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?
I’ve used this recipe over and over but just now read the comments and I’m wondering if you recommend using distilled or filtered water? I usually use tap but wondered about the bacteria growth I’ve seen mentioned. And if I continue to use tap water how long before you recommend disposing of the soap?
Hi there. It really doesn’t matter if you use filtered or distilled or tap b/c water will breed bacteria growth no matter what. In fact, I could see unfiltered being better b/c of the presence of chlorine. But I don’t like the other things in there. To be safe, 4 days is typically recommended.
So, you’re saying that you have to mix new soap every 4-5 days???!!!!!!!
Hey Amy. I know. Basically that’s a disclaimer. There are loads of people making this kind of thing and not changing it up every 4-5 days, but you can do whatever you would like. I have kept them out longer myself. Totally up to you, but technically you should have some kind of a preservative in there to keep the bad stuff out.
I actually just updated the post w/ a possible option for a natural preservative. Hope that helps. I hope to do more research into this kind of thing in the future. Thanks for reading!
What is the ratio of soap and glycerin?
Hi there–the amounts are written in the formula directions. Can you check and let me know if you don’t see it, please? Thanks!
I don’t see it either; unless one squirt is the amount?
So sorry! That was goofy for sure! It’s changed now. Happy soap making :)!!
Hi! Thank you for this intresting recipe! I live the eco-friendly lifestyle and like to use natural products. I’ve never tried to make homemade soap before. I have a question. How much soap will I get?
Hi there–you are welcome. It depends on how much base you start with. Please let me know if that doesn’t answer your question.
I know that this is an older post, but some are wondering about the actual foaming soap dispenser. I have one that I like so much I bought two as gifts and then ordered several more. Although the reviews are a bit mixed and there are several discouraging ones, I have had absolutely no issues with this one. AND it comes with a benefit: it has a printed on ‘recipe’ to get the ratios of water/soap and air correct to function well. This is ‘hidden’ behind the design and the colored top. I love this design, and only wish it was made of glass instead of the dreaded plastic.
It is found almost at the bottom of the 5th or 6th page (of 7) when searching foaming soap pumps on Amazon. Here is the link:
https://www.amazon.com/Better-Living-Products-70250-Dispenser/dp/B00DPMEJ98/ref=sr_1_239?keywords=foaming+soap+dispenser&qid=1554070253&s=gateway&sr=8-239
Just thought this might help some looking for options.
Thank you–very interesting!!
Two comments:
In my experience, hands down, the absolute best foaming soap pump dispenser that produces the best density suds and has the best life expectancy regarding breakage of the pump mechanism is not sold as a hand soap dispenser at all. It is the dipenser for a “fake latte foam” product called “Sebastian’s Barista Cafe Flavored Latte Foam Coffee Topping” that can be found in the coffee aisle at Walmart (though one could probably find it on Amazon as well). I bought it to try it out in my coffee since it is dairy & sugar free….but the taste was horrible & full of fake sugars and bad ingredients. At that time, my foam soap dispenser had just broken. So on a whim I cleaned out the “Flavored Latte Foam” dispenser, removed the outer plastic wrapping that contained the name and picture of the product so my hand soap didn’t say “latte foam for your coffee”, and filled it up with DYI foaming soap ingredients. Perfection. Smooth, never watery, perfect foam density every time. It works like a champ and hasn’t died in going on 2 years. When the plastic label is removed, the dispenser itself is simply opaque white plastic which can be decorated, drawn or painted on.
There are several anti-bacterial essential oils that can be added for a more “anti-bacterial” soap such as Oregano Oil, Tea Tree Oil, & Eucalyptus.
Neem oil is also anti-bacterial but it has an awfully pungent odor that reminds me of stale peanut butter. It is also more of a carrier oil than an essential oil so it could be used as a replacement for ingredients using moisturizing additives like the glycerine. Or canserve as a replacement for the oil in other DIY moisturizing foaming soap recipes that use oils like avocado & olive oil instead of glycerine. (I have not personally used been oil in a soap recipe because the smell of Neem Oil is hard for me to tolerate.
So interesting! Had you tried other pumps as well? And yes, neem is unusual in its smell for sure!
Hello,
I am worried about the bacterial growth. It is going to last at least 2weeks to use the foaming soap up even I make a small batch. Any suggestions? I like the feeling to wash my hands with castile soap, but I have no idea how much bacteria will grow when it is added with water.
Hi there. I just asked a skincare expert who said it shouldn’t be a problem and that the pH of the soap should keep microbes at bay. I can’t vouch for this since I don’t have that expertise but hopefully this is the case. I would clean the container out really well each time you use it. Thanks for reading!
Hi, thanks for this! Do you use solid or liquid glycerin?
Solid would be a soap made with glycerin, correct? You use liquid which is linked to in the post. Thanks for reading!
Where do you buy glycerine?
Hi Jean! There is some information in the post about that–what stores would carry it and online options too–let me know if you can’t find it!
What do you mean when you say 50% glycerin
It means 50% of the formula would need to be glycerin.
Don’t try this with Sam’s Club Member’s Mark aloe vera Soft Hands liquid soap refill. It leaves a solid precipitate at the bottom of your foaming soap dispenser bottle.
Ick. I would think they have ingredients that aren’t so great either but thanks for the info!