Wash your hands without toxins with this DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe. Only three ingredients castile soap, lemon essential oil and water.
Get my free essential oils class HERE.
We live in a germ obsessed generation, where bacteria is definitively seen as the enemy. This is the reason we take harsh soaps and scrub our bodies daily whether we are dirty or not.
Lately doctors, scientist and laypeople are becoming more aware of the microbiome, and the damage we are doing to it with our overly hygienic culture. We are hitting the bacteria with excessive amounts of antibiotics and antibacterial products. Superbugs are emerging. Turns out things like chemical laden soaps could actually be doing more harm than good.
Read more about the problems of antibacterial soap HERE.
I wrote about the importance of gut health in some of my fermenting posts, but did you know we are actually made up of more bacteria than human cells?
Makes sense that it would be important to nourish and protect these “good guys” in our gut.
[thrive_lead_lock id=’12965′]Hidden Content[/thrive_lead_lock]
This is why I like to make so many products in my home. It is important to keep the gut destroying chemicals and toxins out.
DIY All Natural Whipped Body Butter
All Natural Organic Cocoa DIY Lip Balm
DIY All Natural Lavender Cocoa Sunscreen
Cleaning Products with Essential Oils
Another product that is super simple to make is foaming hand soap. I use this same recipe for dish soap and to clean my counters and sink as well.
When my white IKEA farmhouse sink starts looking a little grimy, I just put a little of this soap on it and let it sit for a while. The lemon works its magic and then I wipe away all the stains.
It can also be used as a body wash and even a shampoo for small kiddos.
DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe Ingredients
Water
Other supplies
I bought these recently from Amazon and I am very happy with the amount of foam they dispense. I was using some method dispensers that I saved. They worked great at first, but stopped foaming over time.
A word on the ingredients
Castile soap is a super pure product made only of saponified oils. Traditional castile soap is olive oil based, but Dr. Bronner’s adds other vegetable oils including coconut. It does not contain chemicals, like triclosan, that are gut damaging and endocrine disrupting.
Lemon essential oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is also a very powerful cleanser and has a fresh scent. Best of all, it is the cheapest essential oil on the market. I buy only Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils from DoTerra, and a whole bottle is still only 10 bucks.
DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe
Fill a foaming hand soap container 1/4 of the way with Castile soap. Add 10-20 drops lemon essential oil. Fill the rest of the way with water.
Boom. That’s it.
Now, of course, you can customize this recipe for other scents. Try adding wild orange for a bright and zesty scent. Use lavender in a wash for baby. Add OnGuard or Thieves during flu season for added immune support. Melaleuca combined with lemon would make an excellent cleaning solution.
I usually keep it simple and just add lemon.
Either way, it is so super simple and versatile!
Want to learn more about essential oils and how to incorporate them into your natural home?
Get my free essential oils class HERE.
DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe Video
Pin it for later
Easiest DIY Foaming Hand Soap Recipe
WASH YOUR HANDS WITHOUT TOXINS WITH THIS DIY FOAMING HAND SOAP RECIPE. ONLY THREE INGREDIENTS CASTILE SOAP, LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL AND WATER.
Materials
- Unscented Castile Soap
- Lemon Essential Oils
- Water
- Foaming Hand Soap Dispenser
Instructions
Fill a foaming hand soap container 1/4 of the way with Castile soap. Add 10-20 drops lemon essential oil. Fill the rest of the way with water.
That's it!
Notes
Castile soap is a super pure product made only of saponified oils. Traditional castile soap is olive oil based, but Dr. Bronner’s adds other vegetable oils including coconut. It does not contain chemicals, like triclosan, that are gut damaging and endocrine disrupting.
Lemon essential oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is also a very powerful cleanser and has a fresh scent. Best of all, it is the cheapest essential oil on the market. I buy only Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oils from DoTerra, and a whole bottle is still only 10 bucks.
Now, of course, you can customize this recipe for other scents. Try adding wild orange for a bright and zesty scent. Use lavender in a wash for baby. Add OnGuard or Thieves during flu season for added immune support. Melaleuca combined with lemon would make an excellent cleaning solution.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Kerri says
When I first started experimenting with essential oils just a little over a year and a half ago, this was the first thing I started making on a regular basis. OnGuard is my favorite scent to use in this soap. I read somewhere that adding about a teaspoon of oil to the mixture, be it olive, MCT coconut oil, or something similar, would extend the life of the foaming pump. I’ve had the same dispensers from the beginning. Hope this helps.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Kerri says
Also, since adding the oil, it helps to give it a little shake before each use for the first week or so to mix the oil. After that, it doesn’t seem to separate.
Lisa says
I forgot to point out in this post that it does separate and need to be shaken up. I will definitely have to try the oil thing!
Lisa says
Oh wow! I never heard that, but sounds like a great tip because they definitely lose their foaminess over time. Also, I love OnGuard too!! 🙂
Jenny says
Thinking of trying this! Both of my kiddos have terrible eczema on their hands. Any idea how this does on eczema? We have always used Method or Mrs. Meyers soap but they still have break outs.
Lisa says
I haven’t tried this on eczema. I’m guessing you have a pretty good shot at it not irritating their skin since the ingredients are so pure. Even Mrs. Meyer’s has a lot of extra things in it. It’s hard t say what is actually making it flare up. Lavender essential oil is very soothing for eczema, so maybe try putting lavender in instead of lemon.
Vickie says
My daughter used to have eczema on her wrists. I stopped giving her dairy milk and it went away.
Lisa says
Yes. Same thing for my nephew. Eczema is definitely gut related.
Jenny says
Thank you so much for the advice! We are going to try dairy free and see how it goes. My daughter has terrible eczema on her wrists so it worth a shot to try!
Tina says
I have never heard Castile pronounced that way, LOL! (Only “cas-teel”) I love Dr. Bronner’s soaps. Anyway, thanks for all of your great recipes and tutorials! I can’t wait to try that kimchi recipe you posted. I am hoping to try it over Christmas break. God Bless, Tina
Lisa says
haha That’s probably because I have only ever seen it in print and never heard it said out loud. I never even considered that I may be saying it wrong. LOL
kent gulley says
A friend uses Evening primrose oil on eczema in day
and a fish oil capsule broken open at night
she also takes both internally.
saw a big change in first few weeks
Hope this helps someone good luck
Laurie says
Hi Lisa,
Can I use this same hand soap to hand wash dishes? I usually hand wash certain dishes and pots.
Thank you and New Years’ blessings to you and your family 🙂
Laurie
Lisa says
Yep! This is what I use exclusively for washing dishes. I hand wash all mine also. 🙂
Bonnie A. McKeegan, LCSW says
Love it! I am on again and off again with homemade DIY household essentials but your post has reignited my desire to keep the yuck chemicals to a minimum! And DoTerra, yes, great stuff! A friend gifted me with some for my birthday and it’s wonderful!
Lisa says
So glad to reignite that desire! 🙂 Get those toxins outta there!
Jaclyn says
Is this the same recipe that you referenced in your minimalist essentials for baby checklist video? I am very interested in how to bathe baby (due in 2 months!) without full tub wash and irritating baby’s skin. Any advice is welcome! Thx!
Jaclyn says
Silly me—I just watched the video and clearly see how to make the foaming soap to clean baby! Do you just wet a washcloth, soap it up, and wipe down baby? No need to wash it off? Thx again.
Leeanne says
About how long is the shelf life? I’m thinking about making these for my motorhome too but we won’t use the soap quickly.
Kcb says
Hi, I have made the soap and like it but I have read that making homemade products that include water without a preservative can encourage bacteria growth. Do you use any natural preservatives for yours ever?
Lisa says
I would think the lemon would counteract that, but I’m not totally sure.
Julianne says
You can use distilled water to prevent bacteria. 🙂
elaine says
hi! love this! it’s in the middle of summer (by the time i found this post) and i’m already thinking ahead of cute, simple, practical, and cheap Christmas gift ideas… and Im going to make soap for my girlfriends. quick question…. if we make this the way you showed us (great video, btw!) and not add the little bit of olive oil as some have suggested…. do you have to shake this before each use? or do the eo’s stay pretty blended and dispersed?
Lisa says
I don’t shake it a ton. They kind of incorporate in with the soap. But I loove the idea of diluting them in a little olive oil. Also, what a great Christmas gift idea!
Olga says
Does the soap dispenser have to be a foam one? Would a regular pump work as well?
Lisa says
It has to be a foam one. It just shoots out all liquidy in the regular dispensers.
Stephanie says
I just found you from Pinterest!! And I am loving your site and recipes and everything you share!! =) You mention in other recipes with citrus oils to use glass bottles, but this is a plastic soap dispenser. So is it OK to use the citrus oil (lemon) in the plastic dispenser/bottles? Thanks!
Lisa says
Thank you so much Stephanie! I am so glad you found me and are enjoying some of my posts. 🙂 I think ideal glass would be best, but for dish washing and hand washing purposes I don’t worry too much about it.
Karolyn Love says
Hi, Lisa… I already switched over to DIY laundry soap and fabric softener. Now I’m going to make your whipped body butter recipe and the foaming hand soap recipe! I love your site and look forward to more of your videos!! Thanks for sharing these great ideas…God bless you and your family in the New Year!
Susan says
I only have scented dr bronners…peppermint and lavender
Will that be an issue?
Stephanie says
Love this cost savings measure.
Lisa says
Thank you.
Carol Kuplicki says
Which use 1/4 cup or teaspoon pure Castile soap for hand ?
Lisa says
It depends on your soap container. I usually fill my soap container 1/4 of the way with Castile soap and fill the rest with water.
Brenda says
The recipe I have used is 2 TBL of Pure Castile, add 15 drops EO and fill with DISTILLED water. It works great!
Mandy says
Looking forward to using this recipe! Thank you for sharing! Quick question: Is it necessary to use a “foaming” dispenser, or will any soap dispenser be sufficient?
Mandy says
I’m looking forward to using your recipe! Thanks for sharing! Quick question: Is a “foaming” dispenser necessary, or is any soap dispenser sufficient?