How to Make Your Own Soap to Wash Dishes

Make your own dish soap

Making your own dish soap can turn an everyday item into something special that will help make a mundane task more enjoyable. We'll get you started with a simple recipe that makes a mild liquid soap for cleaning dishes or washing your hands. Once you have the basic skills, you can try using different colorings, scents and other ingredients to make a dish soap that is distinctly yours.

Things You'll Need

• Stainless steel pot
• Measuring cup
• Wooden spoon
• Glass jar
• Large bowl
• Funnel
• Soap dispensers
• Rubber gloves
• Goggles
• 3.5 oz. potassium hydroxide
• 3 oz. coconut oil
• 1 oz. castor oil
• 11 oz. vegetable shortening
• 9 cups water
• Cooking thermometer

Instructions

Making the Soap

1. Place 8 oz. of water in the glass jar and slowly add the potassium hydroxide, carefully stirring the mixture until it is fully dissolved. Wear safety glasses and gloves during this step. As you add the potassium hydroxide, the water will become hot. Once fully dissolved, allow the mixture to cool to 95 degrees F.

2. Combine the coconut oil, castor oil and vegetable shortening in the stainless steel pot, stirring the mixture until it is completely melted. Using your cooking thermometer, heat the mixture until it reaches 95 degrees F.

3. Add the potassium hydroxide and water mixture to the oils. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens to the point where a spoon drawn through it leaves a "trace" or depression. This process can take up to one hour.

4. Pour the mixture into a large bowl. Allow 24 hours for the soap to set.

5. Once set, slowly add the rest of the water and mix with the stick blender to liquefy the soap. Once the soap is liquid, pour the soap through the funnel into the soap dispensers.

Tips & Warnings

• Because this soap foams, it is not recommended for use in dishwashers or washing machines. Never add water to potassium hydroxide. This can cause an explosive chemical reaction. To combine these two ingredients safely, always add the potassium hydroxide to the water.

References

• Homemade Liquid Soap
• How To Make Soup