Homemade Hand Soap and Dish Soap: Save Your Hands and Your Wallet

My hands feel dry especially in winter and no matter how much I moisturise them, they just get drier every time I do the dishes. I have tried all kinds of sensitive skin dish soaps and hand soaps but got fed up when my hands just kept feeling rough. Even many products marketed as gentle contain preservatives (e.g. methylisothiazolinone) and fragrances (e.g. linalool) that can damage sensitive skin.

In this article I will show you how to make your own hand soap and dish soap.

One simple tip before you start: wear rubber gloves while mixing. Washing soda is alkaline so it is best to keep it off your skin, and essential oils should always be diluted before skin contact.

Hand Soap

Ingredients:

• 1 cup liquid castile soap

• 1-2 tbsp glycerin

• 1-2 tsp light oil (jojoba, almond, olive or coconut oil)

• 1-1.5 cups distilled or cooled boiled water

• 5-10 drops essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add glycerin and oil to a soap dispenser.

2. Pour in the castile soap.

3. Slowly add the water.

4. Mix gently.

This soap is naturally thin in consistency but if it feels too thin you can reduce the water. Gently swirling the bottle before use improves the consistency. Distilled water extends shelf life. If your skin is very dry you can leave out the essential oil.

Shelf life: about 2-3 weeks, and up to one month if made with distilled water.

Extra Gentle Hand Soap

—if your hands crack easily

Ingredients:

• 1 cup liquid castile soap

• 2 tbsp vegetable glycerin

• 1 tbsp aloe vera gel

• 1 tsp jojoba oil

• 0.5-1 cup distilled or cooled boiled water

Instructions:

1. Add glycerin, aloe vera gel and oil to a soap dispenser.

2. Pour in the castile soap.

3. Slowly add the water.

4. Mix gently.

Shelf life: about 2 weeks due to the aloe vera.

Dish Soap

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp washing soda

• 1 cup hot water

• 2 cups liquid castile soap

• 2 tbsp vegetable glycerin

• 20-30 drops essential oil (optional, e.g. lemon, lavender, tea tree)

Instructions:

1. Mix washing soda into hot water until fully dissolved. Let cool and pour into an empty dish soap bottle.

2. Add castile soap and glycerin and mix gently.

3. Add essential oil if desired and mix again gently by swirling the bottle.

This soap is also naturally thin in consistency. Shaking the bottle gently before use improves the consistency.

Shelf life: about 2-4 weeks.

Pro Tip:

If you do not have washing soda you can make it yourself from baking soda:

1. Spread a generous amount of baking soda on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

2. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius) for about an hour, stirring a couple of times.

Washing soda is highly alkaline so it can no longer be used for baking. Instead put it in a jar, label it and store it with your cleaning products. Always wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling washing soda.

Great essential oil combinations:

Soft floral scent:

• 4 drops rose

• 3 drops geranium

• 2 drops frankincense

Spa-like scent:

• 4 drops cedarwood

• 3 drops sandalwood

• 2 drops frankincense

Fresh and clean scent:

• 3 drops grapefruit

• 2 drops bergamot

• 2 drops cedarwood

Elegant floral scent:

• 3 drops jasmine

• 3 drops rose

• 2 drops sandalwood

The ingredients may feel like a bigger investment at first, but they go a long way and are especially a great choice if you are looking for a gentler option for sensitive skin.

I hope these recipes help both your hands and your wallet! Leave a comment below.

Want to keep these recipes handy? Download your free printable guide to homemade hand soap and dish soap. Just pop your email below and I will send it straight to your inbox!

“The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.”

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“The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” 〰️

See all my housekeeping articles here.

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