Did you know that when people wash their hands using foamy soap instead of liquid soap, they consume less water? When you consider how frequently you and other members of your household wash your hands, using foamy hand soap can reduce the quantity of water used. This will not only save you money by lowering your water costs, but it will also be better for the environment.
Many individuals also prefer washing their hands with foaming soap because of how nicely it lathers and how easily it washes off the hands. Liquid soap can be sticky, which makes it take longer to wash it off of your hands.
While you can buy premade foaming soap, making your own homemade foaming hand soap is actually quite easy. With just a few simple ingredients and a foaming soap dispenser, you can have your soap made and ready to use in no time.
Be sure to purchase a foaming soap dispenser before making your own foaming soap. These dispensers feature a special air chamber that pumps air into the soap as it is released. Without this addition of air, foaming soap won’t foam up; it will just come out as a liquid mess.
Continue reading to discover how to make foaming hand soap!
TOOLS & MATERIALS
- Foaming hand soap dispenser
- Castile soap
- Essential oils
- Carrier oil
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The foaming soap recipe below uses water, liquid castile soap, and essential and carrier oils. However, this is not the only way you can make foaming hand soap. As an alternative, you can also just mix liquid hand or dish soap with water to make a DIY foaming soap. If choosing this method, use a 4:1 ratio of water to soap. Combine the two ingredients in your foaming soap dispenser and turn it or shake it to ensure they mix together.
STEP 1: Fill the soap dispenser with water, leaving space for more ingredients.
The first step for how to make foaming soap is to add water to your foaming soap dispenser. You should fill the dispenser approximately two-thirds to three-fourths with water. Take care not to add too much water, as there needs to be space left to add the other ingredients.
Before adding water to your dispenser, ensure that it is clean. If you’re reusing a soap dispenser, take a few moments to make sure the interior is completely rinsed out and to wash the exterior to eliminate any germs.
STEP 2: Add 2 tablespoons of castile soap.
To make foaming hand soap, start by adding 2 tablespoons of castile soap to the water in the dispenser (this amount of soap is appropriate for a 12-ounce soap dispenser). Castile soap is naturally biodegradable and non-toxic, making it an excellent choice when making your own foaming hand soap. Castile soap is made from plant-based oils— typically olive oil— and doesn’t have any synthetic ingredients or animal fats.
You can also find castile soap that is made using other oils, such as castor, coconut, or almond. These added ingredients can make it more moisturizing, and these also can be used to make foaming hand soap.
STEP 3: Add about 10 drops of essential oils of your choice.
If you’re wondering how to make foam soap that will have a pleasant scent, the key is to add essential oils. There are many different options to consider when deciding which essential oils to add. You may choose essential oils based on their scent, or opt for those with antimicrobial properties, such as tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemongrass oil.
Add 10 drops of the essential oil of your choice to the foaming soap dispenser. You can add 10 drops of one essential oil, or you can also consider mixing two different oils (five drops of each) for a more customized scent. A few different combinations to try include:
- Lavender and rosemary
- Frankincense and orange
- Lemon and rosemary
- Lavender and chamomile
- Peppermint and eucalyptus
STEP 4: Add up to 1 teaspoon of carrier oil for moisture.
As you plan out your foaming hand soap recipe, don’t forget about adding a carrier oil to the mix as well. Carrier oils, such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or sweet almond oil, can help make your foaming soap more moisturizing, which can be especially beneficial during cold and dry winter months.
STEP 5: Secure the lid and shake the dispenser to mix all ingredients.
After adding the water, castile soap, and oils of your choice, close the dispenser and shake it to finish making your foaming hand soap. Shake and turn the dispenser around for 30 seconds to 1 minute to ensure all the ingredients are incorporated. You may need to periodically re-shake the bottle to keep the oils from separating from the water.
After mixing, your DIY foaming soap is ready to use right away. Press on the pump to dispense some on your hand and try it out!
Now you know how to make foamy hand soap. With just water, castile soap, essential oils, and carrier oil, you can easily make your own foaming hand soap to reduce water waste and save money. Try using different essential oil blends to match each season and the preferences of the various members of your household. Remember, in order for your soap mixture to foam, you’ll need to use a foaming soap dispenser.
