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If a prize were to be given to the “world’s greatest dad,” I know just the man to win.
Okay, so maybe I’m a tad bit biased, but my father would certainly be a top qualifier. While not perfect (I’m sure he’ll agree), he’s the kind of man that makes the word “father” a warm, cozy feeling of nostalgic memories.
Growing up, my mom worked the weekends at the local hospital which meant my dad was on mommy/daddy duty every Saturday and Sunday. He did his very best to provide me with the weekend adventures every young girl dreams of: trips to Home Depot and the dump yard. (Seriously, I enjoyed every moment of our weekend trips.) And he always made Saturday mornings extra special with Bisquick pancakes and syrup (we didn’t know about real food just yet).
One of my most vivid memories of our weekends together will always be hand-washing. Silly, right? But, it’s true.
My dad was all about hand-washing! In the early 90’s little bottles of on-the-go soap weren’t available, but that didn’t stop my dad. Hand-washing was a habit he intended to instill in me. Along with flossing and brushing my teeth (probably due to his large investment in my pearly whites). Braces are not cheap, folks!
I still have happy thoughts when I look at a bottle of yellow Dial soap. Nostalgia!
Life is different from when I was five. I’ve learned pancake syrup isn’t real (sorry!), but maple syrup is pure heaven. I’ve also discovered pancakes can still be enjoyed every Saturday, made from a delicious homemade recipe versus a yellow box. Of course, with a switch to homemade, I’ve also discovered that orange soap is far from “healthy” or enjoyable (desert-dry hands anyone?).
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not all about natural perfection. But when a natural alternative is as easy as mixing a few simple ingredients in a jar and calling it a day, I’m all over it!
Homemade liquid hand soap is one of the simplest natural recipes you can make. In fact, it really doesn’t even need a recipe, but I’ll give you one. Homemade hand soap is a bit different in consistency (watery) from the orange thick soap my dad regularly squirted on my hands, but it does the job just the same, if not better.
So, suds up the kids and share the hand-washing love. My dad will thank you!
How to Make Homemade Hand Soap Video
DIY Liquid Hand Soap
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup castile soap liquid
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 1 TB vitamin E oil (optional)
- 1 TB sweet almond oil or olive oil or jojoba oil (optional)
- 15 drops tea tree essential oil optional
- 5-10 drops lavender essential oil optional
Instructions
-
In a mason jar or recycled soap dispenser, add the water first (to prevent bubbles) then the liquid castile soap, followed by the oils. Shake the ingredients together.
-
Shake the soap dispenser before using, then squirt a small amount on your hands as needed, rinsing with water.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
You don't have to use the essential oils. You're welcome to skip the essential oils or experiment with other options (lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, etc.).
The oil and vitamin E are added to moisturize the skin. You're welcome to skip these ingredients. Any oil will work: olive oil, avocado oil, skincare oils, etc. The oil won't blend with the water, so you'll need to gently shake the soap before use.
Castile soap is a plant-based soap made from vegetable oils (olive, coconut, palm) and plant oils. There are several reasons why castile soap is awesome…
- Super Versatile: You can make cleaning and body products with the same soap.
- Inexpensive: A 32-ounce bottle of castile soap will cost $17. Yes, this is more expensive than a bottle of all-purpose cleaner, but it will last you for months! Castile soap is highly concentrated so a little bit goes a long way.
- Non-Toxic: Castile soap is made with easy to recognize, simple, non-toxic ingredients. This is why you can use it on your skin and the surfaces in your home.
When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly. If you don't have distilled water, use filtered water and use the soap quickly.
The “where to buy” links provide you with information on the products I use to make this soap and many other DIYs.
Wow. I love how easy this is. I have most of the ingredients at home already!
faganeatspaleo.blogspot.com
Yay, Jamie! I love how simple homemade products are, with just a few ingredients multiple creations are possible. Enjoy!!
Don’t you need a preservative since water is being added?
Hey Leigh, For long-term use, yes. An effective natural preservative can be very expensive and hard to find. Hand soap is usually something that is used very quickly, so I don’t add a preservative; rather, I usually stick with distilled water to reduce any potential issues. This recipe isn’t a product that should sit around for the long haul. If you won’t use as much soap as the recipe calls for in a short amount of time, then I recommend reducing the amounts.
Hi,
You mention several times not to let this “sit around for the long haul.” About how long is that? I used filtered water but may I shouldn’t have. Should I toss it after a month or after a week? Please clarify.
I also read that tea tree oil and lavender oil may not be safe for young boys as it increases estrogen and can can issues. Not sure, but wondering what else I could use to still make it a germ killer.
Thank you,
Blakely
Hey Blakely, For filtered water, I will do about two weeks. Here are my best tips for working with water based products: https://livesimply.me/2016/09/02/my-safety-tips-for-making-and-using-natural-products/. You could skip the essential oils and still have a great product, particularly when you’re scrubbing your hands with hot water.
Hi Kirstin,
If you were to use saline solution in the place of distilled water would this lengthen the shelf life of the soap?
Hey Daisy, I’m not sure.
Frankincense essential oil is a natural antibiotic.
Hello!
I really want to use your soap recipe. I love your ingredients. However, I want to make a foaming hand soap. Can this recipe be tweaked to be used with a foaming soap bottle? Sorry if this is a duplicate question, but for some reason, I’m not able to read all the comments.
Thanks!
Hey Cindy, Yes, you can use this recipe just use a foaming soap bottle instead. Enjoy!
hi! i can’t get mine to stay mixed. i literally need to mix it each time i use it. thoughts? i didn’t use vitamin E oil.. could that be the cause?
Hey Erin,
The water and Castile soap will separate, that’s 100% normal. Once you shake it, they should blend together so you can use the soap.
Couldn’t you try using the xanthan gum to keep the hand soap stable so you don’t need to shake it?
Hey Carol, You may need something more to keep everything together (emulsify the gum and ingredients). If you have some xantham gum available it might be worth playing around with a small amount.
Could you suggest another soap? We have coconut allergies.
Hey Angie, A concentrated castile soap made with olive oil would probably be the best option. I looked around online briefly and found this one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Liquid-Castile-Soap-Unscented/dp/B00E78CFX6?th=1. It’s super expensive, but my guess is if this brand exists, there must be other options, too. There’s also this option: http://www.countryrosesoap.com/Organic_Castile_Liquid_Soap_p/lcso-32oz.htm. I recommend googling “olive oil castile soap” or “coconut free castile soap.” Hopefully there will be an affordable brand option. I’d love to hear what you find!
Make your own Castille soap and use only Olive oil…
https://livesimply.me/2014/09/02/diy-homemade-liquid-hand-soap/
I’ve recently learned that adding an emolsifier to EO helps it adhere to the base you’re working with (oil/water), by acting like a sort-of ‘glue’ for the two, keeping them together as opposed to the seperation that normally takes place with oil & water. Perhaps adding your EO’s to a Tbs or so of witch hazel may do the trick? There are online calculators that help to convert units as well as to input your EO’s so that you can be certain you’re following the correct usage guidlines with EO’s (1% dilution is recommended if children will be using the soap, I believe).
Thanks for the recipe & cute story about your dad ?
Hey Rebekah, Adding glycerin will also work in a similar way–add the glycerin and the EO, swirl it together, than add the remaining ingredients. I don’t add it to this recipe since castile soap is used versus just straight water. You definitely could.
I will be trying this recipe.
I sounds a better recipe than the one I made up.
Thanks Jamie!
Let us know how you like it!
LS Team.
I don’t mean this sarcastically, but as a real question. If you are using Dr. Bronner’s soap to make soap, why not just use Dr. Bronner’s for hand washing? Is it too concentrated and need to be diluted? Thanks.
Hey Holly, Not sarcastic at all :). Dr. Bronner’s is extremely concentrated which is one of the great beauties of this natural product, a little bit goes a long way. I buy a gallon at a time and it lasts months. With that gallon I’m able to make everything from body wash to hand soap and even laundry soap. Hope that helps :).
So, really, all you are doing is diluting the Dr. Bronner’s and then adding oils (nourishing and essential), correct?
Can you use other brands of castile soaps?
Correct, Janell! It’s that easy. Yes, you can use any brand of castile soap.
I live on a farm with access to well water. Lots of lime so we use a water softener for hot water. Should I purchase distilled for use in making your different soaps.
Hey Carla, Yes, I would use distilled water :).
For the nourishing oil, could I use olive oil?
Hey Krystal, Olive oil would work great!
Love the jar. Did you make it?
Hey Elizabeth, Thank you! I made the top (which I’m working on a tutorial for a later date) and the jar is a simple canning mason jar.
I love how the pump you added to the jelly jars. Such a cute idea! I can’t wait to try to make one myself.
Thank you, Marhia! Enjoy!!!
Hello,
Did you ever post instructions for the mason jar pump top?
I have searched the site and cannot find it.
Thanks
Hey Christine, We haven’t post the instructions/tutorial to this date. But here’s a similar method: http://lovegrowswild.com/2013/05/how-to-make-mason-jar-soap-dispensers/.
Hi! I just made this soap, and am wondering what can I add to make it anti-bacterial?
I didn’t have tea tree oil on hand when making it. I added Sweet Orange EO instead.
Thanks!
Hey Jill, You can also add lavender essential oils vs. the tea tree. Orange essential oil will also help with the cleaning. 🙂 Enjoy the soap!!
Hi, do you mean that adding 20-25 drops of lavender and omitting the tea tree would still make it anti-bacterial? Thanks!
Hey Natalie, Yes :).
Thank you!
Would this recipe still work well without using vitamin E? I love your blog!!! Thank you for all you do!
Hey Keri, Thank you so much. Vitamin E may cause the soap to be a bit slimy, so I’d only use a small amount (1/2 tsp). UPDATE: I apologize for my confusing answer. My answer was in regards to glycerin, not Vitamin E. I completely misread your question or been reading another comment about adding glycerin to a recipe. Yes, vitamin E is added to this recipe and won’t cause the soap to have a slimy feel. Adding glycerin will cause the soap to have a slimy feel.
And the answer: Yes, you can leave the vitamin E out of this recipe :). Again, I apologize for completely misreading your question and not answering in a helpful way.
I love this idea!!! MY granddaughter is very “soap” sensitive. … There are a lot of natural oils here on Maui am so excited to try different ones…I’ll keep u posted. .. Mahalos for your thoughtful healthy alternative gift….
Thank you so much, Ronnie! Enjoy!!
Hi: I’ve always wanted to try making my own soaps etc.. My hubby has extremely dry and sensitive skin. Is this moisturizing? I don’t want to buy the ingredients and then find out that he can’t use it. Although I could use it so it wouldn’t go to waste. But we buy a certain soap for him and I want to get away from that if I can. Thanks.
Hey Lynn, The addition of nourishing oil and vitamin E adds the moisture. You could start with a tablespoon of nourishing oil and add another half a tablespoon if needed. You could also use olive oil for the nourishing oil, so you don’t have to buy an extra ingredient. The essential oils are for cleaning, but also fragrance, so you could also leave those out for a trial to save money and get the feel for the soap. I personally think it’s moisturizing, but I’m not sure what someone with very dry skin will think as we all have our own preferences. You can also use the Dr. Bronner’s to make cleaning products, like surface cleaner.
Would this work with either a foam soap or liquid soap dispenser? or just the liquid soap dispenser you think…I ask because your recipe is similar to this pin and they’re using a foam dispenser… http://www.pinterest.com/pin/205265695492095825/
Thanks!
Melissa
Hey Melissa, I’ve seen many similar foaming recipes. I believe this recipe will work great in a foaming container, possibly even better than recipe in the Pinterest link as this recipe won’t be as watery.
Do you have to shake the soap each time prior to using???
Kim, I don’t if the soap is being used throughout the day, but after it sits overnight, I give the bottle a little shake in the morning.
Love this recipe!!! Will have to try soon!
Thank you, Madelyn!
First off, you’re making a big wierdo out of me 😉 Made your liquid laundry detergent recipe yesterday and my husband thinks I’m a hippie. He’s ok with it because of the money savings but when I started talking about making my own toothpaste he got a little scared. Anyway… I just read the recipe for “bandits oil” kitchen cleaner and see that mixing the oils in the alcohol dissolves it and takes care of the need for shaking. I wondered if you could add a little alcohol in here to do the same thing or if that would be too drying for the skin? However if you did, would that make it more antibacterial? Thank you for all the great posts!
Janelle, Lol, that’s just too funny! My husband was terrified of the whole toothpaste thing at first too ;).
I love the idea of adding alcohol to this recipe. I agree that it may dry out your hands a bit, so try adding 1/2 to 1 teaspoon and test it out. I’m not sure the small amount added will make a big difference with cleaning (and adding antibacterial properties), but it certainly can’t hurt or take away from the cleaning action. If you try it, let me know how it goes.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying all the posts!! Enjoy :).
Just made this and while it doesn’t seem as though the alcohol helps keep the oil from separating, it works WONDERFULLY in a foam pump! My husband will actually be pleased because for the last several months our soap hadn’t been foaming as I’d mixed 2 brands in the large refill bottle and there was some strange reaction but I didn’t want to just throw it out. So maybe score 1 for homemade natural products there 🙂 Oh I made your toothpaste recipe this morning too! I found a super cute purple (they had other colors too) BPA free silicon squeeze bottle at Target in the travel toiletries section for $4 and it was the perfect size! I didn’t put the stevia in as I didn’t feel like buying it and I don’t think I mind. I will have to get used to the salt taste though. I did notice my teeth felt clean & shiny after I used it. Thanks for the great recipes! Your shampoo & body wash are next once I get some empty bottles! Then kitchen cleaner once I acquire the necessary oils to make “bandits” 🙂
Yay!! That’s awesome, Janelle. I’m so glad the hand soap worked in the foam pump! You’re on a roll with the homemade products…great job! I agree, the toothpaste takes a little getting used to due to the salt. Now I don’t even notice the salty taste, but it took a few weeks to get used to it.
Totally forgot to add that I’m working on felting my wool dryer balls too! 🙂 I’m becoming a Live Simply junkie!
Lol, I love that! 🙂
Hi, I have tried your hand soap and other recipes containing Dr.Broone’s soaps but all leave a greasy layer on the bathroom sink or for the dish soaps a layer on the kitchen sink. Do you have the same problem?
Claudine
Hey Claudine, I haven’t had that issue, yet, in the few years I’ve been using it. Dr. Bronner’s also makes a “soap” called, “Sal Suds” that may help cut down on any greasy issues and can be used in place of the regular Bronner’s. I love Dr. Bronner’s, but it doesn’t do a great job on cutting tough grease. On jobs like that, I would recommend trying the Sal Suds.
hi, would vegetable glycerin work as an alternative for vitamin E oil?
Thanks
Hey Odette, The glycerin makes the soap a bit slimy. You could just add the nourishing oil and I think you will be able to skip the vitamin E.
Would this work in an automatic dispenser being it has to be shaken up periodically? We have one for my kids to cut down on overuse and messy pumps and would love to try this soap but not sure if it will work.
Hey Evelyn, I’ve never tried using an automatic dispenser, so I’m not sure. I actually go days without shaking my soap, so it can definitely sit for while and still work great. If you try it, please let me know!
Hi dear, is it ok if I add baking soda to the ingredients? Anyways, I love your blog!!!
Hey Rina, Thank you so much. I think the addition of baking soda will work well in this recipe.
Hi how long does the soap last for?
Hey Josie, It will last quite a while–a few months.
Hi Kristin, I see the Dr. Bronners soap has coconut oil in it. I’m allergic to coconut. Do you know of another alternative that I could use in place of it? Thanks!
Hey Roberta, I think all the castile soaps on the market contain coconut oil. This evening I’ll do some research and try to find a brand that’s coconut-free.
Awww thanks, you’re so sweet! 🙂
Were you able to find any castile soap that does NOT contain coconut oil as my husband is allergic as well? Thanks!!
Hey Courtney, So far I haven’t found anything :(.
You can find castille soap made with only Olive oil (which is what the original Castille soap was made from). Just have to do a search. Or you can use unscented dish soap like Palmolive. HTH
I just made this tonight and I’m in LOVE! I’m officially an addict of the site and I can’t get enough! My poor husband is looking at me crazily as I replace all the hand soap in our house 🙂
Lindsey…Lol, I love it! I’m so glad you love the hand soap. Enjoy!!
I just started doing homemade hand soap. I am going to give this a whirl. I am a young living esential oil user, if you want more info on that let me know! Love to share
Enjoy, Kristen!
Will this soap work in the automatic soap dispensers? (The Lysol the) I refill my containers with natural store bought soap but wanted to try this recipe.
Hey Tashida, I’m not sure if this recipe will work in an automatic soap dispenser.
HI,
Couldn’t Doctor Bronners be used as a liquid hand soap on its own? Sorry I am just a little confused as to why go to all the trouble of mixing so many things together when Doctor Bronners could be used on its own?
Am really interested to hear the responses!!
Hey Tracey, Dr. Bronners is highly concentrated so a little bit goes a very long way. Using straight Bronners may also dry out your hands.
I’ve just made this up! I used almond castile soap (smells delicious!) And I used lemon, orange, lavender, tea tree essential oils in the mix. A lovely fresh sweet and citrusy clean scent! It’s quite watery, but it seems to do a great cleaning job so it’s nice to know that I can dilute the castile soap and make it go a long way! I look forward to trying this out over the next while.
Hi I was wondering if I was to double the recipe and make a larger amount at one time, is that a problem? How long does it last, or stay fresh? We go thru a lot of soap and is easiest to have some to just refill are little dispenser.
Ok another question, do you have any info on the bacteria that may form in homemade soap? At this website http://www.greenideareviews.com/2012/07/22/diy-homemade-liquid-hand-soap-review-does-it-work/ He says it is not a good idea to have water based hand soaps as they can grow bacteria and fungus. I would rather here from someone that actually has used a homemade soap for a long period of time and what their results are?
Hey Alisha,
I noticed in the article that the author makes a great point, “…She pointed out that anything with water is at risk for microbial growth. Especially if tap water is used…” Water can equal bacteria growth in homemade products which is why I’m very careful when adding water to a DIY! For short-term use, I don’t have any issue with using tap water. In fact, I make most of our hand soaps with tap water because they are used within three weeks. If you’re planning to use the hand soap for a longer time period, I recommend going with distilled water. The author of the post also made a gallon of soap and the recipe was a bit more complex than this recipe. I wouldn’t recommend making a gallon of this soap due to the water issue (sitting on the shelf for months). Thankfully, this soap literally takes 5 seconds to make :). Hope that helps.
Do you have a dish washing receipe?
Hey Jmcobb, My recipe will be posted at the end of this month (it’s been on the calendar!) on Live Simply. I prefer to use Sal Suds (the cousin to castile soap) for dish washing soap.
Hi! I’m new at making homemade items. I found your post on here and am going to try to make your liquid hand soap. Thanks for sharing your posts!!
Welcome to Live Simply, Klunger! I think you’ll love making the hand soap.
That’s the 12 oz jar in your photo, right? I love that shape and I do have one in the cupboard…probably the best size, right? Because it’s just too much for a half pint but not enough for a pint and doubling wouldn’t fit in a pint lol
Hey Helen, Yes, this is a 12-ounce Ball canning jar :).
perfect ::) Does it thicken as it sits? because it’s like water right after making…
Helen, It should remain pretty watery, but when you apply it to your hands it should easily suds and clean.
I saw on another website where someone added guar gum to their recipe and it thickened it right up. Going to try!
Hey Tracey, Guar gum might work! Another option a reader recently shared is adding a tablespoon of salt to the recipe. I guess the soap thickens the soap? It’s worth a try!
The problem with that, though, Kristin…wouldn’t salt make your hands a bit dry? I love the oils you have in your recipe and want nice soft hands. 🙂 I actually tried the guar gum. You can see what happened at my blog here: http://traceys-journal.blogspot.com/2015/12/make-your-own-thick-liquid-hand-soap.html
It worked great! Just took a little trial and error. 🙂 Thanks again for this recipe!
Hey Tracey,
Yay, I’m so glad the guar gum worked! Thank you for sharing!
The salt may dry your hands out, but I don’t think that small amount would dry them out too much. I use a salt scrub on my hands weekly and it works very well, without any drying issues. I think the tablespoon wouldn’t be noticeable, but I could be totally wrong.
Oh, I see. Great!
Hi dear, I only have the castile soap (not the liquid-kind) in my country. Can it still work? How should I use it?
Hey Rina, You can add the grated castile soap to the water, baking soda and borax mixture. Just wait until the castile soap melts before you turn off the heat, and stir frequently.
Hi, I was just looking for a recipe like this! Thanks for sharing. I have Dr. Bronners peppermint soap can I use this? What about his sal suds product? Can you also tell me what the purpose of the tea tree oil is? Lastly, how long does this last? Can I make a large amount and store under the sink so I can easily refill my bottles? Thank you!
Hey Kaia, Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap makes a great hand soap! The tea tree adds cleaning power, but you can skip it and just use the castile soap, if desired. The soap, when using distilled water, will last a few months. You can definitely make more and store the extra under the sink. I just wouldn’t let the extra sit for longer than 3 months due to the water.
This could be a dumb question, but what does TB stand for (in measurements)?
Hey ilekca, Not dumb at all :). TB stands for tablespoons and tsp stands for teaspoons.
Can coconut oil be used for the nourishing oil or is it too thick?
Can the Vitamin E oil be omitted?
Can any Essential Oil scent be used?
Looking forward to trying this!
Hey Kara, Fractionated coconut oil may be used for the nourishing oil. Regular coconut oil (for cooking) will be too thick and clumpy. Vitamin E may be omitted. Any essential oil that doubles as a scent and additional cleaning power may be used. 🙂
Where do you get the pretty jar for your homemade hand soap?
Hey Heather, This jar came from HomeGoods. It’s a mason jar with a soap pump lid. I think it would be pretty easy to make :).
I just made this with fractionated coconut oil and it became very solid – I didn’t add water – any ideas why?!
Hey Lisa, Did you add water, or just the oil and castile? Try adding the water in the recipe. I think that will help.
I just made this soap and I love the smell, but it is very “watery”. How can I make it a little thicker since my hubby is accustomed to store bought soap and I don’t want him to snub my creation! LOL
Hey Angel, I’m so glad you like the smell. The soap will be pretty watery (especially compared to store-bought soaps), but you can try adding more castile soap to thicken the mixture, if you have room in your jar. I believe a couple of readers thickened their soap with xanthum gum. You could also add the soap to a foam pump bottle (if you have one available). I hope your husband likes it :)!
I made this with goat soap that I get from local farm, they said it would be fine to use with dishes, but it seems kind of greasy and no suds at all, any suggestions/
Hey Heather, I’ve never tried using a bar of goat soap, but I think that may be the issue. The Sal Suds, in particular, is a phenomenal grease-fighter! The castile soap also fights grease more than regular bar soaps.
Oops I meant for this to go homemade dish soap, sorry!
Can I add this DIY liquid hand soap recipe, along with a link to your site to my blog? I am writing a DIY story right now on all my favorite DIY recipes for the home and i love your recipe. thanks!
Hey Everley, Thank you for asking. I’m so glad you like the hand soap. You’re welcome to add a link in your post, for example: “Find my favorite hand soap, here.” We don’t allow the full recipe/directions to be copied to another website per copyright laws. I look forward to seeing your post. Best, Kristin
Thank you for posting this awesome DIY! I am wanting to get into soap making, and I’ve never made liquid soap before. Would this castile soap work ( http://www.target.com/p/dr-bronner-s-unscented-baby-mild-pure-castile-soap-32-oz/-/A-10770135#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=Organic+Castile+Liquid+Soap+Unscented ) ? I’m not sure if it’s undiluted or not.
Thanks again!
Hey Jessica, Yep, that’s exactly what you need :)!
For those who are asking, I use a foaming soap pump for this recipe, and it works GREAT! 🙂 Just wanted to share.
Awesome, Paula! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Kristin,
I was in the midst of making this soap when I ran across one of your other reader’s questions where she asks about not using the vitamin E and your answer was “Vitamin E may cause the soap to be a bit slimy, so I’d only use a small amount (1/2 tsp).” – which made me a little confused because A. It didn’t seem to answer her question and B.I thought the recipe called for a whole Tablespoon! If not, what does TB stand for? Sorry, I sound so uneducated! And thanks for all your great recipes!
Hey Debbie, I apologize for the confusion. My answer was meant to answer a glycerin question. Glycerin will make the soap slimy, not vitamin E. I’ll have to go back and make sure I answered that question correctly :). Thank you for pointing this out. The TB does stand for tablespoon. 🙂
____
Okay, I went back and searched the comments. Yep, I totally missed that one. I’m not sure how I misread her comment (I often answer a bunch of comments at one time or maybe it was incredibly late at night), but I did! My answer was totally off from her original question. Yep, glycerin will make the soap slimy (a question many people ask when it comes to body wash and soap recipes on the blog), but vitamin E doesn’t have this same effect. And to answer her original question: Yes, vitamin E can be left out of the soap.
Thank you so much for pointing this out!
Oh whew! So glad to hear that because I had just added a TB of vitamin E oil to my hand soap and was almost in a panic that I was going to have slimy hands! Haha! I did end up splitting into two and adding more water and soap and skipping the Almond oil just in case. It works fine by the way even with only half a TB of vitamin E! Another great recipe! And thanks for answering so quickly. I know you are very busy with your new kitchen and all! 😉
Debbie,
You’re welcome! I’m so glad it went well. And thank you again for pointing out my comment… I was way off, lol!
We just moved out of our house so new floors can go in this week. The kitchen is so close to being done. So close.
Easy peasy! I just did this with some creative measuring (eyeballed it) and some substitutions and inspiration from your shower wash recipe: a few spoonfuls of vegetable glycerin, a few drops cinnamon leaf oil, a bunch of drops of orange oil, and 3:2 ratio of Dr. Bronners unscented soap and coconut oil to fill my mason jar. I also came across pump top mason jar lids premade at Target and picked one up.
Awesome, David! It’s great to hear the soap-making process was easy peasy!
I am wondering if I want to leave out the vitamin E, could I add something such as shea butter to the recipe.
Hey Nidya, Definitely–I’ve been playing around with a homemade shower gel using shea butter! I recommend adding 1 TB melted shea butter. If you try it, let me know how it goes!
I’ve had success using just 1/4 cup of soap with 3/4 water. I’ve been lazy, or just in dire need of handsoap, and left out the other ingredients and it’s worked just fine. Germs are physically removed and washed down the drain anyway. I do try to make a point of adding the other ingredients in winter though since the outside cold and inside heat are already so drying. Lastly, I have reused a foaming dispenser and it works great.
Thanks for everything!
Awesome, Katie! I’m so glad it worked with just the water and soap. Thank you for sharing. I need to track down a new foaming dispenser for my hand soap.
I have heard that Bed, Bath & Beyond has a foaming soap dispenser, but personally haven’t used. If I do I will let you all know!
Let me add that if your kids are not used to a foaming dispenser you will go through a lot of soap at first. You’d be amazed at the mountains of foam they can make in their hands! Hey Mom! Look at this! Lol!
Lol, too funny! Good advice ;). Thank you, Katie.
Awesome, Katie! Thank you for sharing.
Hi Kristine,
I’m enjoying many of your home made recipes, and hope to soon be trying more of them.
I was just wondering if you have a recipe for shampoo I have a very dry sensitive scalp and I would like to try a natural option hoping it will be less irritating to my scalp, hope you know of something.
Thanks =)
Hey Ismael, It’s great to hear you’re enjoying the homemade recipes here on Live Simply! I don’t have a homemade shampoo recipe or recommend any on the internet. Shampoo is something I haven’t been able to achieve, successfully. Right now I use Everyday Shea for shampoo: http://amzn.to/1MiFNwZ.
My husband has similar issues with scalp dryness and sensitivity and I find the best natural shampoo/conditioner that works for us is the Carina Organics brand (you can order online). I especially love the Peppermint Cooling Scalp Stimulating conditioner..
I tried this recipe and have even added more oils but still find it drying out my hands. I do have extremely dry skin. How can I make it more moisturizing?
I also have very dry skin with eczema and I was wondering if u recommend anything else to substitute dr bronners unscented Castile soap(too drying for my skin) or anything I can add to mellow it out more? Would vegetable glycerin help? Thank u in advance????from Jen Furtado ..ur very sweet at how u respond to everyone’s questions
Hey Jen, There isn’t a substitute for castile soap in this recipe, at least I don’t know of one. You could reduce the amount of castile soap by half, then maybe add a tablespoon more of nourishing oil.
Hi Kristin,
Came across your site. I recently wrote a post on my new Green Living blog and mentioned this article! It’s awesome. Although I have not had the time to try to make my own soap I do have some ingredients and think I will actually give it a try. I’ll let you know how it goes. 🙂
Regards,
Barbara
Hey Barbara, Thank you so much. I look forward to checking out your blog.
I appreciate the thought behind this “recipe” but unfortunately it didn’t work at all for me. It felt a bit too runny when washing, but above all it left a residue all over the sink (which other soaps have never done). I think it might have been the oil.
Either way, cue A LOT of scrubbing the sink. Now we’ve finally used up the soap I mixed, and will use something else in the future.
Thanks for sharing, Jo. I’m not sure where the oily residue would come from. The one or two tablespoons of oil shouldn’t make a big difference compared with the large amount of soap and water used. Best of luck!
Is the lavender/peppermint oil in the hand soap necessary or could I substitute another scent? I don’t care for either, although I know lavender is soothing. TIA
Hey Mary, Any skin-safe essential oil may be used :). Enjoy!! I’d love to hear what you add.
I was so excited to make this!howeever I made it and the next morning woke up to use it and found it had completely separated into two layers. Is this normal, did I do something wrong, or will I always have to shake the soap?
Thanks!
Hey Brandy, Separation is very normal in homemade products like this. You’ll just need to shake the jar every few days (after a while the soap may not separate so easily).
Love how simple your DIYs are. Have you tried adding emulsifier so there’s no need to shake before using?
Hey Monica, Thank you! I haven’t tried an emulsifier since this hand soap doesn’t last very long in our house, but it’s definitely worth a try! If you try something, let me know how it goes!
Mine separated within minutes. I followed the recipe to a T.
Hey Shae, That’s completely normal :). Separation occurs in natural products (like natural peanut butter). Just give the soap a gentle shake before use.
Hi Kristin,
I apologize if someone already asked this, but there were a lot of comments to read!
Will this recipe make a soap of “watery” consistency. I mixed up a bit of castile soap, water, and essential oils just on a whim without looking up recipes, and it’s basically like water. I was hoping for a more “soapy” feel if that makes sense.
Do I need to add glycerin for a thicker soap?
Thank you!
Hey Lindsey,
Yes, this recipe will produce a watery soap in the jar, and a soapy feel once you start to rub your hands. Store-bought soap contains thickeners to help give it that thick soap-like texture. There are two options: 1/ A couple of reader had great success using a bit of guar gum to thicken the soap. Another reader said she had good success using a bit of salt…not sure about the method, but may work? 2/Using a foaming soap dispenser (purchased at home stores) will maintain the watery consistency in the jar and produce a lovely foam on your hands vs. an initial watery texture.
I accidentally added glycerin instead of my almond oil, but I use the kitchen hand soap so fast it probably won’t matter. I put the glycerin back on a different shelf. The bottle is the same size as my almond oil.
Hey Kathryn, It may feel a bit slimy, but the soap should still work :).
I absolutely love this hand wash. I used jojoba oil, lavendar, and some Oatmeal cookie dough fragrance so my son’s would be more receptive to it since they aren’t fans of lavender. The oatmeal and lavender smell amazing and my hands feel so soft. I can’t wait to make the body wash! Thank you so much!
Sounds amazing, Christine! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the hand soap!
I was wondering what the shelf life on this is since you added distilled water but no preservative. I’ve been changing out most of my households products to a DIY version but I hardly ever see anyone adding a preservative to products with water. This makes me wonder how long my DIY products are safe to use since you can’t really see if bacteria has grown. Any help would be appreciated as I’d like to give this DIY version a try.
Hey Linda, I haven’t found a natural preservative that I feel good about using my homemade products. There are a ton of suggestions floating around online, but many of them require very large amounts of the preservative to really work (from my research). You could try adding salt to this recipe, but I’m not really sure it will preserve the finished product, or how much you’ll need. Of course, anytime water is introduced into a product, the chances of bacteria growth increase. There are a few safety precautions I take when making homemade products:
1/ Use distilled water as much as possible.
2/ Use clean containers–many times bacteria is introduced into a product due to a dirty container.
3/ Make smaller batches of homemade products that use water–my laundry soap is my one exception since it makes a gallon, but I’ve never personally had any issue with it.
4/ Keep an eye on products containing water, and toss anything with growth or an unusual odor. I haven’t personally experienced this, yet.
This hand soap recipe is really easy to make, so you could definitely decrease the recipe to make an even smaller container, so you’re making the soap frequently. My soap usually sits for about a month, without issue, but feel free to make the soap in smaller batches and more frequently.
Hey Kristin,
I’ve been following your website religiously for the past couple of months, and I wanted to thank you for the great recipes you’re publishing! On my quest to live more simply and without plastic they have been an absolute godsend! I tried the hand soap recipe for the first time today and I love it. I put a bit of xanthan gum and blended it together, and it gave it a really nice consistency, so I would recommend it for those who don’t have a foaming pump. Thank you again, and I can’t wait for your next invention!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog, Juliette! Thank you so much for sharing–it’s such a blessing to be part of a community of amazing readers. I love that you added xanthum gum to thicken the recipe–great idea!!
Have you done the math to see how much money it costs to make each bottle of soap, and if it is really cost effective?
Hi I was just wondering do you need the tea tree oil of if you can use something else. My husband has really fair and sensitive skin I was going to use Dr. Bronners baby Castile soap but then I noticed the recipe calls for 15 drops of tea tree ESO and he hate the smell of that stuff. Is there a fragrance free or a substitute I could use?
Hi Kristin
I really like your website,although I haven’t had a deep look on it yet…work+home…but if I have some time livesimply is my favorite site 🙂
I’m trying to live healthy but it seems not affordable sometimes. any tips and advice.
I really want to teach my kids to eat healthy, I didnt grew up like that and I would love to give them that chance.
Few questions if it isn’t too personal;
what oil do you use for cooking?
whats your main food source?
where do you live?
cane sugar vs brown sugar?
milk or raw milk? hard to get raw milk here sometimes…
is castille soap same as vegetable soap? I cant find castille soap here
I like the fact that you take time for your subscribers and answer back
Hey Mona,
I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog. I cook with olive oil and avocado oils, mainly. My main food sources are a local co-op, a local health food store, and Whole Foods. I live in Florida. I use both cane sugar and brown sugar for special treats, and honey or maple syrup for regular baked goods. I have a trusted source for raw milk, so that’s my preference. If you don’t have a trusted, safe source for raw milk then low temperature pasteurized (like Organic Valley’s Grass Milk) is a great option, IMO. I’m not sure if castile soap is the same as the vegetable soap you’re referring to. I recommend comparing the ingredients online.
Hi again
I truly appreciate that you took time to answer back.
I did make the soap today and the kids are enjoying using it. I didnt have tea tree oil so I put vanilla extract. What do you think of that. The soap came out fine, not too running nor thick. Perfect!
I’ve ordered castile soap and tea tree oil and peppermint so hopefully next time I will do it properly.
Really love your blog. The only blog that I actually read at the moment.just started so long way to go.
I’m a working mum, and sometimes I think of quitting in order to stay home prepare things for the kids and make more healthy food.
What will your advice be to a working mum who wants to live healthy and make healthy foods?
I am teacher by the way and like you know teacher do take their work with them home so a bit confused.
enjoy your day….
Hey Mona, Vanilla extract probably provides a wonderful scent to the soap. Tea tree is added for the antibacterial properties, but it isn’t 100% necessary to make the soap. When it comes to working and living a healthy lifestyle, I believe it’s important to prioritize. When we started on our journey I was a full-time stay-at-home mom, but now I work full-time (within our home) as a freelance food writer, photographer, and on the blog. It’s tough to “do it all” so I don’t. I priortize what I can make versus purchase pre-made. Here’s a bit more about this topic: https://livesimply.me/2015/03/20/homemade-vs-store-bought-5-important-questions-you-must-ask/.
I wanted to know a DIY hand soap recipe which I can use in a touchless dispenser (Simple Human). I tried using just Castile Soap (4tbsp) with filtered water and the consistency now is like water so the dispenser just splashes it all around. I am afraid of putting oil in it as it may clog the internal mechanism. Please advice.
I love this recipe you mentioned here but for that I would have to give away my love for the touchless dispensers, which I want to avoid but not at the cost of health..:)
Thank you so much!
Meenal
Where did you get the pump shown in the photo?
Hey Sarah, I believe this pump dispenser came from Michael’s Craft Store. They sell the mason jars and a kit to make the pump. Another place it may have come from is HomeGoods.
Kristin, out of all the blogs about soap and natural beauty products I always go to yours first and usually look no further. Excellent posts and simple recipes. Thank you SO much!
Hey Cate, Thank you so much! I’m so glad Live Simply has been such a great resource for you!!
Hi Cate, I follwed the recipe exactly but find it so dry to my hands that it is unusuable as it is. Should I try just addingmore water to the ratio or more of the vtamin E or almond oil? I tried the Castille soap on its own and that is thedrying culprit.
Hey Janice, I would try diluting it more with water. The castile soap is what’s drying, so diluting it should help. You could also try adding a bit more vitamin e and oil, but not too much.
Hi Kristin!
Love your blog. 🙂 Could I substitute the vitamin e for aloe vera gel? (sorry if this was already asked, I searched through the comments for a bit but didn’t find this questions).
Thanks!
Hey Kristina, Thank you so much! Yes, aloe vera would be a great substitute/addition to this soap!
Hi! I’m very interested in this recipe and want to try it out but have a couple questions. Are you using the tea tree oil specifically for preservation, because there have been links to toxicity in cats, and I have three in my home and would prefer an alternative to tea tree. Also, are the peppermint and lavender oils used for fragrance only? Could I sub any essential oils/extracts here to scent however I like?
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Hey Aubrey, There isn’t enough tea tree in the recipe to act as a preservative, so it can definitely be left out. I use it for its cleaning properties. The same with the lavender and peppermint oils. You’re welcome to sub out/in any oils you prefer :).
How much soap does this mixture make? like how many soap dispenser bottles? or is it just one 8 oz bottles worth?
Hey Janet, This will make one 8-ounce bottle.
I am about to make my first batch and since it is my first I want to follow the recipe exactly. But I am wondering if anyone has tried adding stearic acid or emulsifying wax to keep it from separating?
I am new to your blog. Looks like lots of cool info! Thank you!
Hey Micheal, Welcome to Live Simply! I haven’t personally tried adding an emulsifier. If you do, let me know how it goes!
Hi Kristin! Thanks again for your AWESOME blog, I’m about to try your recipe and I’ve read all your comments (yes, all-lol) so my question is, will solely using Dr B’s soap and water wk for a good thorough hand cleanser? I change dirty diapers throughout my day on top of the “Mommy, ready for you to clean me”,so I’m reluctant to create this since I’m missing the oils. I would love your op.
Thanks again!
Hey Val, Thank you so much! Yes, using Dr. Bronner’s alone with create a great soap…no need for extra oils if you don’t have them on hand! I just add the essential oils for the additional boost.
Okay so I’ve read through ALL the posts, can you believe it? My question is with all the recent issues regarding the antibacterial soaps on the market I’m wanting to Fill up my Kitchen soap Dispenser! This dispenser is actually attached to the sink, so you just lift off the knob and fill with soap. Can this recipe or any other recipe you can think of dollars this job? I will Not be able to shake the dispenser because of it being attached to the sink. So what are your thoughts on a recipe of this kind. I would be filling up a lot at a time and unable to shake.
Hey Julie, I’m honestly not sure if it will work in the kitchen soap dispenser. I would be concerned that it wouldn’t work because the soap dispenser is probably designed with thick commercial soap in mind.
Hi Kristin, would this liquid hand soap be safe for face washing and eyes? Thanks 😀
Hey Elena, It is safe for face washing, but it may leave your skin feeling dry. This may be a better option: https://livesimply.me/2016/05/29/easy-diy-foaming-body-wash-multi-purpose/.
Hi Kristin, I am looking for a hand soap recipe w/o Castile soap. I have hard water and leaves a sticky/waxy reside in your hands and on the sink. I am testing Sal Suds for household cleaning but Lisa Bronner doesn’t recommend it being used for body cleansing as it dries out the skin. Any advice on an alternative?
Hey Mona Lisa, I personally use my Sal Suds dish soap to wash my hands in the kitchen, particularly after touching something that’s greasy. Sal Suds can leave the skin feeling dry, as you mentioned, and even irritate some people’s skin (since it has a detergent composition), but so far I haven’t had any issues.
Just what I was looking for! Gonna try this out.
I love this recipe! Is there any way to make it a bit thicker though? Toddlers and squirty liquid soap can be extra messy!
Hey Erica, That’s so great to hear! My best advice is to use a foam pump dispenser. This is what I use in my kids’ bathroom, and it works so well! You can see it here: https://livesimply.me/2016/05/29/easy-diy-foaming-body-wash-multi-purpose/.
i have made this soap a lot over the past year (thank you!). i gave it a rest over the summer because the soap started to have a bit of a funky smell, and i thought it was our hot weather that might be causing it. pulled out my gallon of dr. bronner’s baby unscented castile soap to start up again, and here’s that funky smell. it smells kind of like cooking oil. everything i’ve read says that it should have a very long shelf life (years) so it shouldn’t have gone “bad,” but something doesn’t seem right. ideas? thank you!
Hey Tami, Yikes! Maybe the soap is bad. It should last for many years. I would contact Dr. Bronner’s and let them know. I bet they will help you get another bottle since this sounds like an issue on their end. Let me know how it goes!
Giving your recipe a try. A few questions – In the photo you show an Aura Cacia organic skin care oil – is that the “1 Tbsp sweet almond oil or jojoba oil” in the ingredient list? Would grape seed skin care oil by the same company work here, it has added Vitamin E ? The only match I found for the photo was Aura Cacia Vegetable Glycerine Organic Skin Care with the matching green leaves(?soy) but you mentioned somewhere that this can make the soap slimy. Confused on this part. Would using Bronner’s eucalyptus soap work the same, (no need to add essential oil)? I want to use this in a foamer pump, is the ratio of soap to water the same for a foamer pump? I did read the previous Questions/Answers but didn’t see answers to my questions.
Hey Jane, Yes, the bottle pictured is the nourishing oil from Aura Cacia, jojoba or sweet almond oil. You can use pretty much any nourishing skin oil, even olive oil or grapeseed oil. Sorry about the confusion. You won’t need glycerin for this recipe. Yes, the essential oils may be skipped, especially if you’re using a scented castile soap. For a foaming pump dispenser, the same ratios may be used. Hope that helps!
So, I’d just making my own handsoap after being diagnosed with an allergy to all artificial fragrances and a bunch of essential oils to boot–I was just using a combination of castor oil and a carrier oil, with a little lavender and patchouli added (my two favorite scents, neither of which I’m allergic to, thank goodness)–and then I found your recipe and I got some Dr. Bronner’s and some pump bottles and made soap as per your instructions (and am glad, because I’d been wondering if my mixture was actually getting my hands CLEAN)…but I find that I kind of hate the foam (I got so used to washing my hands with oil!). So here’s my question: if I didn’t add the boiled water, if I just made liquid soap by “diluting” the Dr. Bronner’s with, say, apricot kernel oil, would that work, do you think?
Hey Michelle, Technically, you could use Dr. Bronner’s by itself without any diluting, but it may be a bit too harsh on the hands (which is why it’s usually diluted). The oil should help with the soap, or glycerin.
oops–typo: “I’d just begun making” is what I meant to say–sorry
Kristin,
I love the idea of reusing jars, where did you get the pumps and did you have to drill a hole in the lid, or how did you attach the pump?
Hey Bonnie, I purchased this jar pre-made. I believe Michael’s Craft Store sells the lid/pumps for mason jars. I’ve also seen them on Amazon recently. http://amzn.to/2kAk5zX
Hi, Bonnie. Thanks for sharing this great article on liquid soap- making.
Do you know of anything that would make the soap last longer before spoiling? It takes me about two months to use a bottle of hand soap. I suppose I could just make smaller portions but in the mean time just wondering if a little witch hazel or anything like that would make it last longer. Thanks again!
Hey Vicki, I personally keep our soap that long, using distilled water. I wonder if you could add citric acid–it’s a natural preservative and it acts as an emulsifier–so it may even create a nicer soap product! http://ethicalfoods.com/citric-acid/
Good day
Im hoping you can help me.
Today I tried to make a liquid handsoap using:
Half cup distilled water
Half cup castille
1 tbspoon sweet almond oil
Tea tree essential oils to scent
(I ommitted thw vit e oil due to finances at the moment)
The batch was VERY runny so I looked online to find that adding a salt solution can thicken the soap base. So I added about 20ml of distilled water with dissolved salt to the solution.
This did the trick and I was so happy! But when I went to use it again I saw that it had separated. The thicker solution had gone to the top leaving a thin watery solution at the bottom. So I gave it a good shake and after 2 minutes it had seperated again. Any ideas why this happened or what I did wrong?
Please help.
Hey Sjaneen, This is very normal. Separation is going to occur in this product :). I haven’t tried the salt trick, but I know a few people have commented with good results. I’m not sure if they experienced a similar issue.
Wonder what would happen if you added some coconut oil, would that turn it more gel-like after putting it in the fridge?
Also, probably not a big deal but Tea Tree Oil and Lavender are suspected estrogen enahncer/endocrine disruptors for boys. So I’d probably leave those out if males are using it regularly. The study suspected a correlation to boys using lotions with those oils in it.
Hey Robert, My guess is that the coconut oil will curdle or become chunky. I don’t think it would gel, but you could try it. You could leave them out, but they do add beneficial cleaning properties.
Be aware that children with peanut and tree nut allergies should “NOT” use this soap.
Hey Jean, Is that due to the coconut used in the castile soap? If not, can you explain. We don’t have any allergies in our home, so I’d love to learn more. Thank you!
Anytime I have used essential oil in a soap blend it eats through the plastic dispenser. Do you have any solutions?
Hey Lynne, I would try a glass soap dispenser (or containers), or greatly lower the dilution of the essential oil.
Hi 🙂 What scent did you use in the Castle Soap? 🙂
Hey Amber, I love orange and lavender.
Can i use this a body wash as well? Thanks 🙂
Hey Lucy, Yes, you can :).
Hi Kristin, I have another recipe for DIY hand soap that has your exact ingredients except that vegetable glycerin is added to it. I already have vegetable glycerin, so I figured why not! However, I was wondering if you could explain what beneficial properties it adds to the mixture? Thank you!
Hey Amanda, The glycerin just adds moisturizing properties since castile can be a bit dry. It definitely can be left out.
Hey Kristin,
I am trying to make my own in a mason jar but I was wondering where you found the pump top for the jar. Thanks!
Hey Rachel, My jar and lid came together as a kit. I’ve seen the tops at Michael’s Craft Stores and Home Goods.
Hi,
Can you explain why distilled water vs. tap water? Does the same go for castile soap all purpose cleaner?
Also, can you explain how “quickly” it needs to be used – particularly when I mix my own all purpose cleaner w/water and castile soap?
Hey Amber, Here’s more information: https://livesimply.me/2016/09/02/my-safety-tips-for-making-and-using-natural-products/
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 🙂
Hi! Love your site, IG, etc! I was wondering if you cud use this in a foaming hand pump? Thanks!
Thank you, Diane! Yes, this works really well in a foaming hand pump.
Just tried this recipe! It came out super watery which I’m sure is what’s supposed to happen, but we don’t have a foaming dispenser so it doesn’t work as well. Going to try thickening it up with some salt solution, but otherwise, LOVE IT!
Any way to make it thicker? I squirt it out onto my hands and it goes everywhere cause its so “thin” of a liquid.
Hey Kelsey, There are two options: Use 100% castile to wash your hands (it’s thicker) or reduce the water amount. Or, use a foaming soap dispenser.
Hi Kristin
I’ve been reading up a lot of handwash recipes to figure out the best one for myself. Although the ingredients remain the same, the castile soap to water ratio is different in almost all of them. some say 1:1 (like yours), others say as low as 1:2/1:3
Any idea why this difference? I don’t mind my soap being watery till it is effective.
Also, I plan to eventually gift this to my sister in law & niece (she is a toddler). I’ve heard some essential oils are not good for kids. Would you be able to guide me with that.
Thanks!
Anuja
Hey Anuja, Castile is really concentrated, so you can dilute a lot or very little. Some people find castile to be too drying, so they dilute the castile quite a bit. A great blog to read that discusses castile is http://www.lisabronner.com/. Her family owns the Dr. Bronner’s company. A good blog for the EOs question is http://www.usingeossafely.com/. She has a chart and information about oils to keep away from kids.
Thank you! this was very helpful
this is a really good alternative to regular handwashes, thank you..can you mention the period it can be used without getting spoilt
Hey swetha.s.patil, That’s going to depend on a lot of factors (water used, how it’s stored in between uses, etc.). About three weeks is a general idea.
I made my first batch two weeks ago – identical recipe with unscented Dr. B.’s Castile soap; distilled water and essential oils. Did not add Vit E Oil but did add a teaspoon of original Dawn dishwashing detergent into the mix as well as two tablespoons of vegetable glycerine. Put into a empty foaming soap dispenser and it works beautifully and the mixture does not separate……. I suppose the addition of the commercial dishwashing detergent takes away from the whole “natural” thing but I am happy with the results.
Love the smell however it work’s better with a foaming hand wash dispenser not a regular liquid soap dispenser.It really make’s my hand’s soft
I agree, Mary! Thanks for sharing!
Hello. I have followed the instructions, but the result is very watery and my kids will not use it. They do not like foaming soap and we’re looking for something close to regular hand soap. Is there something I can add to this recipe for a thicker result? Thank you
Hey Stacy, I’ve read about people adding salt to the mixture and this helping to thicken the soap. I personally haven’t tried it. You could just use 100% castile soap.
Thank you so much for your blog and posts! I am currently switching my home over to a more natural and ecofriendly place and your recipes are lifesavers! Plus I love your wit and sense of humor! Where do you find your glass pump jars (at a reasonable price– I don’t want the 14.99 ones in the bath section of stores) I want to gift some hand soap. THANKS
Hey Ann, That’s great! I find them at home stores, like Michael’s Craft Store or Target.
I love this soap!! I use the castille soap that already has tea tree oil and I play around with other oils but usually go with an immune blend. Thanks so much!!
Hey Ellie, I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Thank you for sharing.
I am really enjoying using my homemade hand soap. I am down to about 1/4 of my ball jar left and I noticed there is condensation on the inside of my jar near the top and a little down the sides. Is that normal? Is that a sign that the soap needs dumped and remade? I only used Dr. Bronners and water for mine.
Hey Jennifer, Hmmm, good question. I believe it is normal from my experience. Definitely dump it if you see any growth.
Hi Kristen, and thank you for your blogs, I love them. I am a newbie at this, but determined to have a toxin free home, to the extent that I am able. I have been making toothpaste, mouthwash, body wash, laundry soap, all purpose cleaners, etc. I love using natural products and love not paying those high prices for the toxic stuff in the stores. I appreciate what you are doing for all of us! Just wanted to give thanks.
Thank you for sharing, Patricia. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes and blog.
Hello…I am curious what the thought is on using organic witch hazel in place of the distilled water is….it would work as a preservative correct? KB
Hey KB, Yes, I definitely think that will help.
This will be my first attempt at a DIY soap.. and I’m a little confused. Can I choose any type of Castille soap/essential oils? I see there are kinds with all different scents/oils.
Hey Courtney, Yes, any type of castile works :). I personally recommend any variety of Dr. Bronner’s.
I just made this DIY recipe and LOVE the minimal ingredients, the smell, and the health in it (with the oils & Vit E Oil). Thank you SO much for promoting a CHEMICAL-FREE lifestyle and for sharing this wonderful recipe for others to choose that lifestyle too! I will definitely be doing this for a long time! <3
I have lavender-scented castile soap, and when I tried a variation of this recipe, I found that my hands were still very dry. It was just my first attempt, though. My question is: Can I add something to this soap to exfoliate (like brown sugar, ground oatmeal, etc.?
Hi,
I read some of the comments, and you mentioned that with filtered water this soap should last about 2 weeks, but in another post you mentioned this should last about a few months. Does this mean if we use distilled water the soap should last longer?
Hey Annalisa, Yes, distilled water should last longer.
I love this recipe, I’m using it as hand soap and also shower gel/body wash.
Do you believe this would be a problem? to use as hand and shower gel?
What about using it for hair?
Hey Peter, It shouldn’t be an issue. It may be a bit watery. I haven’t found Dr. Bronner’s works well for shampoo. Here are my top recommendations for non-toxic shampoo: https://livesimply.me/switching-to-natural-products-shampoo-and-conditioner/
Hi you recipe sounds great and easy to do. I have lots of lavender hydrosol. How can I use this instead of essential oil . Do I use it instead of distilled water in your recipe?
Hey Phil, Yes, just use the hydrosol in place of the water and skip the essential oil. That will be lovely.
As soon as I posted my message to you, I realised that hydrosol IS distilled water. I live and learn. thanks for getting back to me. I think your site is excellent Will keep checking in to your updates and everyone’s ideas.
Do you ever have a problem with the soap clogging the pump spout? I always encounter this with castile soap.
Hey Jenna, Yes, if the spout is very small. May need to dilute more, too.
I made the recipe with just the soap and water. I did not add any moisturizing oils or essential oils. However I find that the soap makes my sink “dull” which I think may be from the oil in the soap? Anything I can add to make it less greasy looking in my sink after I wash my hands and less work of having to scrub out my sink to get the shine back in the basin?
Thank you!
Lori
Hey Lori, You could try adding some baking soda, like 1/4-1/2 tsp?
Thank you, I will give that a try.
Thank you so much for this recipe! I fight eczema on my hands all winter, and the more I wash them, the worse it gets. I’ve been using this for only two days and the gnarly patch that flared up on Saturday is almost gone. This isn’t just not exacerbating it, it’s actually healing it. I’m hooked!
That’s incredible, Katie! I’m so happy to hear that. Thank you for commenting!
LS Team.
Hey, I am just getting into oils and I made your recipe and put it in a bottle with a foaming pump. I love it!
Thats awesome, Deea!
Thank you for sharing!
LS Team.
Bronners is the worst drying ‘Castle’ soap I ve ever used. It’s horrible! Ruined my kitchen and bathroom metals, leaving rings too even diluted to the max. I use an other brand now called Green Beaver, far better at all levels. Bronners is a scam, he’s not eve a ‘DR’!! So many better brands out there I don’t get it why people stick with that shitty brand!!!! Their SUDs one has SLS as in Sodium Lauryl Sufate, wow, seriously??!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
LS Team.
I made this recipe for my kiddos and they all love it! They’ve learned to shake the soap prior to using it. I wanted to ask, if it’s normal for some residue to be left in the sink? It seems as if there is a light oily coat after a days usage. Thank you for all the recipes!
Leslie, that’s awesome! That can happen, I haven’t had the issue but it’s definitely possible. I use baking soda to clean my sinks each week and it cuts away any grease or oily residue from anything.
LS Team.
Palm oil? Why when it is so detrimental to the environment & wildlife? Sustainable you might say, yes if that can be guaranteed. And if so was it not rainforest or beautiful countryside initially? It’s a cheap product but never a good one, ask an orangutan or any other poor struggling animal..
Hi Sue,
Not all Palm oils are harvested in a destructed way. Please do your research on this. There are sustainable producers. I would contact dr Bronners and ask them about their supplier and their harvesting methods.
LS Team.
Yay I have all of these ingredients on hand. I thought I read one time that you’re only supposed to use essential oils in glass jars. Could you share your thoughts on this? I have to make a recipe for my littles and will need to use a plastic bottle for them (lol kids + glass not gonna work). I also have a glass foaming bottle like yours and love it!
Hi Alyssa,
If you’re going to store the mixture for a long them, glass is best since the plastic could leach. But for a hand soap, you’re going through it quickly so I’m cool with plastic. That’s what I use because I can’t find a foaming hand soap pump in glass.
LS Team
Hi I’m exploring recipes for DIY castile soap, and I was just wondering why do you add oils to the soap if it’s already got so many good plant-based oils in it already?
Because the soap itself can be very drying. The oils are used in the soap making process when making castile soap.
LS Team
I have been using castile soap for yrs. Where I live it is $10.00 and shelved w/ the laundry soap. I put castile soap a squirt in my bathtub and w/water & cleaning rag I clean my tub.. So clean and shinny w/o being slippery…. I also at the dollar store buy spray bottles and add tea tree oil, lavender , peppermint essential oil and add about a tsp of soap then add water. Shake well, I use it to clean kitchen sink, stove , appliances. I do not use it on my granite… Thanks
Oh, this is wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe, I have been wanting to make my own hand soap…and now I can!
Thanks, Eddie!
Thanks For Your Great Reply, Kristin Marr.
Thanks For Your Great Reply, Kristin Marr.
I like the natural & simplistic approach to this hand wash but my concern is the use of palm oil in the making of the castile liquid soap. Despite it possibly being from ‘sustainable sources’ I have to question it’s initial land use. How can one source castile soap without it being palm oil based? If you are making something natural & environmentally friendly, lets make sure it is from the beginning.
Hey Sue, I would ask Dr. Bronner’s about their sourcing and practices. You might be able to find a castile soap that doesn’t use this ingredient. The recipe for castile soap goes back to the 11th century, but some companies may have tweaked there recipe since. Dr. Bronner’s us just one option.
Love this hand soap. It works so well and it costs pennies to make. thank you
Hi there,
I am new to all this. When making you own soap with 1/2 c Castile and 1/2 c of water. How many drops of essential oil can you add to it. Is 10 drops of your choice of essential oil or is 15 or 20 drops? Thanks.
Ken
Hey Ken, You can go with 15-20 drops due to the amount of castile soap used.
I love diys but I’m just wondering how long can you keep the soap before it gets bad (presence of moulds/fungus/bacteria)?
Hey Lovely, If you’re using distilled water, about a month.
Hi Kristin! That’s great to know! And if I used cooled boiled water instead?
Hi! Thank you for this super easy recipe! I made and its feels great when washing, but tend to feel a bit of stickiness on my hands right after. I used Dr. Bronner’s citrus pure castile soap, Vitamin E oil, Jojoba oil, lavender oil and tea tree oil with distilled water. Is there anything I should have added more/less of?
Maybe trying diluting a bit more. It could be the Castile soap.
LS Team
Thank you! Will try!