Homemade Foam Hand Soap
This idea comes straight from Tia at Sweet T – It’s a Way of Life. Really, I don’t know why it never occurred to me to make my own foam soap refills. She says she does it all the time! And now I’ve jumped on that same train…….you can make your own foam soap for pennies – or in my case FREE! Sit back and prepare to be amazed my friends! Let’s lather up and get CLEAN!
This is the type of bottle you need – one that already has had foam soap in it. This one is from Bath and Body Works. Normally, I don’t buy foam soap. I always feel like I’m paying for watered down soap – turns out I WAS! See, I’m a total genius. But anyway, I bought this one because it was a Christmas scent and I like having Christmas soap in the kitchen…..it’s very festive. Who doesn’t want to smell like Festive Vanilla Fig? I mean, come on.  Lots of soap makers have jumped on the foam train, so it won’t be hard for you to find one of these…..and if you don’t have one, ask someone else. I called my mom immediately and told her to NEVER throw these away again! I’m seeing a gift giving possibility in my future. My wheels are always turning – my husband is rolling his eyes right now.
This is what it looks like when you use the store brand…..it comes out all foamy. I have no idea how it works  – it just does. I’m one of those people who just goes on faith. I have faith it will make foam. I have faith the lights will come on. I have faith the fire alarm will beep in the middle of the night. BUT, I don’t want to know why.
Yes, that’s shampoo. It’s green apple scented. I like my soap to smell pretty – much to Barry’s dismay. I think he would like for his soap to be scented “Manly Dirt.” Oh well, he lives with me so he’s going to deal with Green Apple. It could be worse. I could have chosen Flowery Paradise. Yep, he’s got it made. The best part about this homemade soap is…….you don’t have to use hand soap! You heard me. You can use whatever you have that suds – hand soap, shampoo, or even body wash! Now, I don’t’ think I would use Mr. Clean All Purpose Solution, even though it suds up……but that’s just me. Most doctors and scientists now say that Anti-bacterial soap is unnecessary.  Funny how their opinions change so quickly. I got this shampoo for free at Kroger when it was on sale and my coupon doubled. I’m making free soap! When that runs out, I’ll just use whatever I get really cheap at CVS.
I did a little research on the internet and it turns out that TONS of people make their own foam soap. Where have I been? Sheesh! Anyway, I heard all sorts of opinions about the amount of soap you should use – from 1 tablespoon up to 1/3 of the bottle. So, I went with three tablespoons. It turned out to work perfectly, so I think that’s what I’ll stick with. I think that if I went with less, it might not smell as pretty – and as we’ve already discovered, that is very important to me. What you can’t see is that taking the picture caused me to miss the hole and I made a big mess. I said, “Oops! I made a mess.” Annie was standing at my leg and started saying “Mess. Mess. Mess.”  She learns quickly.
When you actually get the soap in the hole, you’ll need to fill the rest of the bottle with water. I read that it works best with warm water, so that’s what I did. I guess it makes it easier to mix together. That’s just an assumption.
You need to mix it together…..but do it gently. You know what will happen if you shake that bottle up. I turned it gently from side to side. It’s an exercise in patience.
And you’re done! See, it foams just like the store version. I’m totally amazed and 100% sold! I got another foam pump (with soap in it) in my Christmas stocking, so I shouldn’t have to buy soap again for a long time……..especially if I can get two more of those foam pumps from my mom. Thanks Tia! Isn’t it fun to live frugally? :-)
This is a Frugal Tuesday Tip at Learning the Frugal Life.

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About Stacy

Stacy is the author of Crock On: A Semi-Whole Foods Slow Cooker Cookbook and a stay-at-home mom to her two children, Annie (3) and Andy (newborn). After an “awakening” in March 2011, her family switched to a more natural, whole foods diet. She likes to blog about how to live on less than you make and how to eat good food while doing it. Her passion is teaching others how to save money and she tag teams with her husband in this endeavor. At Stacy Makes Cents you’ll find information on how to save money in the kitchen, how to have fun with your kids, and how to be thrifty in all areas of life. Her passion is teaching others how to live debt free. Make sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with her daily antics.

  • Tia

    Amen! It’s great when you have kids that like a HANDFUL of soap when they wash!

  • Alice Dotson

    Stacy,
    I made this and it is wonderful! The hardest part is removing the ‘stickiness’ from the bottle after peeling off the BB Works labels–still haven’t gotten it all off!
    Thanks again!

    • Courtnie

      Try straight alcohol! Works wonders on getting stickiness off!!

      • Stacy

        Great tip!

  • Christa

    Stacey,since bottles vary in size…would you say about 1 cup of water to 3 tablespoons of soap? Would like to know how much water it took to fill your bottle.

    • Stacy

      It’s an 8 ounce size bottle…….so I don’t use a whole cup of water (and sometimes I don’t even use three whole tablespoons). The measurements aren’t really exact, so you can play around with it to get the amount of foam that you want. :-)

      • Christa

        Thanx Stacy!

  • http://www.learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/ Sara @ Learning the Frugal Life

    I really have to try this some day. I have seen others do it too. Looks so easy and cheap!! Thanks for linking up to the Frugal Tuesday Tip. Hope to see you next week!

    • Stacy

      I’ll be there. :-)

  • http://www.queenofthecastlerecipes.com lynn

    Love this idea! Like you, I’d never seen it before — where have I been? Thanks for sharing it. Sometimes the simplest tricks are the best :)

  • christina harrison

    Hey Stacy, I know it is here somewhere too…but didn’t you say you were going to make some of these? So, if you don’t buy a container already, seems like you said you could get the part on top to put on jars? Thanks!

    • Stacy

      I’m hoping to make some of the pretty dispensers this weekend! I think you’re referring to these, right?
      http://www.stacymakescents.com/october-2011-clicks
      My tops came from containers that my in-laws saved for me. I’ve heard you can purchase just the empty dispensers at Hobby Lobby, but I haven’t been there to look. Does that answer your question? Or did I totally miss it? :-)

  • http://homecomforts.posterous.com Robin

    Just bought 3 of the soap foamers from Bath & Body Works marked 75% off-so they were about $1.25 each. These have a nice foamer spout to them–so I knew I’d be re-using them–just needed the recipe–but, what I didn’t think of before was making shampoo foamer with them, until I saw your directions here. I love your site and thanks!!

    • Stacy

      You’re welcome! Foam away! :-)

  • Linda

    LOL, I love how you write like you speak… very comical! I’ve been making my own foam soap for years & just so happens I also use 3 Tbsp of soap. I’m going to pin this just in case I get Alzheimer’s. :/

    • Stacy

      :-) Yep – if you were to come to our house, you’d know that it IS exactly how I speak.

  • Emily

    Do you think this would work for the Dish soap refills as well?

    • Stacy

      I wouldn’t see why not. I also use the foam method for my kid’s bath soap. :-)

  • Maria

    This is awesome! Thank you!

    • Stacy

      You’re welcome!

  • Jenny

    For the last year I have been making foaming hand soap using my Dr. Bronners castile soap & water. Like you, I recycled my dial foaming soap container. Just squirt 2 to 3 squirts of castile soap into your bottle then fill it with water to the fill line. Lately we have been using the eucalyptus scented castile soap. I like how clean my hands feel & the fact that my kids are not using something that is harmful to their skin. I just bought some almond scented soap to make your dish soap recipe this week. I can’t wait to use it, it smells so good I might just learn to love washing dishes!

    • Stacy

      I found some Mrs. Meyer’s liquid hand soap on clearance at Target and I was all over that! :-) I bought a bunch and now I can make foam soap from it…and it smells like Christmas! It’s Christmas every day here. LOL

      • Jenny

        Wow! That is so awesome!
        I wish I lived close to a Target. The closest one is 75 miles away. :(
        It’s funny how little things like clearance soap can make a girl happy!
        I am just like you, if I see a good deal on an item I buy, I buy several!

        • Stacy

          Target is one of the few places we have around here. :-)

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