Take just a few minutes to make this easy diy liquid foaming soap (or regular liquid soap) with all-natural Castile soap and essential oils.
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I have been meaning to share some of the homemade cleaning recipes I use with you for awhile (meaning: years…sheesh), so when I learned that Grove Collaborative had added Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap to it’s product list I knew it was the perfect time to post my all-time favorite way to use Castile soap- in a super easy diy liquid foaming soap!
You will not believe how easy this is to make – and that it consists of only Castile soap, water, and a few essential oils of your choice. That’s it. Don’t you love it? You don’t have to only buy store soaps that have whatever in them (seriously, what?) – you can quickly make your own whenever you need it!
DIY Liquid Foaming Soap
Now, I have to tell you that I wasn’t so sure about a foaming version. I’ve been making regular liquid soap for years and I use it for both hand washing and dish washing – no need for two bottles on the sink, one does it all. So easy.
Note: For the regular liquid soap you dilute the Castile soap with water in a 1:1 ratio, for example 1/2 c. soap to 1/2 c. water. You will find this along with the foaming soap in the full, printable recipe.
So when I read (in this article that also has other Castile soap uses you may want to check out) that you could dilute to a 1:4 ratio for a foaming soap, I had my doubts. I mean, Castile soap is made from 100 percent plant oils with no animal products (like tallow), synthetic preservatives, detergents or foaming agents (making Castile soap completely biodegradable and very earth-friendly). How could it be a foaming soap with no foaming agents?
Guess what? I don’t know how, but it really does make an awesome foaming soap! Same ingredients as the liquid soap recipe, just more water (saving more money, yes!) and when you use a recycled foaming soap dispenser, out comes perfect foaming soap. I love it, since I like using foaming soap because it seems to last a lot longer for us.
Need a foaming soap dispenser?
- I made the dispenser pictured in these photos from a vintage mason jar and zinc cap, the kind that had a hole in it (I think it was used with glass lids?): I used metal snips to cut the hole bigger and hot-glued a recycled foaming soap dispenser to the top.
- You can do the same thing with reproduction zinc lids, since they don’t have the white caps inside them like most vintage zinc lids do (you’ll just need to actually cut a hole in the top)
- OR you can spend a few dollars more and buy zinc lids with the holes already cut!
- You can also use your own jars and simply buy these oil-rubbed bronze looking lids with foaming dispensers attached (and even waterproof labels).
- If you want a sleeker look, here’s a link for an inexpensive all white bottle
- And here’s a slightly more expensive all silver metal foaming soap dispenser.
Tip: A nice bottle full of this soap with a label telling the ingredients makes a GREAT gift!
Making your own DIY liquid foaming soap is really economical, too – the 32-oz bottle of Castile soap lasts a long time when you only use 1/4 c. to 1/2 c. at a time.
Our foaming soap lives in our kitchen and last for 2-3 weeks, depending on how many people are using it. You only use a few drops of essential oils, too, making this well under $1 for 1 cup of liquid soap.
It’s a good return on time and investment, right?
DIY Liquid Foaming Soap (or Regular Liquid Soap)
Tools
- Pint mason jar
- Foaming soap pump
Materials
For Foaming Liquid Soap:
- 1/4 cup liquid Castile soap
- 1 cup water
For Regular Liquid Soap:
- 1/2 cup liquid Castile soap
- 1/2 cup water this dilutes the soap, no further dilution is needed
For both soap types:
- 5 drops lemon or orange essential oil your choice - lavender is nice, too
- 4 drops eucalyptus oil for antiseptic and antibacterial properties
Instructions
- Combine your choice of soap-to-water ratio and the essential oils in a pint jar and stir gently to fully mix.
- Use a regular recycled pump or foaming pump, depending on the ratio of soap to water you used to pump the soap out of your jar (or simply recycle an old soap container).
- Use for washing both hands and dishes - it's biodegradable and skin-friendly.
Other DIY Cleaning Tips You May Like:
Microfiber-Mirror Cleaning Secret
Disclosure: affiliate links in this article will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn’t change your price. Click here to read my full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.
Lisa says
Is the essential oil necessary if you’re using scented Castile soap?
Jami says
Nope, if you’re happy with the scent as is. Some essential oils help fight bacteria, etc., but if you were adding just for scent, you’d be good to leave it out.
Tracy says
Will the essential oils eat away at a plastic dispenser?
Jami says
I don’t believe so, Tracy, since there’s just a few drops.
Kelly says
Where can I get a dispenser like the one you have in the picture? It’s so cute.
Jami says
Thank you, Kelly! I actually made that from a vintage mason jar and reproduction zinc lid that I cut a hole in for the foaming pump dispenser. 🙂
easypeasy says
We love Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap at our house and love this idea of easy diy foaming soap with a Mason jar. Putting essential oils in it is a great idea too. So smart! 🙂
Jami says
Thanks! It helps that it’s easy, too. 🙂
Lucy @ Patina Paradise says
This is what we use for had soap we use the Dr. Bonners Almond cast ill soap in used foaming soap dispensers. Thanks for the heads up on the deal!
Sue R. says
Thanks for the tip! Is it possible to buy a foaming pump separately somewhere?
Jami says
I’ve updated the post to include links to a couple foaming soap dispenser options, Sue (great idea, by the way!) – an inexpensive plastic bottle and a slightly more expensive silver metal dispenser – both on Amazon, which has other options, too. 🙂