Homemade Hand Soap
Reader Sandi shared her great frugal idea…how to make Homemade Hand Soap
I just wanted to send a different kind of recipe using some of the items that we get for free or cheap here on LRWC. We got some Softsoap Pampered Hands a few weeks back at CVS, and Ivory soap at Walgreens too. I was out of handsoap so I decided to make my own.
Here is Sandi’s Recipes:
Ingredients:
- 1 Bar Ivory Soap – Grated
- 2- 3 Cups Water (optional, brew a green tea bag) – amount depends on how thick you want your soap
Directions:
- Add grated soap to water and cook until the soap disolves
- Let cool
- Fill each soap dispenser about halfway with the melted soap and add more water
- Optional: Grind up some oatmeal and add to the soap and water before melting
Cindy Livesey is the force behind Living Rich With Coupons which provides its readers with all the resources they need to shop smart so they can get life’s luxuries for a lot less. Her family of 5 has saved over $11,000 a year in groceries. And you can too.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
This sounds very interesting, and would be a fun activity to do with the kids on a rainy saturday. However, with coupons and match ups, I barely pay anything for a bottle of soap! Free is the ultimate frugal!
I have tons of soaps from hotels since my hubby travels. I’ve been wanting to do this for quite some time.
I love the foamer pumps that are out there now. You can take some regular hand soap and mix with water (about a 50/50 ratio) and it will work in the foamers. Much cheaper than buying a new foamer every time.
I do this too. We go through soap f-a-s-t in our house! =)
You can add grapefruit seed extract (not essential oil) as a natural anti-bacterial agent. It will help preserve your soap. A few of drops should be all you need.
Great idea, where do I find/buy the grapefruit seed extract?
This is a great tip…will deginitely try it. Thank you!
thanks!
I also use all the free body wash I get to refill my hand soaps too. You can add a few drops of hand sanitizer to make it anti-bacterial also. I have 40 bottles or more of body wash but never seem to get a great deal on hand soap so we refill, refill, refill
Love Katy’s idea of using hotel soap! I always collect those, too, and what a great way to get good use out of them and not having them clutter up the cabinet!
Ran out of hand soap today… I immediately looked for this page. I LOVE this site
I just made this with some bar soap a friend made and it was WAY too watery, even without adding in any water. I wonder if it’s because the soap was hand made? I may try to add this to a foaming soap dispenser though and maybe it will be better.
Can I use something to give fragrance to this soap! I’ll do this right away!!
a few drops of any essential oil will work. You can find it at the craft store or any health food store. Just pick your favorite scent. Use sparingly until you get the amount of fragrance you want.
now i know what to do with all the bar soaps the water softener company gave me years ago that have been taking up space at the bottom of the closet, I never use bar soap, i think its gross, because your germy hands touch it