Homemade Moisturizing Foaming Hand Soap
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This Homemade Foaming Hand Soap is one of the easiest ways to create a greener and healthier you. It's simple to make, inexpensive, and it works really well–and is, of course, fun for kids (of all ages) to use!
Why make your own homemade foaming hand soap?
Well, if you are:
- tired of refilling your soap pump containers over and over again thinking of the amount of money you are literally tossing down the sink?
- spending a lot of money purchasing foaming soap containers over and over again?
- frustrated with the goopy mess that standard soap pump soap leaves on your hands that sometimes isn't gone even after washing?
- wondering about all the extra ingredients in your hand soap that are probably not good for you (and please don't tell me that you are using anti-bacterial soap. Well, I take that back. You can tell me and then I'll recommend that you stop :-).)
Then I highly recommend that you consider making this soap now.
I am always motivated to save money while avoiding synthetics and toxins as much as possible, as long as I don't have to spend too much time doing it.
This motivation has led me to make my own Homemade Shower Cleaner, DIY Lip Scrub, Homemade Hairspray, DIY Chest Rub, and more.
Now, in addition to those things, you can even make your own foaming soap at home and:
- save a lot of money by refilling and not purchasing new pumps
- save money by making your own refill foaming soap
- save money over regular soap pumps by using less soap
- avoid toxic chemicals and fragrances by using only healthy ingredients in your soap
And you will be happy to know that it is EASY. SUPER EASY.
Why Is Glycerin in this Soap?
Glycerine adds a number of benefits to this homemade foaming soap.
Moisture
Glycerin is a humectant. As such, it moisturizes the skin by bringing moisture from the air into the skin's outer layer and also forms a protective layer to prevent moisture loss. Adding glycerin to your soap can help to lock in this moisture, leaving your hands (or other parts of your body, for that matter) more soft.
Glycerin mimics skin's natural moisturizing factor (NMF), so it's great for all skin types. It's important to do this since your NMF is depleted as you age and that is accelerated if you use irritating substances on your skin.
Better Texture
The glycerin makes for a smoother, thicker soap which is much nicer to pump and use than thin, runny foaming soaps.
Preservative
Actually you would need 50% glycerine for this soap to truly be preserved, but it's good to know that glycerine does add some preservative properties to this homemade foaming hand soap.
Don't Eat the Soap, but…..
One thing you might not know, is that vegetable glycerine is not only great for adding moisturizing qualities to this homemade foaming soap, but it's also a great sweetener alternative for those trying to consume fewer carbs. In most cases, you can use whatever glycerine you like for sweetening as well as for use in personal care products, but you might want to ask the manufacturer.
Actually, the ingredients in this foaming soap are so non toxic, you really don't have to worry if some gets in your mouth, but still I wouldn't go around making it a habit of eating it.
Where to Buy Vegetable Glycerine
There are many places that you can buy vegetable glycerine. You should be able to find it in a drugstore or nutrition store, but almost definitely in a health food store.
If you'd prefer to buy it online, you can find it on Amazon and also at Starwest Botanicals.
What Foaming Soap Container Is Best?
I have had multiple quality issues with some soap pumps and tried about 4 different kinds. One brand that kept breaking was the Pampered Chef version and the other was a Cuisipro. The Pampered Chef design appears to be unchanged, but the Cuisipro seems to have been redone.
One reader commented that she loves the dispenser from this product and simply removes the label off of the bottle after emptying it out. I would think you'd need to clean the pump out really well to get the residual scent out of it because artificial fragrances can be hard to get out.
This dispenser is a great option if you'd prefer to avoid plastic and use a glass bottle.
Another idea is using a mason jar with a foaming pump that fits on a mason jar. Yes, there's such a thing and here it is.
Do You Need a Preservative For Homemade Foaming Soap?
In the recipe card, you can see Optiphen Preservative as a recommendation for this soap.
Preserving anything with a water base is crucial due to the potential for bacterial growth.
The essential oils in the recipe, if being used, should help some, but you would for sure need more than that for adequate preservation.
Optiphen is great since it has no formaldehyde, no phthalates, and no formaldehyde releasers as well.
Homemade Moisturizing Foaming Hand Soap
Ingredients
- foaming soap dispenser (this brand has worked very well for us over the years)
- water
- natural liquid soap of your choice (the brand that I linked to is one good option)
- 1/2 tablespoon vegetable glycerine (for extra moisturizing) (optional)
- a few drops of your choice of essential oils (optional) (read my post on Which Essential Oils are Best? – Part One to see why I recommend this company)
- few drop olive oil (optional for better foaming and to extend the life of the soap pump)
- Optiphen Preservative (strongly recommended–use .5-1.5% or 1/4 teaspoon for an 8 ounce container)
Instructions
- Fill empty foaming soap dispenser with water, approximately 4/5 full.
- Fill remaining space with a liquid soap of your choice (and glycerine, essential oils, olive oil and preservative, if using) being careful not to get too close to the top.
- Shake gently to mix and use. Note: you definitely do not want to add the soap first. If you do, the soap will foam up as you are adding the water to fill the container and you will end up with a foaming, half-filled container.
Notes
So there you have it–simple, isn't it?
Very little work for a lot of money saved and better health for your family. You can easily reduce the toxic exposure in your home and you have a bit more of your financial resources available to address your family's needs and to bless others.
Have you made your own foaming soap before?
If not, will you try it?
Great idea! Time to smart up and start saving $$$ and some little piece of God’s creation!
I agree completely with refilling hand soap. So easy, too.
I just started using Dr Bronners for a foam soap, and I love it! I use it in the shower, for my dishes, and as a hand soap. I also use Dr Bronners as an awesome laundry detergent. Just combine 1 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup borax 7-10 drops o essential oil, 1/4 cup of Dr Bronners and 12 quarts of hot water into a 5 gallon bucket. I let it cool then funnel it into an old liquid laundry container. It works beautifully–and it’s very frugal.
Just found your blog–love it!!
Jenny,
Thanks for the compliment! I appreciate your sharing your laundry soap recipe. I was making my own detergent for awhile, but it wasn’t working out very well. I have just switched to soap nuts. Do you know how much your formula costs per load? And by the way, we use Dr. Bronners in the shower and for dishes as well. However, I have heard about using soap nuts in other ways as well, so I am off to experiment (when I have time :-))
Hi- what is washing soda and where do you find it?
I literally just found this post/site today…and you asked this question like last year…so hopefully you even get this response…
https://hollythehomemaker.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-make-washing-soda.html
What a great, frugal idea! Totally appreciate you posting! I was just wondering how I could reuse my foaming soap dispensers! Thanks so much! Blessings, Kelly @ The Nourishing Home
Sounds so easy and so very frugal. Once I make it through my stash of Bath & Body Works soaps, I may just have to give it a try!
Thank you so much for this how-to! I have wondered a million times how to do this, and your instructions are so helpful and clear! I am excited to try this project!
I found you through Simple Lives Thursday, by the way.
https://mindofthemother.blogspot.com/
Vitacost.com has Dr. Bronners soap for very good prices. As well as lots of other health products.
Thanks for the soap recipe!
I have been doing this for years. It is wonderful. I got tired of spending money on expensive pumps that didn’t hold up, so I went to the cheap disount store picked out the bottle I like best poured the yucky soap doen the drain cleaned out the bottle and have been using it for years without trouble with my own castile soap. It cost me 1.29 for the bottle! I just took the lable off and it is a simple solif bottle. I could get creative and paint it or something, but it is a simple clean look. I like that. It takes so little soap to make the luscious form. I have been hooke don this for over 10 years. We are a family of 8, live on a farm and often have company and hand wash things in the sink…yet I can’t rmemebr the last time I replaced my gallon jug of soap that I use to fill my dispenser with! I highly recommend this method…it is so practical!
Great tip on the discount store! I almost never go to them since I try not to go out shopping too much and I typically have the “you get what you pay for” mentality, but you really did well! Thanks for the tip!
I have been waiting for all our store bought hand soap to run out before I start making my own. It’s almost all gone so I will definitely be using your directions soon.
I don’t have any foaming pumps though. Do they make empty ones or should I buy Deep Steep and use up the soap first?
I have tried two kinds of empty pumps; Pampered Chef and one by Cuisipro. Both models cost more money than the ones with soap in them and they still broke within a fairly short period of time.
I have had no problems at all with the Williams Sonoma ones (though I don’t believe that they have them any longer) or the Deep Steep. I have friends who have purchased foaming pumps in our local Meijer store, but I care about aesthetics too and I must say that I consider the Deep Steep ones to be more visually appealing (plus the ingredients are non toxic so I can use what’s in them before putting in my own soap mixture :-))
LOVE Dr Bronner’s! I currently use the lavender scent. Sometimes they go on sale at Target. I have two foaming pumps and also some diluted in an old shampoo bottle for use in the shower as shampoo and body wash.
Hi Wendy!
I love it too! I just got the orange scent after having the unscented for awhile. And thanks for the reminder about the body wash. That’s what we do too! I actually put a soap pump in our showers! By the way, we sometimes do group orders from Herbtrader.com which may have even better prices. I get discounts off their prices. Check it out and let me know if you’d like to be on my email list for when we order again!