How to Make Homemade Liquid Dish Soap

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: August 3, 2024 Fact Checked

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Not thrilled with the chemicals and unknown additives in commercially generated dish soap? You can make your own soap at home using natural ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen or laundry room. Make a basic version with just three ingredients, create a delicious smelling version with essential oils, or use the cleaning powerhouse Borax to make an extremely effective soap -- or try all three and see which works best for your needs.

Ingredients

Basic Liquid Dish Soap

¼ cup (9 g) soap flakes
2 cups (470 ml) water
1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) distilled white vinegar

Liquid Dish Soap with Essential Oil

1 ½ cups (353 ml) water
¼ cup (9 ml) grated castile bar soap, tightly packed
¼ cup (60 ml) liquid castile soap
2 ¼ teaspoon to 1 tablespoon (10 to14 g) super washing soda
½ teaspoon (1.5 g) glycerin
15 to 40 drops essential oil

Liquid Dish Soap with Borax

2 ½ cups (600 ml) water
1 tablespoon (2 g) Borax
1 tablespoon (14 g) washing soda
2 tablespoons (30 ml) white distilled vinegar
½ cup (120 ml) liquid castile soap

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Traditional Liquid Dish Soap

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1
Combine the water and grated soap. Add 2 cups (470 ml) of water and ¼ cup (9 g) of soap flakes to a medium sauce pan. Use a spoon to stir the ingredients together so the soap is mixed throughout the water.^{[1]
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- Soap flakes are usually sold in the laundry aisle at grocery stores.
- You can substitute soap shavings for store-bought flakes if you prefer.
2
Heat the mixture until the soap melts. Place the saucepan with the water and soap on the stove. Allow the mixture to slowly heat on medium until the soap melts completely, which should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. When all of the soap has melted, remove the pan from the stove and allow the mixture to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.^{[2]
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- Do not allow the mixture to come to a boil on the stove. If it starts to boil, reduce the heat.
- Stirring the mixture as it heats can help the soap melt more quickly.
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3
Mix in the vinegar. Once the soap and water mixture has cooled for several minutes, add 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of distilled white vinegar to the pan. Stir well to ensure that the vinegar is fully incorporated.^{[3]
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- You can substitute fresh lemon juice for the vinegar if you prefer. Both will help cut grease when you’re washing dishes.
- The amount of vinegar you should add to the soap depends on how thick the mixture is. If it is extremely thick, add approximately 2 tablespoons (30 ml) to help loosen it up. If the soap mixture is already liquidy, just add approximately 1 tablespoon (15 ml).
4
Cool the mixture completely before transferring to a soap dispenser. Allow the soap to sit in the pot until it is completely cooled, which may take 15 to 20 minutes. Next, pour the soap into a soap dispenser or pump bottle, and place beside your kitchen sink.^{[4]
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- It’s often easier to transfer the soap from the pan to the dispenser with a funnel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Liquid Dish Soap with Essential Oil

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1
Heat the water and grated soap until the soap melts. Add 1 ½ cups (353 ml) of water and ¼ cup (9 ml) of tightly packed, grated castile bar soap to a medium saucepan, and place on the stove. Turn the heat to medium-high, and allow the mixture to heat until the soap completely dissolves, which should take 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove.^{[5]
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- Stir the mixture as it’s heating to help the soap dissolve more quickly.
2
Add the liquid castile soap, some washing soda, and glycerin. Once the soap has dissolved completely and the mixture is off the heat, mix in ¼ cup (60 ml) of liquid castile soap, 2 ¼ teaspoons (10 g) of super washing soda, and ½ teaspoon (1.5 g) glycerin. Stir well until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.^{[6]
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- Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of large grocery stores. If you can’t find it locally, you can order it from a variety of online stores.
EXPERT TIP

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the owner of Maid Sailors Cleaning Service, offering affordable residential and office cleaning services. Since its founding in 2014 in New York City, Maid Sailors has expanded to several cities, including Boston, Chicago, and Austin. The company has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable and best cleaning services in the industry.

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional

For a simple alternative, just mix boiling water, castile soap, and essential oil. Mix 1 1/2 cups of boiling water with 1/4 cup of grated bar castile soap. Then, add 1/4 cup of liquid soap. Mix the solution thoroughly, and use an eye dropper to add 25-50 drops of your favorite essential oil. Allow the solution to set for 24 hours, stirring occasionally to check the consistency. The solution will thicken a bit over time, so if you need to, add a little warm water into the mix to adjust it. Then, place the solution into a container with a pump and it will be ready to use!
3
Allow the soap to set. Leave the soap mixture in the pan, and let it sit for 24 hours. Stir it periodically during this period to get a feel for the consistency. The soap will thicken up over time so it’s okay if it’s a bit runny. If it seems too thin, though, you can warm the soap up, mix in additional washing soda, and let it set again.^{[7]
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- If you’re adding extra washing soda, start by mixing in ¾ teaspoon (3 g) and letting the soap sit again. If it’s still not thick enough, mix in the washing soda in ½ teaspoon increments (2 g) until it’s the right consistency.
- If your soap has chunks or lumps, smooth it with a blender or an immersion blender.
4
Mix in the essential oils and transfer the soap to a soap dispenser. When the soap has reached your desired consistency, add 15 to 40 drops of your favorite essential oil. Stir well to ensure that the oil is blended throughout the soap for a fresh fragrance, and pour it into a soap dispenser for use beside the kitchen sink.^{[8]
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- You can use any essential oil that you like, but citrus oils, such as lemon, lime, and orange, are particularly effective in cutting grease. Juniper and lavender are also good options.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Liquid Dish Soap with Borax

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1
Combine the Borax, washing soda, vinegar, and castile soap. In a large bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon (2 g) of Borax, 1 tablespoon (14 g) of washing soda, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of white distilled vinegar, and ½ cup (120 ml) liquid castile soap. Stir well to ensure that all of the ingredients are well blended.^{[9]
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- Borax is a natural mineral that’s ground down into a powder and used in cleaning products, such as dish soap and laundry detergent. You can find it with washing soda in the laundry aisle of most grocery markets.
- If you want your dish soap to have a scent, you can use a scented castile soap, such as lavender, peppermint, citrus, or tea tree.
2
Boil the water and add the Borax mixture. Pour 2 ½ cups (600 ml) of water into a medium saucepan, and heat on the stove on high until it is boiling, which should take approximately 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove, and gradually pour the Borax mixture into the water, whisking after each addition to fully mix the soap.^{[10]
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- If you want your soap to have a stronger scent, add 3 to 5 drops of your favorite essential oil, such as lavender or tea tree, and mix well.
- It’s okay if your soap is thin and liquidy. It will thicken up as it cools.
Allow the soap mixture to cool down to room temperature, which should take 20 to 30 minutes. Next, pour it into a dispenser and place it beside the kitchen sink.^{[11]
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EXPERT TIP

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert

Another recipe uses Dr. Bronner's Sals Suds. Mix 1/3 cup of Sals Suds, 3/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon washing soda (which is different from baking soda), and ten drops of your favorite essential oil scent. Shake the ingredients well, and you have powerful dish soap. You can also use Sals Suds to make a floor or bathroom cleaner.

Community Q&A

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Question

What can I add to give my soap some color?

Community Answer

You can add some food coloring, but that may stain your hands and/or dishes. You can also try getting some soap-making dye either from an arts and crafts store, or from an online soap-making supply shop.

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Which type of bar soap can I use for the basic liquid soap?

Community Answer

Dove soap works well.

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Question

The water in my area is VERY hard. Castile soap binds with the minerals in the water, leaving behind a stubborn soap scum. Any substitute for the castile?

Ellie Homewood

Community Answer

Many people boil vinegar, let it sit/scrub it and then put water on it. Scrub roughly, but don't scratch the surface.

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Tips

You can recycle old dish soap bottles to use for your homemade formulas. Just rinse out the old bottle to remove any old soap residue.

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These homemade dish soaps will create very few bubbles and suds compared to commercially made formulas. That’s normal, and won’t affect their ability to clean your dishes and cookware. You can use this dish soap for cleaning all types of dishes, from porcelain to plastic.

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