This easy DIY foaming hand soap recipe has only 2 basic ingredients and is sure to become your favorite all-natural soap. It’s the perfect foaming soap for sensitive skin and is a great way to save money.
Have you ever researched the ingredients of store-bought soaps and cleaning products? If you have, you’ve probably learned how toxic they can be to the human body. And yet, while I knew this, it wasn’t until several years ago that I made a conscious decision to start eliminating these common products from our home. It was a bit overwhelming at first because I’m an “all in” kinda gal and wanted to replace ALL THE THINGS at one time. But I also knew that’s me being a crazy person. So, in that moment of overwhelm, I convinced myself it would be OK to start with just one item at a time, and that item was hand soaps.
Turns out making a DIY foaming hand soap is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to eliminate toxins in your home. This super easy foaming hand soap recipe has only 2 necessary ingredients. I guarantee you already have one of them and the other you can find at almost any grocery or supply store.
As mentioned, traditional soaps have chemicals, fillers, and preservatives that are known to be harmful and can overload our endocrine system. The endocrine system is important because it regulates our hormones and if this system is out of balance, it will affect how efficiently bodies function overall and ultimately how we feel.
Traditional Soap Ingredients
Here is a list of just some of those ingredients and why they are considered toxic…
Sulfates – Strip our skin of natural oils causing irritation and allergic reactions.
Parabens – Can act as estrogen in our bodies, increase risk of cancers, and has even been detected in breast milk, semen and urine, with some studies indicating possible issues with reproductive health and fertility.
Formaldehyde – is, well, formaldehyde. A primary preservative in embalming liquids that are known to be carcinogenic.
“Synthetic fragrances” – Are a common culprit of allergy symptoms, debilitating migraines, breathing issues, and even dizziness for many of us more sensitive folks…. the migraines, Oh Lord, the migraines.
Musk ambrette – is a fragrance molecule used in many soaps, detergents and lotions and I recently read this report on how it may be triggering early puberty in girls. Often this is listed as “other fragrances” or “proprietary fragrances”. Oh, and fun fact, if a company labels something as “proprietary” they do not have to disclose what the ingredients are that make up that secret concoction.
Like I said, these ingredients are only a few that are commonly used in soaps and other products. But there is a ton of information out there on their safety, or lack thereof, and can easily be found with some google searching. Here is a great link to get you started in your research, with the top 10 ingredients to avoid.
Antibacterial Soaps
After the last few crazy years, we all know by now that washing hands is the best defense in avoiding flues & viruses. But did you also know that about a decade ago the FDA published this report finding that there was no added benefit to using an antibac soap over good’ole plain soap?
Infact, antibacterial soaps actually kill the good bacteria in our gut which is what our bodies use to fight off the bad bacteria. The Microbiome (good bacteria) is getting a lot of notice these days, as they are finding it a key factor in our immune system’s strength and our body’s ability heal quickly and resist allergens.
Antibiotic Resistance
Triclosan is the germ-killing component used in antibacterial products and is found to be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance. Which is being seen more when treating infections like, Staphylococcus, aka “staph”. We’ve actually dealt with antibiotic resistance firsthand in our family, and I’ll tell ya, it was kinda scary.
The NIH has several of these studies published, along with other reputable health journals out there, warning against overusing antibacterial products.
Benefits of Homemade Hand Soap
All Natural Ingredients
The easiest and most basic recipe for foaming hand soap that I’ve found, uses only two ingredients. Castile soap and water. Often, I will add essential oils to customize the scent or will add glycerin for a more moisturizing soap, like in the winter when the air is especially dry. But a solid base to build on that will get the job done is castile soap and water.
Castile Soap:
Castile soaps originally came from Spain from an area called Castile and was made with olive oils. Now, it’s made with a mixture of other plant-based oils that create an amazing lather. Along with cleaning well, you can add non-toxic, super concentrated and biodegradable to its many benefits.
Dr Bonners is probably the most common castile soap out there, but definitely not the only one. Amazon is always an easy source to find it, but you can usually find it at any store that sell soaps. My favorite place to buy castile is through Azure Standard and as of this year they even have their own private label for it. If you don’t have essential oils to make your own fragrance combinations, they do sell castile in a variety of scents (chemical free fragrances of course) like lavender or citrus, as well as the fragrance free.
Water:
Tap water can definitely be used for this recipe, although I usually use filtered water out of my fridge, mostly because it’s easy and close to where I’m mixing everything up. We are on a well system and have our water tested, so I know that there are not any chemicals or additives put in our water source. This is not always the case for city water systems. City water often goes through some sort of purification process and may even have fluoride added to it. I won’t go into the research and studies of that subject today, but just know, especially if you are a purist, you might want to filter your water. Otherwise, tap water will definitely do the job.
Saves Money on Household Products
For whatever reason, my children seem to think a handful of liquid soap will do a better job at cleaning than just a small pump and some scrubbing. We go through soap very quickly and I’ve found that foaming soaps last much longer and have become my Go To. When I finally started making my own foaming hand soaps, I realized what a scam the manufacturers have going.
In college I worked nights during the holiday season at Bath & Body Works doing floor sets and restocking. I didn’t realize then that their products were wafting hazardous chemicals throughout the south end of the mall, but nobody thought anything of it with Cinnabon just below us. Nor did I realize why all of their seasonal sales were such amazing deals. Now, the older and wiser me has learned that those $8 foaming pump soaps on sale for “buy 3 for $12” can in fact be made at home for something like $0.50.
Foaming Soap Pumps
I’ve found foaming soap pumps easily on amazon, in home decor stores, and even the bathroom section of stores that sell shower curtains & towels. There are many people out there that will tell you, you must get a glass bottle instead of using plastic. But in my opinion, or at least in my house, we go through foaming hand soap so quickly I doubt the plastic has enough time to leach anything into our soaps… but I also justify using plastic bottles with the idea that it’s STILL WAY BETTER than store-bought brands. But like with any plastic, you don’t want to use hot water or heat it up. Also, it is worth noting, that some essential oils do have a tendency to melt plastic. So, there’s that. But as you can tell I’m not a purist.
If you want to be super frugal you can buy the store-bought brand soaps when they are on sale for like .99, dump out their liquid toxins, rinse the bottle and use it for your own homemade goodness. I’ve even been known to do this with gifted soaps from Bath & Body Works. And to be honest, I find a little satisfaction in it, for them trying to kill me when I was a poor college student that didn’t know better… and, I mean, they do have REALLY cute bottles. So, to whoever gave me that soap, thank you again, it really was appreciated and enjoyed! Also, I think I’ve actually had better luck with reused bottles as the pump mechanism on them seems to last longer.
Foaming Hand Soap Directions
Supplies:
- 1 Foaming soap bottle
- 3-5ish Tablespoons Castile soap (I usually eyeball it to about 1/8 of the soap bottle since they can vary in size)
- Water – filtered water is best, but use what ya got
- 20 drops Favorite essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
- Put your castile soap into your pump bottle
- Add the 20 drops of your favorite essential oil (if you are using them) and gently swirl to incorporate
- Slowly pour water into the bottle until about an inch from the top
- Put the top on and shake.
AND THAT’S IT! Great job, you’ve taken the first step on your journey to chemical free household products.
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