foaming soap dispenser and had no issues, might be that your soap is not this enough for the dispenser, not real sure though.

      Reply
  10. diana Avatar
    diana

    maybe dumb but i guess im sort of a weirdo about the antibacterial. i guess what im saying is that if the potty training kids dont wipe well and it gets on their hands how does this soap kill the ecoli? thats the only reason i wouldnt make it.. i like hand soap that kills germs well. or does this too?

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      Studies show that proper washing for at least 20 seconds with soap does just as well as antibacterial soaps without the risks 🙂

      Reply
      1. RuthyAnn Avatar
        RuthyAnn

        been saying this for year ANTIBACTERIAL HAS TO MANY CHEMICALS, ‘SOAP” AND 20 SECONDS TO 25 SECONDS, works the best,

        Reply
    2. rachel Avatar
      rachel

      Most-if not all- citrus essential oils have natural antibacterial properties…as well as many other essential oils. So, adding a lemon or wild orange EO would smell nice as well as be beneficial for knocking out germs…

      Reply
    3. Ian Tanner Avatar
      Ian Tanner

      I’m a single dad raising my 10 year old son. We bought SoftSoap Antibacterial from costco. used it for years. Every winter my son’s hands cracked, chapped bright red and painful. His doctor recommended petrolium jelly. We used it and it worked. THEN I READ THE INGREDIENTS on the SoftSoap huge jug from costco. BAD BAD BAD! We started using Doctor Bronners bar soap in the shower and Doctor Bronners liquid Castille soap from Trader Joes in a diluted form for liquid soap. Guess what? NO chapping, cracking redness or pain and NO PETROLEUM JELLY. READ YOUR INGREDIENTS ON ALL YOUR FOOD AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS! DO RESEARCH! MOST OF IT IS TOXIC POISON!!

      Reply
    4. Nancy Avatar
      Nancy

      i know this post is old but wanted to let you know that using antibacterial soap for a long period of time, 3 months or more makes you become immune to it…so it isnt doing any good anyway, all you are doiongis adding chemicals you dont need. Its like taking antibiotics for too long, they stop working and cause harm.

      Reply
  11. Andrea Langille Avatar
    Andrea Langille

    I made this a week or so ago -using washed ‘Method’ pumps- and love it! But…the soap is turning pink and I am wondering if that’s normal/ok/safe? I did as above and included Lemongrass EO. Thanks

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I’ve never had it turn pink? Could be a reaction with what was in the container before. I would think it is ok as long as there is no smell or other problems.

      Reply
      1. karen Avatar
        karen

        The pink is mold. It doesn’t have a pronounced odor but you should dispose. Aureobasidium, likely.

        Reply
    2. Pearson Avatar
      Pearson

      5 stars
      lemon and plastic not good!! f you use citrus you should use glass. the citrus pulls the toxic material out of the plastic and puts it in your product which you then use to wash your hands with..

      Reply
      1. Charles Avatar
        Charles

        We recently discovered that if there’s turmeric on our dish sponge, putting bronner’s Sal Suds on the sponge turns that area pink. Sal Suds is their dish soap. As a backpacker I learned that if you use iodine treated water to wash a pot you cooked pasta in, the pasta’s starch would react with the iodine’ turning the water blue.

        Reply
    3. Lil Avatar
      Lil

      That’s usually the norm of the product already went bad as it is not preserved and is all natural recipe. Mainly due to the presence of water which bacteria loves. Hope all parents get to be aware and know this.

      Reply
    4. Karen Avatar
      Karen

      5 stars
      Love this recipe, thank you Katie. I plan to use Dr. Bronner’s tea tree castille soap, but I’m not a fan of the smell of tea tree oil. Do you (or anyone) have any suggestions as to what essential oil I could add that would balance it out?

      Reply
      1. Bonnie Avatar
        Bonnie

        Use On Guard oil as it smells wonderful. Also Thieves has a good smell too…

        Reply
      2. Dana Avatar
        Dana

        I use tea tree & lavender in water filtered thru a Berkey to make air bathroom air freshener that works & smells great! Amount of eo just depends on amount of water. I just wing it.

        Reply
  12. Kelly Smith Avatar
    Kelly Smith

    I went out today and bought 3 glass pump dispensers at Everything’s A Dollar, for $1 each (even cheaper than buying a pump with the soap already in it). Added some orange and patchouli essential oils to mine. Yum!

    Reply
  13. Meg Avatar
    Meg

    This is on my list of things to make this summer! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Meghan Schaffer Hamilton Avatar
    Meghan Schaffer Hamilton

    I make my own bar soap. I have potassium hydroxide to make liquid soap. My first attempt at that was not good. One of these days I will try it again. We just use bar soap for everything. I use it as shampoo and rinse with cider vinegar. My husband and son don’t bother with the vinegar.

    Reply
  15. Aneah Epshteyn Avatar
    Aneah Epshteyn

    Been doing this for years myself as well. I have found that Lemon Myrtle EO is a great all around anti-bacterial add in and to my nose, diluted in soap, it smells like watermelon!

    Reply
  16. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Wow, looks really cool! Just need to find some good liquid castille soap that won’t cost me an arm and a leg (I live in France). I was wondering what you do for body soap? I’ve been looking for a simple recipe with no Lye, to make at home, but I don’t think I’ve come a cross annything on you site yet 🙂

    Reply
    1. Kattie Meyer Avatar
      Kattie Meyer

      All soap has lye solid soap has sodium hydroxide, liquid soap has potassium hydroxide. Without lye as a catalyst for saponification you cannot make soap. There is no lye present after the saponification process but it is absolutely necessary to turn oils into soap. You won’t find a soap without it.

      Reply
      1. Laura Avatar
        Laura

        Oh right, well I’m not against Lye at all, but I just don’t think I could go through the whole process of making it (for different reasons)… I was more like wondering what I could use as a substitute for soap. I know people who wash only with honey, others who use sugar scrubs etc…

        Reply
  17. Doreen Hébert Avatar
    Doreen Hébert

    Great recipe. I was making my own, but this recipe is so much better. Thank you!

    Reply
  18. Stacy Smith Avatar
    Stacy Smith

    Can I use peppermint castile soap? I love making my own products too. 🙂

    Reply
        1. Cami Avatar
          Cami

          We had the same problem! Simple fix: use Dr Bronners BABY Castile soap. So gentle!!

          Reply
      3. Sherry Avatar
        Sherry

        Great! I just made this recipe and used Peppermint. Just want to say, Wellness Mama, I love all that you do. Appreciate all the free thoughts and recipes that you share. I smile every time I see your book at the bookstores. You’re an inspiring entrepreneur! Blessings to you, and may you have continued success with your life and family!

        Reply
  19. Kara Avatar
    Kara

    I’ve been making foaming soap for a couple years. I mix Bronners castille soap with water 1:5 ratio. Trader Joe’s has the best price around for the soap. I used the foaming dispensers from Target (Method) once they are empty. I found buying a dispenser by itself was not worth it.

    Reply
    1. Lee Avatar
      Lee

      Thanks for the ratios. When you’re making them for gifts, buying the dispenser isn’t a choice. I found them for about $1.70 a bottle.

      Reply
        1. Kathie Avatar
          Kathie

          I do not see foaming soap dispensers at the link that was posted. Does anyone else have suggestions? Thank you.

          Reply
          1. Steve Avatar
            Steve

            One possibility is to buy foaming handsoap (Dial or some such) at Walmart or KMart for under $2. Use what’s in it and refill multiple times with the formula.

          2. Holly Avatar
            Holly

            You can buy new 8 oz foaming pump containers (clear) at BulkApothecary.com for $0.89 each. All of their products are high quality, ship fast. The price on unscented castile soap is VERY low, but out of stock frequently.

          3. Jana Avatar
            Jana

            How many drops of essential oil do you use making this?

          4. Ellen Avatar
            Ellen

            Sorry I am a couple of years late getting to this. You don’t need a foamer. If you use 50% Castile soap then grind some sea salt into it and mix well it turns into something I can only describe as a ‘glob’. The other 50% can be made up of all water, all oil or a combination of the 2 with honey and/or Aloe and/or glycerin etc (a light oil like rapeseed is good, try a combination with coconut oil and honey). Using all oil will make your soap last longer than using water as long as you sterilise your implements, it doesn’t seem to make it greasy in my experience. Add your essential oils to the oil or water you’re adding and account for it in the 50% as this can affect the viscosity. I have found that any more than 50% it turns to liquid. You then add this very gradually into the ‘glob’ until all the oil is combined or if you like your soap a bit thicker don’t add quite 50%. It goes silky smooth like commercial soap and you can use it in an ordinary soap dispenser. I use 60 drops of oil to 300ml , I suppose that’s about 6 per fluid Oz in imperial. Depends how strong your oil is, how big your dropper is and how strong you like it. Hope that helps.

          5. Linda Avatar
            Linda

            I get mine at the dollar store.. I just empty their contents and add my own…. I reuse them and have been for months..

          6. Sonyza Avatar
            Sonyza

            The Dollar Tree $1, stores in Charleston, SC, sell foaming hand soap in the dispensers for $1.00 each. You can empty or reuse the dispenser.

          9. Bev Avatar
            Bev

            I bought a batch from planttherapy.com a few months ago. They’re working great so far. I’ve also started saving older bottles from other soaps to refill.

      2. Joan Avatar
        Joan

        where can you buy a dispenser for $1.70??? The only dispensers I’ve found run $12-$15!

        Reply
        1. Sheliese Avatar
          Sheliese

          You can get inexpensive foamer pumps ($1.49 each) and Castile Soap ($8.50 for 16 oz.) from AromaTools.com.

          Reply
          1. Lucy Avatar
            Lucy

            Bulk Apothecary is also a great place to find homemade soap needs.

          2. JJ Avatar
            JJ

            You can purchase 1.7 oz. Foamer bottles at Bulk ApothecRy for .49 each.

      3. Megan Avatar
        Megan

        I know this is way later, but I find soap dispensers for .89 cents through Bulk Apothecary! (bulkapothecary.com/)

        Reply
          1. Onuoha Uchechi Avatar
            Onuoha Uchechi

            please l have a problem. in my area, l cannot find castle liquid soap to buy. Therefore l want to prepare my own natural liquid soap without using chemical surfactants. so how do l start. please can you guide me. My name is uchechi Onuoha.

        2. Angie Guy Avatar
          Angie Guy

          That’s only if you buy about 50 of them! You have to buy bulk in order to get the low prices.

          Reply
  20. Audrey Perry Avatar
    Audrey Perry

    We’re just starting to convert our home over to ‘green’ products and will definitely incorporate this recipe.

    Reply
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