22 Nov DIY Natural Products: Body Wash & Hand Soap
After sharing the environmental + fertility posts and the website, Goodguide.com, I received quite a few e-mails with readers asking for the details on how to make their own personal care products. Today I’m sharing Body Wash and/or Hand Soap. This is chemical-free and much cheaper than buying body wash at the store.
Body Wash and/or Hand Soap
Ingredients:
- 1 Bar of Soap (I buy Kirk Castile Soap). You can find this at most Wal-Marts and Targets for around $3.50/3 bars of soap.
- 6 cups Filtered Water
- Optional: Glycerin (1 tbsp)
- Optional: Essential Oils
Directions:
- Grate the bar of soap.
- Boil 6 cups of water, turn heat to low, and add grated soap flakes.
- If desired, add in essential oils (I have never tried this, but can be used if you prefer scented soap).
- After flakes have dissolved, turn off heat and allow mixture to sit for 8 hours or overnight.
- Pour mixture into containers.
Things to note:
- The Glycerin helps thicken the soap. If you don’t use it, it will still work just fine, it will just be the consistency of water.
- This isn’t going to equate to your normal body wash, but we still love it. It takes a few days to get used to, but the fact that it’s SO cheap, easy, and chemical-free makes it all worth it.
- There are probably better options than Kirk’s Castile. This is the healthiest soap I have found so far, that is budget friendly. It’s made from coconut oil. Make sure to check the ingredients on your soap before purchasing.
- If you want foaming hand soap, use a foam dispenser.
Cost:
- 2 Bars of soap made almost 100 ounces of body wash. Total cost is about 2-5 cents/ounce, depending on the cost of your bar of soap and the optional ingredients.
Emily (eatloveprocreate.blogspot.com)
Posted at 06:47h, 22 NovemberWhat a great idea and CHEAP too. I think adding essential oils to it would really make it special and smell however you want it to. You are so crafty!
Elisha
Posted at 08:34h, 22 NovemberThis seems so easy and cheap that I am surprised. However, I hate to admit this but when it comes to easy tasks I am lazy (don’t ask). For instance, I can’t stand making tea…? Again, don’t ask. But I don’t mind scrubbing the floors or the bath tub. So I am afraid that this easy task will seem like a chore. HOWEVER, I will be trying this out 🙂 Thanks for posting my little twin 🙂
cindysn
Posted at 09:18h, 22 NovemberHi from ICLW…thats a great idea!!!
cindysn
Posted at 09:18h, 22 NovemberComment
Rachel
Posted at 09:27h, 22 NovemberI love this! I’m definitely going to try it and see what I can come up with. I’m always looking for ways to reduce my chemical exposure!
Baking & Babies
Posted at 10:09h, 22 NovemberHi from ICLW! I love the idea of making natural products at home – what a great post!
dspence
Posted at 10:23h, 22 NovemberI *have* to make this, simply because I’ve been out of handsoap in the guest bath for a month but can’t bring myself to shell out $5/bottle to fill the darn thing. Where do you find glycerin?
Suzanne
Posted at 10:25h, 22 NovemberWhat a fantastic idea!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us…can’t wait to try it out!! xoxo
Kara
Posted at 12:56h, 22 NovemberDo you hand grate the soap?? like with a cheese grater?? hmm.. body wash is way expensive so this would be a good cheap option! Maybe one day when I’m feeling crafty 🙂 Happy Friday dear friend!
Charity
Posted at 14:42h, 22 NovemberOh wow! I have to try this. How long does this recipe last you?
Angela
Posted at 17:07h, 22 NovemberSuper cost effective and you can add your own scent to your taste!
Jojo
Posted at 20:55h, 22 NovemberThis seems real simple. Definitely going to try this. Thank you!
Megan Davis
Posted at 05:45h, 23 NovemberThis actually seems doable! Where do you buy the glycerin?
Kailey
Posted at 16:23h, 23 NovemberYou are ON this natural living stuff girl! I LOVE it. We are still making little changes, but I definitely could be more intentional about body care stuff. I wanted to let you know that you have been such a sweet friend through all of this, so I nominated you for the Sunshine Award… I just love you friend. Go check it out…. http://cheerstoplana.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/my-very-first-blog-award/
Amy
Posted at 17:57h, 24 NovemberI’ll have to try this recipe out!! I love making my own laundry soap (I hope I can find that bar soap in Korea!!) For some odd reason, I find grating soap to be one of the most satisfying pastimes of all! I LOVE it!! So much better than grating cheese 😉
Emily
Posted at 17:58h, 14 DecemberHi, I’m wondering what the need is to let it sit for so long before bottling…? I couldn’t be bothered to deal with bottling mine the next morning so just let the mixture cool for a couple of hours and put it in my bottles. It thickened up fine but is totally the consistency of snot! Any thoughts on whether this is due to my impatience?
Kelli {A Deeper Joy}
Posted at 17:57h, 27 JanuaryOk so I have a dumb question. How do you apply it? Do you use a washcloth? Does it foam up? I tried making one and even using a foam dispenser, as soon as I use my body puff or washcloth, it’s like it disappears. What is this one like when applying?
Cindy Hasko
Posted at 01:21h, 31 JanuaryDo you like that Kirk’s soap bar by itself, before doing this to it??? I’ve never tried it, but I will try it. I order my chemical free soaps from a lady online, which I will post about on my blog soon.
Lisa B.
Posted at 22:19h, 19 JanuaryThis is a great idea! I have made my own laundry detergent but never thought about making this before. Thank you so much for sharing and linking up with us over at the Welcome Home Wednesdays Link Party!