May 3, 2017
How to Make Foaming Hand Soap
This is one of those super simple, why haven’t I been making this forever sort of DIY recipes. With just two ingredients it’s easy to mix up and extremely economical. You can find this recipe and many more in my books. If you’re looking for hand sanitizer recipes you can go here for those.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- foaming soap dispenser(s) – reuse one you have or you can find the ones I used here
- 1-2 tablespoons castile soap (choose a scent that you love – citrus is my favorite!) – I use 2 tablespoons for 8 ounces of water (experiment with how foamy you want your soap to be
- 8 ounces of water (or whatever size your foamer is) – we go through soap really quickly so I use filtered tap water but if you don’t go through the soap quickly you’ll want to use distilled water
- funnel
- measuring spoons
Here’s how to make it:
- Place the funnel in the container.
- Measure 1-2 tablespoons castile soap into the funnel.
- Pour water over the soap.
- Place the lid on the dispenser and shake to combine.
Wash up! My kids love this soap and I love how foamy it is – it does a great job cleaning hands. Feel free to add 10-20 drops of essential oil to the liquid if you’d like a make a custom scent or amp up your germ-killing capabilities.
Curious what you can do with castile soap? Click on the link.
Jenn Says
Do your bottles hold up to essential oils?? Some bottles don’t.
Becky Says
Post authorYes
Jane Says
Would the two drops or so of essential oil be ok in the plastic?
Becky Says
Post authorYes!
Rolande Fortin Says
Hey Becky, How are ya? Just received your book and love it! Also thanks for the post on hand soap, it will be very handy , love it!…
Shannon Says
Question…can you use non-castile soap? I have a few bottles of “regular” hand soap that I’d love to make last longer!
Becky Says
Post authorFor sure!
Katrina Says
I am a big fan of foaming hand soap but had decided to switch to regular to save a little money and then just found this post and — perfect timing!
A couple of questions though. How is “castille” soap different from other soaps and where do you find it? I’m not funding it at any of my go-to stores.
Becky Says
Post authorCastile soap is a natural, vegetable-based soap. You can find castile soap on Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart, Costco….look in the beauty aisle if you can’t find it where other soaps are found.
Jenn Says
Why filtered/distilled water?
Becky Says
Post authorIt doesn’t have potential microorganisms like tap water does.
Amanda Says
Do you know if this recipe can be used in an automatic soap dispenser (e.g. Lysol automatic dispenser)?
Becky Says
Post authorI’m not sure – sorry!
Linda Says
I use it in mine…just reuse the original bottle for the soap dispenser…
Melissa Says
Love this!
CarrieH Says
I recently “discovered” you after buying your book, Simply Clean. I love this book–it has changed the way I think about cleaning and has totally changed the way I think about cleaning products. I have tried a few of your recipes for cleaners and so far am finding them to be much better than what I have been buying, and so much cheaper. Thanks so much for sharing.
Becky Says
Post authorYay! Welcome and thank you 🙂
Sharon Says
I hate to be a party pooper but I have just used the bottles from foaming hand soap and just replaced the soap with another brand of soap and VUELA! it is foamy too! (Soap I purchased from like the Dollar Tree or General Dollar store…so my thoughts are this……..the magic of the foam is in the bottle itself
Kristen D. Says
This is genius! I don’t know why I thought foaming hand soap and containers in the stores were somehow “magic”… Hahah!! Thanks for this! One question: Any way to make it “anti-bacterial”? Or is the Castile soap that kind?
Becky Says
Post authorHi Kristen! Thank you! Just the soap is killing the germs – the most important thing is to scrub for 30 seconds and you’ll be rinsing the germs down the drain 🙂
Kristen D. Says
I just made this! I haven’t had that much fun in a long time… kinda sad. Haha! I did a happy dance in my kitchen and my boys thought I was nuts. Then they couldn’t wait to try it…. 😉
This is AWESOME stuff!! Thanks for the tip above. 🙂 I’m glad to know that. I’m making this and sending it to my married kids… Thank you!
Terri Says
I have found that adding essential oils prevents the foaming…..we just get a very watery mix that smells nice.
Sandy Says
Ahh, that may be why mine is a bit watery, and I’ve been using about 1 1/2 ounces of soap per bottle.
Jen Says
Hi Becky,
I love your books and recipes. With this hand soap do I need to shake it before every use or just when I make it?
Ann Gloria Says
This post is great! I was made and currently using a chamomile foaming soap but am excited to try this one, after finish my last soap. Thanks so much 🙂
Michele Heiting Says
I made soap using Castile soap before and I found it left like a film in the bathroom sink. Have you experienced this with your recipe?
b r Says
Post authorI haven’t found this at all.
Leslie Says
I found I got a film too. I use a magic eraser to scrub it out. My sink is extremely old and yellow 🤮 so that might be why it sticks.
Allison Says
Hi, Becky. I followed your instructions for making the foaming castile soap and I put it in a clear glass dispenser. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks, but last night I noticed a cloudy layer had formed at the bottom of the bottle, and it swirls around when I pick the bottle up. Have you seen this before? Do you know what it could be and if I should stop using the soap? I’ve never used castile soap before, so I don’t know if this is normal/harmless. Thanks!
Clean Mama Says
Post authorIt can separate a bit – you can give it a shake or try to use it up in a month or so.
Caitlin Conrad Says
Hi Becky! I love this recipe and now use it in our bathroom and kitchen. I’ve found that in a few weeks it solidifies and makes the pump stick — causing it to shoot foam everywhere when you try to use it. Any suggestions to avoid this? Any pumps you find that work better than others? Thanks!
Clean Mama Says
Post authorTry using a little less soap and/or mixing up less – the foamers I recommended work well!
Staci Cotter Says
Hi Becky! I’ve read your Simply Clean and Your Guide to a Healthy Home and I am obsessed. Really been life changing and have been implementing changes all throughout our home. Thank you!
I bought some glass containers for dish soap and hand soap but the dispensers are not foaming. Do they have to be foaming for some reason or do you just prefer foaming hand soap?
Clean Mama Says
Post authorThank you Staci! You need to purchase foaming tops to make the dish soap and hand soap, they won’t foam up with normal dispensers. I have foaming hand and dish soap in the shop too:
https://shop.cleanmama.com/products/kitchen-sink-soap-bundle