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.
Video
Notes
- 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.
The “where to buy” links provide you with information on the products I use to make this soap and many other DIYs.
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/
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
oops–typo: “I’d just begun making” is what I meant to say–sorry
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.
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!
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!
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/.
Just what I was looking for! Gonna try this out.
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.
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/.
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! 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.
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!
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.
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 :).
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 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.
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!!
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.
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