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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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,
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/
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 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.
Can i use this a body wash as well? Thanks 🙂
Hey Lucy, Yes, you can :).
Hi 🙂 What scent did you use in the Castle Soap? 🙂
Hey Amber, I love orange and lavender.
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.
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!
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.
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.