DIY Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

I'm pretty excited about this project! My family uses a lot of liquid hand soap, so the opportunity to bring less chemicals and waste into our home is something to get excited about! I made two recipes, but only picture documented one. If you're using Kirk's or another castile soup, please keep in mind that it won't be thick like your typical store-bought liquid soaps. Honestly, though, my kids prefer this one over the thicker one. It's all about what you and your family like! And that's the beauty of DIY! 

First, the ingredients: 

-one 4-5 oz. bar of soap, grated

-3 cups of distilled water

-2 T of glycerine (optional, but adds softness to your skin)

-10-20 drops of your favorite essential drops (optional)

Begin by grating your soap. I use a simple cheese grater since it is only one bar. I used Kirk's Coco Castile in one batch and pure Ivory in the other, both were purchased at Walmart. 

Add the grated soap to the water in a pot on the stove and simmer until all of the soap melts. Stir it up occasionally and keep the heat low to prevent over boiling. Once all the soap is dissolved, remove from heat and add the glycerine and EO. I added lavender to ours. :) The glycerine can be purchased from Walmart in the first aid section next to the peroxide, etc. The essential oils are found locally at Hy Vee, the health food store, or online. 

Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then stir again. 

If you used a non-castile soap, you should be able to tell if you need to make adjustments after 30 minutes or so. If it's too thick, add more water and reheat. My batch made with Ivory soap needed another cup of water, and the final consistency was thick and somewhat stringy, but comes out of a pump perfectly. If you used a castile soap, the mixture will be runny and won't thicken. (You'll get used to it--I even use this as a body wash!) I let them sit as long as they need to cool completely and turn the right consistency. This is a very forgiving, customizable recipe. Don't be afraid to keep adding water, more soap flakes, etc until it's perfect for you! 

The jar on the left is our castile version. The jar on the right is our Ivory version. The tutorial for the handmade mason jar pump dispensers is coming up later this week--super easy and makes a great gift! 

 

Blessings and Happy Crunching!

Kimberly