Liquid Hand Soap Recipe

By Erin Huffstetler, About.com Guide

Learn how to make your own liquid soap, and you'll wonder why you ever paid for it:

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 10 minutes of hands-on time

Here's How:

1. Grate or finely chop a bar of soap (about four ounces of soap).
2. Bring four cups of water to a boil.
3. Turn off the heat, and add the soap. Stir to melt the soap. Continue stirring until the mixture is fully combined. At this point the mixture will be very liquidy.
4. Allow the mixture to cool for at least 15 minutes. Then, stir again. At this point, the soap should be slightly thicker.
5. Allow to cool for another several hours or overnight.
6. Stir to check the consistency. If it seems too liquidy, reheat and add more soap. If it seems too thick; reheat and add more water.
7. Once you're satisfied with your soap, add a few drops of essential oil and coloring, if desired.
8. Then, pour your soap into dispensers, and enjoy.

Tips:

1. Want to make a bigger or smaller batch? Just use one cup of water for every ounce of soap.
2. This recipe stores well. Make up a big batch, a few times a year.
3. Results will vary depending on the type of soap used. Tweak the recipe until it meets your needs.
4. For a super-smooth consistency, run the finished soap through a blender before pouring into dispensers.

What You Need

• A bar of soap
• A knife or grater
• Water
• A sauce pan or pot
• Essential oil (optional)
• Soap coloring (optional)
• Empty soap dispensers