Hand soap is by far one of the easiest and cheapest things I make in the home. If you have been looking to start diy green cleaners, I would start here. Easy peasy.  If you already buy “all natural” hand soaps, this will save you $$$.

Why I don’t use anti bacterial hand soap

While there are multiple sources out there, according to a study by the FDA there is not enough evidence to say that anti bacterial hand soap is better at preventing illness than regular soap and water.

“Following simple handwashing practices is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of many types of infection and illness at home, at school and elsewhere,” says Theresa M. Michele, MD, of the FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Drug Products. “We can’t advise this enough. It’s simple, and it works.”

The big issue I have with antibacterial soap is with a chemical called triclosan. Triclosan is found in most liquid detergents and “anti- bacterial” hand soaps (amongst other products, check your labels!) This chemical is an antibacterial agent and can promote growth resistant bacteria. In other words, may be causing bacteria to be resistant to antibiotics. There is also supporting evidence suggesting triclosan may be an endocrine disrupter along with being a possible carcinogen. This is why we do not use any “antibacterial” products in our home.

In regards to these ingredients being found in antibacterial hand soap:

“There’s no data demonstrating that these drugs provide additional protection from diseases and infections. Using these products might give people a false sense of security,” Michele says. “If you use these products because you think they protect you more than soap and water, that’s not correct. If you use them because of how they feel, there are many other products that have similar formulations but won’t expose your family to unnecessary chemicals. And some manufacturers have begun to revise these products to remove these ingredients.”

So with that being said, the easiest, simplest thing to do is to make it. You can buy hand foam natural soaps at the store but they run around $4.99 or more. I like having options so its a nice alternative but we go through soap like nobody’s business so it is way more cost effective to make it.

The bonus to making it is that I get to involve the kiddos. They love making it and it takes seconds for them to refill the bottles. Children are sponges and I think hands on exposure is such a fun way to get them involved while also educating them.

How to make it

The first step to making this soap is going to be finding a foam dispenser. Once you find a foam dispenser of any kind, you will be ready to go. I recommend glass containers when  working with essential oils as they can break down the plastic.

Enjoy!

Would love to hear if you make soap too? If not, will you try it?