Reader Isreal has made an exciting discovery. Foaming hand soap is basically just less viscous regular, cheaper hand soap. By watering down cheaper hand soap, you can save money.
I’ve been skeptical every since new foaming hand soap dispensers have been popping up next to sinks all across this great land. At first I thought it was a fad, “Ooooo, honey, it foams!” But now I realize that replacing traditional lotion hand soap with foaming hand soap is yet another way manufactures are able to get us to pay higher per unit prices for goods at the grocery store.
We have the Dial foaming dispensers around the house, but a family member accidentally purchased the traditional lotion refills. The original lotion does not work well in the foaming dispensers. I had noticed that the foaming soap was less viscous than the lotion, so I decided to cut the two parts lotion with one part water and, “Voila!” It works perfectly, except for the fact that there’s one third less soap now in the dispenser.
So is the foaming stuff a new fad, or is this a new way to increase revenue for the manufacturers? A 50 oz. refill of the foaming soap retails for about $0.18/oz. compared with $0.16/oz. for a 15 oz. refill of the lotion. Not only does it contain one third less soap, it costs two cents more per ounce? It seems to me that I’m paying more for about one third less soap. I guess we could all buy the original refills and water it down, right?
We think you’re on to something! In fact, we found an Instructable that agrees with you, offering instructions on how to make your hand soap less viscous so it can be used in a foaming hand soap container. This individual recommended using only 1/5 soap, but we suppose it’s a matter of personal preference.
How to Refill a foaming hand-soap container [Instructables]
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I agree with urban_ninjya when they say to use only a dime size amount. I pump the plunger according to the need: A very short pump to wash my hands after using the bathroom, 2-3 for really greasy hands. I have seen guys in bathrooms pump the dispenser five or six times, then put their hands under the water, washing 90-95 percent of the soap down the drain. Wetting your hands first also saves a lot of soap.
@DHT: I worked on a line of foaming soaps for a while and that’s long been an issue. (and why you don’t see refills for these soaps) In general, the foamers fail and it seems to be worse with anti-bac soaps because they use alcohol to drive the agent (triclosan) into the skin. I believe the alcohol in the formula causes the pump failure. You might want to try non-anti-bac formulas. Also diluting an anti-bac soap diminishes its anti-bac properties. If you have a need for bacteria-free hands follow up with a hand sanitizer.
@rmz: QTF
After using Dr. Bronner’s I can’t go back to showering, shampooing or washing my hands with anything else.
I like real soap, none of these chemical detergents which say “soap” on the container but are not really soap.
@DHT: The pumps do get clogged and/or the pump jams. You can clean them. You need to be careful and have a good eye for detail. Here’s how it goes (it takes longer to explain than to do):
First, remove the pump from the bottle, and operate the pump upside-down several times in a basin of warm water. This will fill a portion of the pump’s insides with water. Agitate it, then pump again, upside-down, to remove. Shake the pump and turn it rightside-up to complete emptying it until you see no water or foam inside it. If there is foam, repeat the rinsing step. Now the next step:
If you’re doing this at/in the sink, plug the sink and cover the drain with a towel, as there are small parts. Pull the pump off the cap. There will be a plastic nozzle-thing in there as part of the mechanism. Hold the outer cap, and push straight down on that nozzle-thing forcefully. The entire pump mechanism will pop out.
You can take the mechanism apart in various ways too. Just pay careful attention to how everything goes together, don’t break anything, and you will be able to reassemble it. There will be a gasket, and a BB like object, and some other pieces. Rinse everything in warm water, and reassemble. I’ve had bottles last for several years this way.
My favorite soaps to use in these pumps (for non-clogging) are Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds, Ecover dishwashing detergent, or cheap shampoo.
I’ve never had much luck with this technique. Maybe I’ll give it a try again.
I have been griping that the brand of hand soap and dish soap are too thick and you end up wasting quite a bit or they clog the dispenser. I don’t know why it never dawned on me to water it down. I wonder if distilled water will cut down on mold growth.
These two responses are exactly what I was hoping for.
@velvetjones:
Thanks for the advice! Not particularly concerned about the anti-bacterial dilution aspect, so I’ll switch to non-AB the next time I pick up a refill jug.
@ChuckECheese:
Sounds like a lot of work, but I’m sure it’s easier than it sounds. I’ll give it a try tonight. Thanks!
“Ooooo, honey, it foams!”
thats what she said…
yay- $0 a monjth cuz I use bar soap
Oddly you can’t extend the life of water by adding soap.
Another Dr. Bronner lover here… I found that the foaming “soaps” that Target sells under the Method brand have awesome good looking foaming dispensers. Once the crappy soap in the dispenser ran out, I tried mixing up some Dr. Bronners peppermint to use in it. I’ve been experimenting to see what ratio makes the best lather that is easy to rinse off. I’m sure that it depends on how hard/soft your water is, but 1 part soap to 3 parts water works best for me.
I’ve actually switched to almond scent as the peppermint oils might be a bit too harsh for regular hand washing.
I’m going to just cut off my hands so I won’t need _any soap, foaming or otherwise.
Thanks Meg — I tested this with some blueberry body wash that my wife had in the bathroom, and it works great! I forwarded the instructions off to a few members of the family.
Just wanted to say “Thanks” for an article that will save us some money — which I can now use to put some extra gasoline in the car!
I also pay $0/month for soap. I just steal it from hotels that I spend ridiculously too much time in for work. I haven’t paid for soap or shampoo for a long time. Or pens. Or Bibles.
Ok, I made that last one up. I don’t steal the Bible, that would be wrong.
@DHT: In these modern hectic days of fast food, answering machines and one-night stands, many of us don’t have time to nurture relationships or to clean a foaming soap dispenser. But I assure you that your punding and rinsing will be rewarded.
rob at cockeyed.com did this YEARS ago. he also said that after a month or so, the diluted soap was scummy…
@balthisar: I agree with you. I’m not going to sign off on any theory that says the soap company isn’t trying to make more money. But the foaming soap in the dispensers at hotels and office buildings is THICK and substantial. And it washes off quick, not leaving a glop of soap gel in the palm of your hand. There is soemthing nice about that thick soap foam. Does diluting hand lotion soap for use at home make the same consistancy of foam as the premade stuff?
PLEASE DON’T DILUTE THE SOAP!
From a microbiological perspective, it’s a bad idea to dilute the soap.
All liquid soaps are formulated with preservatives that help extend their shelf life and protect the product during consumer use. Extensive microbiological testing is performed on products in their research and development phase to ensure the formula provides adequate product protection.
When you dilute the soap and store it in a container or dispenser, you also dilute the preservatives, making the preservatives less effective or even ineffective. The stored product will be more susceptible to microbiological contamination during use and during the refilling process and the diluted/stagnant product in the container or dispenser may be become a potential health hazard. It would be possible for the diluted soap to contain millions of organisms per milliliter, and you would never know it. Very often when a cosmetic product is microbiologically contaminated, the product will look and smell normal. The only way to determine microbiological contamination would be through microbiological testing.
If you were to use microbiologically contaminated soap, it would be possible for organisms in the soap to cause an infection in the skin, should there be cuts, lesions or sores present where the product can enter the bloodstream. If the microbiologically contaminated soap were used on the face, it would be possible for the organisms to cause an infection if the organisms contact the delicate mucus membranes around the eyes.
The foaming soap you purchase in the store may have a lower viscosity (and lower solids) to allow it to be used in a dispenser (and foam up), but I can assure you it is fully preserved. Trying to make your own diluted soap to save a few cents at the risk of your health is a bad idea. If you want to save money by diluting liquid soap, dilute a small amount of the full-strength soap in the palms of your hands as you lather them and wash the soap solution down the drain.
Keep all of your liquid soaps full-strength in their original containers. This applies to all hand soaps, bath gels, bubble baths, shampoos, shampoos/conditioners, facial cleansers, etc.
P.S. I worked in the field of Industrial Microbiology for 18 years. I have 9.5 years of industrial microbiology laboratory experience and 8.5 years of experience as the Plant Microbiologist for a large OTC drug and cosmetic manufacturer. I have an enormous amount of experience with water-based product manufacturing, packaging, formulation, troubleshooting and microbiological testing.
Wow, I know we’re in tough times but anyone who does this is super-cheap.
I started diluting regular hand soap after the first time I tried the foaming hand soap. I don’t really use a 1:2 ratio. I add water until the viscosity of the regular hand soap is the same as the foaming type.
It works well for me – just like the original.
We’ve had one of the Pampered Chef (pronounced “Sucker Wife”) pumps for a couple of years and it works great. I hate the thing though. I always fail to put the cap back on and in return, my wife never fails to reprimand me for it. It works great though.
My question is cleaning power though. I feel like unless I use 2 or 3 pumps of the foam, I am not as clean as when I use a half-squirt or so of straight liquid hand soap. If that’s the case, the foam is even more expensive.
Does anyone know if somebody (Consumer Reports, Clark Howard, Mythbusters, anyone?) has done a comparison of foam vs. liquid based on how much gunk, germs, and other unattractiveness is removed?
@Protector: Happy to be guilty as charged.
@microguy07828: I don’t understand how soap/detergent can harbor germs. It’s all chemicals–how can microorganisms live in that? Keep in mind that my last chemistry class was oh God so long ago don’t make me do the math because that’s been even longer.
@velvetjones: Alcohol is an ingredient in foaming soaps that you won’t find in regular liquid soap. It’s why I avoid foaming soaps like the plague in the winter because it dries your hands badly.
To the person questioning how bacteria can live in soap…Soaps are traditionally made by using fats. (Ever see “The Beverly Hillbillies” or “Fight Club”?) Fats do go bad over time. Soaps made from non-fat sources tend to dry the skin.
@quail: I (perhaps willfully) forgot that about soap. But what about germs living in detergents? Chemist Guy, where are you?
People, listen to microguy07828.
I am also an industrial microbiologist and he is correct. Diluting hand soap with water increases the chances that your soap will become contaminated. Hand soaps undergo preservative efficacy testing to ensure the formulas are adequately preserved against bacteria, yeast, and mold.
One of the reasons for the foam is to decrease your water usage. If you actually read the directions for use on a Dial Complete bottle, it states to “pump into dry hands, lather, and then rinse.” Thus, you don’t have to run the water until you are ready to rinse.
Don’t bother diluting handsoap; the more dilute it is, the less effective. If you are diluting an antibacterial based soap, you’re doing bacteria a favor. The only kind of “soap” I would recommend diluting is an alcohol based one, and one with a high concentration of alcohol (as in, you poured 151 into it).
Aerobic organisms basically need three things to replicate: Carbon (food), Water and Air.
Liquid soap products are an excellent carbon source, are water-based and there is plenty of air present for them to use. All liquid soaps that you purchase are adequately preserved to prevent organisms from replicating in their original container during normal product use. Once you compromise the preservative system by diluting it, there is still carbon, water and air available for the organisms to use.
Under ideal conditions, bacteria can replicate (divide into two) as fast as every 20 minutes. In 24 hours, one organism has the potential to become 4,722,366,483,000,000,000,000 organisms. That’s a lot of bacteria to have in a soap dispenser or bottle. Washing your hands with microbiologically contaminated soap really defeats the purpose of washing your hands in the first place.
The group of individuals most likely to be affected by the contaminated product would be those classified as immuno-compromised. That would include infants (their immune system has not fully developed yet), the elderly (their immune system is deteriorating) and those who are ill (their immune system is compromised by their illness).
Over the years, consumers wanted products that were gentler and were more natural. Cosmetic manufacturers met this need by creating formulas that were more complex, contained more natural ingredients, and actually had less preservatives, as preservatives can be harsh on the skin. Preservatives work on biocidal (kills the organisms) or biostatic (prevents them from replicating) principles and may irritate the skin of some people. Preservatives are also costly, so manufacturers often want to add the least amount possible to a product, as long as the product passes preservative challenge testing. Therefore, don’t expect any liquid soap to maintain its integrity once it is diluted.
I’m all for tips to save money. However, I would not want to risk my health or the health of my family to save a few cents. Like I mentioned before, if you want to dilute the soap, keep the soap full-strength in its container (to maintain its preservative level) and dilute a small amount in the palms of your hands as you wash and lather them.
If you don’t believe me, just give any liquid soap manufacturer a call (Dial, Unilever, P&G, etc.). I guarantee they will tell you the exact same thing.
@microguy07828: What about castile soaps (i.e., Dr. Bronner’s)? I avoid sulfate-based soaps (actually detergents) because they dry out my skin. I use lavender-scented Dr. B’s because of lavender’s anti-bacterial properties (as I undersand it, lavender will not contribute to creating superbugs like triclosan does?) The only preservatives they use are citric acid & tocopherol. Dr. B’s is supposed to be diluted before use. Am I safe using this in my foamy hand-soap pump? I love my foamy hand soap. Ingredients below:
Water, Saponified Organic Coconut Oil*, Saponified Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Glycerin, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida (Lavandin) Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol
@SkittlesMcGee: Based on my years of doing this exact thing (putting soap into foam dispensers), I’ll tell you that Bronner’s will probably clog your dispenser. If you clean it as I described in a post above, you might be able to save it. But I never had luck using Bronner’s or similar castile products in my dispensers.
Finally, I agree with the biologists that you stand a good chance of getting mold and/or bacteria in your dispenser using diluted soap or detergent. I have found mold growing in mine. I wasn’t going to mention this before, but what the hey–here’s what I do:
To each dispenser of soap, I add about 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract, or 5 drops of gentian violet. Get the GSE at a health food store, or the gentian in the ethnic section of your drugstore. Be careful with the gentian, as it stains things purple. Both GSE and gentian are antifungal. The GSE is antibacterial as well.
@ChuckECheese: Thanks for the tip on the GSE/gentian. Purple soap sounds like fun! I’ve actually been using diluted castile soap for months in the same dispenser and no clogging issues yet, but I bet my pump could do with a good cleaning anyway.
I water down my regular soap when it gets near the end, just fill the bottle with water and you still have a soapish more watery cleanser for your hands.