• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Frugally Blonde logo
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Contact Me
  • Start Here
  • Store
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Contact Me
  • Start Here
  • Store
×
Home » Household Tips » DIY Foaming Hand Soap

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

By Julie

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

2.6K shares
  • Share10
  • Tweet
  • Email

Check out this easy way to make your own DIY Foaming Hand Soap. It's so easy to make and will save you money. No more expensive bottles to buy at the store.

foaming hand soap with castile soap

I love foaming hand soap. It is so easy to use and washes off easily even with soft water. However, as much as I love the foaming hand soap, I don't love the price.

It seems like it is almost twice the price of regular hand soap. So, I came up with an easy DIY recipe that is inexpensive to make and works great!

If you would like to save money and make your own homemade foaming hand soap, check out this DIY recipe below.

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

Foaming hand soap has been around for years, but often costs more than regular hand soap. Plus, it is harder to find foaming hand soap that doesn't contain a bunch of chemicals or artificial scents.

With this homemade foaming hand soap recipe you can make hand soap that foams well and works for your family.

Why This Works?

Store-bought foaming hand soap is already watered down just like the foaming hand soap made below.

The secret to foaming hand soap is in the container. A foaming hand soap container adds air to the soap mix to create a frothy soap mix when you use it.

It works great for kids that often don't spend the time getting the soap lathered up to properly wash their hands.

items needed for diy foaming hand soap

To make DIY foaming hand soap you will need a few things. Besides the container you might have everything you need at home.

Items Needed For Foaming Hand Soap:

  • regular hand soap or castile soap
  • a foaming soap container (you can buy them on Amazon if you don't have one at home)
  • essential oils (if you want)
  • water

DIY foaming hand soap is so easy to make. All you need is regular hand soap and a foaming hand soap container. Yup, that's right, regular hand soap and water. Why is it twice the price? I have no clue.

For years I just reused a foaming hand soap container that I had bought from the store. Once all the soap was gone I just refilled it. Any foaming hand soap container will work if you want to reuse it.

After years of reusing a store bought one it broke, so I bought one on Amazon. If you want a nicer bottle you can buy the foaming hand soap bottles here.

castile soap for diy foaming hand soap

Making the foaming hand soap is so easy you will never rebuy again.

Step 1: Add regular hand soap or castile soap to your bottle. I recommend adding about 1/4 cup of hand soap.

Note

You will be using a 25% hand soap to 75% water mixture. Since my container holds about a cup, I add about 1/4 of a cup of regular hand soap and 3/4 cup water.

adding essential oils to DIY foaming hand soap

Step 2: If you want to use some essential oils you can add those now too. I like to use a lemon essential oil. Add about 4-5 drops of essential oils to your container.

Free Weekly Cleaning Printable

Clean your home in under 30 minutes a day with this free Weekly Cleaning printable!

Step 3: Add about 3/4 cup of water to your container.

Step 4: Add the pump top back on the soap container.

Step 5: Then gently shake it.

Tip: You don't want to shake it too much or else it may foam over.

diy foaming hand soap

Step 6: Use the foaming hand soap just as you would your normal foaming hand soap.

Now you have DIY foaming hand soap. It's just that easy. I love that it is so frugal.

I can make a small bottle of Softsoap stretch to 4 bottles of foaming soap. This works great if your kids like lots of bubbles to wash their hands.

using foaming hand soap

Store Bought Soap or Castile Soap

You may be wondering why to use castile soap instead of store-bought soap like Dial or Softsoap?

Castile soap is a gentle soap that is made from vegetable oils and doesn't have animal fats so it works well for vegetarians.

It also is free from chemicals and artificial smells. Because it is made from oils it helps moisturize the skin instead of drying the skin out.

Why buy foaming hand soap when you can make your own DIY foaming hand soap?

castile soap for diy foaming hand soap
Print Recipe

DIY Foaming Hand Soap

Check out this easy way to make your own DIY Foaming Hand Soap. It's so easy to make and will save you money. No more expensive bottles to buy at the store.
Cook Time3 minutes mins
Total Time3 minutes mins
Keyword: foaming hand soap, hand soap with castile soap, making homemade foaming hand soap
Servings: 1 Bottle
Cost: $1

Equipment

  • 1 Foaming Hand Soap Container

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup hand soap or castile soap
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 4-5 drops essential oils

Instructions

  • Add regular hand soap or castile soap to your bottle. I recommend adding about 1/4 cup of hand soap.
  • If you want to use some essential oils you can add those now too. I like to use a lemon essential oil. Add about 4-5 drops of essential oils to your container.
  • Add about 3/4 cup of water to your container.
  • Add the pump top back on the soap container.
  • Then gently shake it.
  • Use the foaming hand soap just as you would your normal foaming hand soap.

Notes

You will be using a 25% hand soap to 75% water mixture. Since my container holds about a cup, I add about 1/4 of a cup of regular hand soap and 3/4 cup water.
Is foaming hand soap just watered-down hand soap?

Yes, foaming hand soap is just a 25/75 percent mix using water.

Can you use regular hand soap in a foaming hand soap container?

Absolutely, as long as you make sure to water it down. I recommend using 1 part regular hand soap to 3 parts water.

Do foaming hand soap containers use less?

Yes, it will use about a fourth of the hand soap that a normal container will use.

What is the advantage of foaming hand soap?

It lathers quickly and easily so it is more effective at quickly washing your hands. It also uses less soap so you will save money.

Want some more homemade cleaning recipes?

  • How To Clean Makeup Brushes
  • How To Make Makeup Remover
  • How To Clean A Flat Iron

« Best and Easy Ways to Clean Concrete Patios-Even with Stains
Is Black Friday Shopping Really Worth It »
2.6K shares
  • Share10
  • Tweet
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dane says

    April 01, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    Instead of using regular hand soap, I use a non-rinse soap from the drug store (it is usually used for bedridden people). I make it up the same as yours. I take it with me when I go fishing, yard selling, flea markets, all places that I feel the need to wash my hands but may not be close to clean water. You just use the soap as usual then wipe it off with a paper towel. It smells good and does not dry the skin.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      April 01, 2015 at 8:19 pm

      Great Idea! Thanks for sharing, that will be perfect for this summer at the pool and park. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Suanna says

    February 09, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    I've been doing this for a few years. I only use about 17 pumps of the plain soap per container. I have several containers and make up a large batch a t a time. The kids know to bring the empty bottle and leave it in place of a full bottle and I make a new batch every 6-12 weeks.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      February 09, 2015 at 5:48 pm

      That's a great idea! I will have to make up a big batch next time.

      Reply
  3. Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says

    February 07, 2015 at 7:01 am

    I've been making my own foaming hand soap for a couple years now. Although lately, several of my pumps have broke! I don't know if I just wore them out or the soap was too thick or what. Hmmm.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      February 07, 2015 at 9:45 am

      I haven't had a problem with mine breaking yet. I wonder if you can buy just the pumps? Maybe they would be more heavy duty.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        February 15, 2015 at 7:37 pm

        You can buy the foaming pumps but I found them to be a waste of money!! The ones I reuse work the best. I have been doing this for a few years now and I have tossed the spendier pumps when they broke and haven't yet broke a commercial soap pump.

        Reply
  4. Amanda @ The Anti Mom Blog says

    February 06, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    i love the foamy hand soap! so doing this from now on! thanks for sharing this tip!!

    Reply
  5. Elroy says

    February 06, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    My wife makes our own soap. She bought some scents from a company in Logan, UT as well. I love my "pink lemoade" scent, but my wife calls it grapefruit.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      February 06, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      Pink lemonade sounds yummy! I might have to try them sometime. Thanks.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Julie! Welcome to Frugally Blonde! I love sharing my favorite cleaning tips, decluttering tricks, & household hacks. I am a certified organizational specialist with a love for cleaning!

More about me →

Free Weekly Cleaning Printable

Popular

  • decluttering challenge
    7 Day Decluttering Challenge
  • how to deep clean a kitchen
    How To Deep Clean A Kitchen
  • declutter your home checklist sitting on a desk
    Decluttering Checklist
  • homemade multi purpose cleaner
    Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Contact Me
  • Start Here
  • Store

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Store

Copyright © 2021 Julie Sellers LLC