DIY: Make Your Own Natural All-Purpose Soap

July 24, 2023

It is essential to wash our hands and maintain proper hand hygiene, but many don't think about the ingredients in the soaps they use. There are many harmful chemicals in many of the conventional hand soaps countless individuals. The warm water individuals use to wash their hands opens up their pores, allowing more of the toxins to seep into their bloodstream. As a result, we have prepared a recipe for individuals to make their own natural hand and dish soap that allows individuals to wash their hands without chemicals.

The Natural Chemical To Add To Soap

There are many harmful chemicals in many of the branded dish soaps and liquid hand soaps most individuals use and love. However, there is an alternative that has been used for centuries, and many individuals probably have a box of it under their sink or in one of their cupboards. Borax has been the natural go-to chemical over the years in many detergents, cosmetics, and natural insecticides.

Individuals should check to see if borax is right for them before adding it to their soap, though, as it has been reported some individuals with sensitive skin may get mild skin irritation from the use of borax. Individuals should also keep in mind although borax is a natural chemical, it is not safe to ingest and may cause nausea and gastrointestinal upset. Borax is listed as a poison on the box, but only toxic in high levels, the same as salt or baking soda.

Increase The Cleaning Power Of Soap

Aside from adding a little more borax to their soap, there are a few different kinds of bars of soap and essential oils individuals can use to increase its cleaning power. Oils with citrus, eucalyptus, or lavender have antibacterial properties that will provide a more effective deep clean. Citrus is also known to help cut grease on hands and surfaces, which is why it is highly recommended for individuals to include it in their homemade soaps.

As for bars of soap, a bar of pumice or oatmeal can add more grit to help exfoliate and wash dishes, dirt, and germs. Using a bar of clay or evening primrose oil soap can increase the moisturizing quality of the homemade soap as well. The ingredients individuals choose changes the features of their soap, so they should experiment!

Using Chemicals Versus Natural Alternatives

Many individuals may notice their homemade soap does not foam or bubble like the commercial brands do and they may be concerned their soap won't clean as well. This is because commercial soaps use harmful chemical surfactants to create suds for visual appeal, and over the years we have been conditioned to believe suds and bubbles must be present to get a good, deep clean.

When individuals squirt their soap into running water, they will notice it will produce a few bubbles and make the water cloudy. Keep in mind, this is normal, but may take some getting used to. Individuals will also notice their dishes are just as clean as when they used the commercial brands, but they will no longer be subject to harmful chemicals and toxins.

Chemical-Free Alternatives To Commercial Brand Soaps

Individuals can go to just about any natural grocery store to get some chemical-free bars of soap to use on their hands. But if individuals are looking for natural dish soaps, they can be quite costly. Aside from making dish soap, liquid castile soap is possibly the best alternative to commercial brand dish soaps. The price may look steep, but castile soap is meant to be diluted with water, so there will be plenty more washes per bottle than most individuals think.

Soap Ingredients And Recipe

To make a great natural liquid hand and dish soap, individuals will need a large metal or glass mixing bowl, a utensil for mixing (a fork works very well), a grater, water, borax, a bar of natural soap, and their choice of essential oils.

Individuals should begin by grating one-quarter of the bar of soap into the mixing bowl and add one to two tablespoons of borax. The more borax, the more effective it will clean. They should then boil two cups of water and pour it into the mixing bowl, whisking until the soap and borax are thoroughly mixed. Then it's important to let the soap mixture cool for six to eight hours, stirring every few hours. When the solvent has begun to gel, individuals should add ten to twelve more drops of essential oil, and mix one last time before transferring their soap into a bottle or container.

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