I would love a healthy way to make my own foaming hand wash. My daughter is OCD and washes hands constantly. I am going thru Hand Wash like crazy. Like to save a few dollars on this one. Thanks. I'm new and can't wait for your response.
I have had several foaming soap dispensers, one from Target and a few from Bath and Body, after a few refills, though, they stop working. I have experimented with every different soap and cannot understand what is going wrong. They become hard to push down and soap/water just gurgles out. Is there some maintenance that has to be performed on them, or a piece inside that breaks?
I use dish washing liquid to make my foam soap. A few spoonfuls and the rest water. This place sells the same bottle and foamer as Pampered Chef for 1/10th the cost. http://www.bottlesandfoamers.com
is it possible to convert a bar soap into a foaming soap? I have a wonderful bar of soap I use for my face and would love to have it in a foam. Is this possible?
Another option is buy a "Kandoo" soap bottle & use it up, then peel off the labels & use the ratios for your own soap. It's wider bottom makes it sturdier for kids & it's cheaper than the pampered chef version.
I have actually made something like this all I did was fill a water bottle with water 94% and soap 6% and shake for 30-40 seconds. Then just put it carefully in any soap dispenser.
The ratio of water to liquid hand soap is more than 5:1. I tried that ratio and still found it to be too thick. I found that 7:1 to 10:1 works much better. I appreciate the idea of cleaning the foaming mechanism with vinegar and the idea of mixing the diluted soap with alcohol to enhance its antibacterial action. Bleach is incredibly antibacterial but it so corrosive that any metal parts in the mechanism would suffer an early failure.
I use Dr. Bronners soap in a 1 ounce Dr. Bronners to 5 ounces water. I got a dispenser I can refill for my shower at http://www.foamair.com Lasts a long time between fillups. The kids just love to get clean now. Thanks for all this wonderful information.
Thanks for the great information. I really like the foam dispensers (like Dawn, etc.) best, especially since "Dawn" is used often to clean stranded wildlife (especially birds) after oil spills! Also, I work in the medical field...and regarding washing away germs (potential pathogens,) its really imortantant to let the water flow over your hands for a brief time after washing them with soap. You actually get more "germs" washed away by taking a little more time to rinse your hands, fingers pointed downward. Just let the water do its thing! (Obviously, if you're involved in the care of someone with compromised immunity, or you yourself have a suppressed immulogical problem, ask your healthcare provider!) Best Wishes to Everyone! Freddy
hi there, Even though washing your hands is good..It sounds like she's wasting alot by washing her hands too much so explain to her the cost of 'wasting' and let her do extra chores to buy extra hand wash if she wants, but she needs to understand she will not waste your hard working money washing her hands too often. Kid can easierly over do things..correct that! I remember how much I wasted and when my mom found out she corrected me.
Our granddaughter went through that. She washed her hands until they bled. The best thing her mother did to help her was get her medicated. She is a much more relaxed, happy girl now!
This suggestion is not as frugal as the others, but it is tried and true... You can buy a Suds Pump from Pampered Chef...go to www.pamperedchef.com and then choose your country, then go to Products...then Kitchenware and search for The Suds Pump®...only costs $9.00.
And if you need to clean the soap scum out of your foaming dispenser periodically, when you finish a batch of soap rinse with clear water, then fill with a bit of vinegar and lots of water, and send the whole thing through the squirter. It won't foam, but it cleans out the inside where you can't get, and your dispenser will work longer.
I think the most cost effective way to make soap is to find a good soap making supplier, such as camdengray.com and make your own from scratch. If you use any bar soap, you can get melt and pour soap for about 2.50 a pound, a few cute molds and you have some really cute soaps. You can add fragrance and colors as well.
It would seem to me that if she is washing her hands constantly, you would need a soap with a moisturizing affect instead of alcohol which is very drying.
I was reading today about the problems of the antibacterial soaps killing off good bacteria too, so you might take into consideration of getting rid of the antibacteria soap.
You can get some really moisturizing melt and pour soap bases and tons of ideas for making wonderful soaps. Adding a little toy, or surrounding a rubber ducky with soap. You will be surprised at all the molds and things you can do with the glycerin/melt and pour soap. Melt and Pour is easy to use. get the chunk and cut it up into a bowl, stick it in the microwave until melted, allow to cool and add fragrances and coloring. Pour into your molds and you are officially a soap maker.
These are only a few of the links I have. You can find more by doing searches for soap making supplies. You will be amazed at how many soap makers there are out there making a living making soap.
For her condition, I really would recommend a moisturizing soap, no alcohol and naturally scented with Lavender Essential Oil, known for it's relaxing properties. I have used it to help me fall asleep by rubbing a drop on my temples.
If you need any more links, or help, I can point you in many direction. I am the printer for the Texas Candlemaker's Conferernce - texascandleconference.com and meet a lot of suppliers for soap and candles, essential and fragrance oils, aroma beads. So if you need something please email me.
Please think about getting rid of the antibacterial soaps and alcohol and research shea butter soaps.
You can use any liquid soap that does not have moisturizers in it because it will clog the pump. The 5 water to 1 soap ratio is about right . I just guess when I fill mine. It is easier when you add the water first, and then the soap, I have done this for years.
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Archives:
Request: Homemade Foaming Hand Soap
Archived on 01/30/2007
Is there a way to make a homemade version of foaming hand soap as sold in the stores?
Linda L from Vista CA
Answers:
Big Batches
Find a smell you like in any kind of soap (dish soap, liquid bath gel, hand soap, baby soap, shampoo, etc.). I make mine in big batches so I don't have to keep making it when it runs out (the kids actually wash their hands now!). I get an old gallon water container add 1/10 soap, 1 bottle of alcohol (if you want anti bacterial), and fill the rest with water. (give it a couple of inches with just air in the bottle so you can shake it) Shake it. Refill your "foaming container" and store the rest for later use!-Misty (04/26/2006)
I like the foaming hand soap as well and I make it on a regular basis. In order to get the soap to foam you need to purchase the dispenser (Wal-mart $1.99). Once you have used all the soap in it all you need to do is pour some of whatever soap you like and add water. I don't know the exact measurements but for the dispenser that I had 7.5 fl oz. it was about one part soap five parts water. I hope this helps. I also buy the refill jugs of soap. The kids love it. (04/26/2006)
By mcb5
My Method
When the gallon liquid hand-soap refill bottle is empty, keep it. Buy a full gallon liquid soap refill. Pour the amount you want into the empty gallon jug, add water, turn over until mixed. Use this dilution to fill the foaming soap pump. So much easier to have a gallon of ready made "foaming soap" on hand to just pour into the dispensers than having to mix it each time. (04/27/2006)
The foaming action comes from the dispenser, not the soap itself. I purchased a commercial foaming bottle in the liquid hand soap pump dispenser section (I forget which brand, but there are several), and then for refills I use a mixture of 1/4 liquid soap (any kind will do) and 3/4 water. Don't use straight undiluted liquid soap because it will clog the foaming dispenser. (04/27/2006)
A combo bottle of shampoo/conditioner makes a wonderful hand soap! My favorite is Suave's 2 in 1 in the opaque green bottle but all those tried have been good; this one rinses off quicker so you save water.
Dilute by guesstament... about 1 part shampoo+conditioner to 4-5 parts of water. It mixes better if the water is warm but that's not necessary; few bubbles form if you add the shampoo after the water. For the foaming soap dispenser, the mix has to be 'thinner', like 1 part shampoo to 6+ parts water.
Marbles kept in each dispenser make mixing easier... the clear ones here were found in the crafts section of WalMart.
Ordinary dish detergent concentrate also works well; just dilute it more. In the kitchen, just for dishes, one dispenser has a lower ratio of water to detergent or shampoo, like 1:3-4.
The 'thinner' the mix of detergent or shampoo will be the easiest and fastest to rinse off. (05/07/2006)
By gator10tx
Germs
To those who are put off by the 'germ' post. I work in health care and have to say... ALL soap kills germs. You don't promote growth of e.coli or salmonella by cutting your soap with water. Unless you've put salmonella or e.coli carrying objects INTO the bottle/water, you are fine. Major water supplies have CHLORINE in them to prevent that kind of growth.
If you are very worried, just add 1 or 2 DROPS of chlorine bleach to your mixture. It WILL keep any germs from populating your soap, IF and only IF you are worried.
Scare tactics to keep people from saving their hard earned cash...how quaint. (06/28/2006)
By Julie-Health Care Professional
About Soap
Yes, SOAP is naturally antibacterial. I.E., real soap that is made from water, fat and lye (sodium hydroxide, NaOH). However, correct me if I'm wrong, but liquid "hand soap" is not soap, but a detergent. And detergents are not naturally antibacterial and require an additional agent (like alcohol or bleach or Triclosan or Chloroxylenol, etc.) to be so.
And regarding that post about E coli and salmonella in the water... If you're on a municipal water source in developed nation like the United States, you DON'T have to boil your water. Please don't spread bad information and fear about our water for those of us fortunate enough to have it? You have the absolute BEST in the world! (08/10/2006)
By Heather, one-time home soap maker and non health professional
My Recipe
I also make my own foam soap refill: 1 part liquid soap, 2 parts HOT boiling water. Make sure you cool BEFORE you put it in your dispenser! I use CLEAR liquid hand soap as the creamy ones clog the dispenser. I haven't tried baby shampoo yet, but I am sure that will work great too! (12/04/2006)
By momofthree
Liquid Soap
Liquid soap can be real soap; it is made with potassium hydroxide rather than sodium hydroxide (lye). Potassium hydroxide has bigger molecules and thus, the soap remains in liquid form; paste usually I think, which is "thinned" with distilled water. Just began studying making liquid soap; been making cold-process lye soap for 3.5 years now. (12/30/2006)
We like the foaming hand soaps in each bathroom and kitchen: they require less product, wash and rinse more easily and quickly. However, I didn't like spending money every few weeks to buy the refill or new pump!
I found you can make your own refill. You cannot use straight liquid soap, however. But it couldn't be easier:
Buy a nice dishwashing soap. I like a lavender-ylang-ylang fragrance by Palmolive.
Rinse out your empty foaming container. Germ-X brand simply screws off. Rinse container with warm water.
Add about 1/8 dish soap or less to about 7/8 warm water. Don't shake. Tip it to mix. It should pump just great and foamy.
If you get air bubbles or no foam, your mixture is too thick. Simply empty and start again and experiment with what works for you.
Simple and cheap. I also keep a regular (no foaming) hand soap pump. I fill it 2/3 the way with the dish soap and 1/3 with warm water. You can wash your hands and do dishes with this, and it uses less product.
By Melissa
Responses:
RE: Make Your Own Foaming Soaps
08/05/2005
Thanks for the tip! I can't wait to try it out!
By Crystal (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Foaming Soaps
08/07/2005
Pampered Chef also makes a dispenser for foaming soap. Seems like it sells for around $5.I found one at a yard sale Friday for twenty five cents!! All you do is add a small amount of liquid soap and water.I've always wanted one,so I'm anxious to put it to use.
By Sharon, KY (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Foaming Soaps
08/17/2005
I received a Pampered Chef foaming soap dispenser for a wedding shower gift and I love it! I put it in my kitchen but would like to have two more (one in each bathroom); maybe I will try this instead! My husband's not too crazy about foaming soap though... :o)
I just use Dr. Bronners soap in a 50/50 mix (or 60/40 - it's all by sight) and it works just fine. The stuff is great, and I can get minty hand soap or lavendar soap for the bath (which nicely gets rid of BO after a lot of exercise).
Dr. Bronners contains the recommended surfectant in it's liquid soaps, and comes as a relatively thin liquid that is meant to be diluted heavily. I think I'm going to go towards that 7-1 ration the original poster mentioned.
By Peter (Guest Post)
RE: Make Your Own Foaming Soaps
02/20/2006
I make my foaming soap with baby shampoo for the smell and some rubbing alcohol for germs, then add water and it is great!
