You know how it is in the kitchen. One minute you’re chopping onions, the next you’re dealing with greasy pans. And your hands? They take a beating. I got tired of regular hand soaps either not cutting through the grime or leaving my skin feeling like sandpaper. It was getting pretty annoying, to be honest.
So, I thought, why not try whipping up my own kitchen hand soap? Seemed like a decent way to spend an afternoon and maybe save a few pennies too. I’m all for a bit of DIY when it makes sense, and this felt like one of those times.
Getting My Act Together
First things first, I had to gather all the bits and pieces. I didn’t want anything too complicated, just something that would do the job effectively. I rummaged through my cupboards and made a quick list. Here’s what I rounded up:
- Some liquid castile soap – I had a big bottle of this unscented stuff already, which was handy.
- A bit of vegetable glycerin – Heard this was good for keeping hands from drying out, and goodness knows my hands needed that.
- Essential oils – For a nice scent and maybe some extra cleaning power. I decided on lemon and a touch of tea tree oil. Classic kitchen stuff.
- Water – Good old distilled water, because tap water can have minerals that might mess things up.
- An old soap dispenser – I found a sturdy one. Cleaned it out really well, of course. No point putting new soap in a mucky bottle.
The Making Of… My Little Concoction
Alright, so I got down to business. It was actually simpler than I thought it would be, which was a pleasant surprise. No weird chemicals or anything too scary involved in my version.
I started by gently warming up about a cup of distilled water in a small pot on the stove. I made sure it was just warm, not boiling, just enough to help everything mix together smoothly. Then, I measured out about a cup of the liquid castile soap and poured it into the warm water. I stirred that in nice and slow with a wooden spoon. Didn’t want to make too many bubbles at this stage.
Next up was the glycerin. I added about a tablespoon. Again, stirred it in gently. The idea was to combine, not to whip it into a froth.
Once everything looked well combined and smooth, I took the pot off the heat. This is when I added the essential oils. I went with about 15 drops of lemon essential oil – really wanted that fresh, clean scent for the kitchen. Then I added about 5 drops of tea tree oil, because I’ve heard it’s good for its antibacterial properties.
Gave it one final, gentle stir and then I just had to let it cool down completely. That was probably the hardest part, being patient and waiting for it to cool! Once it was at room temperature, I carefully poured it into my clean dispenser using a small funnel I have. Made a little bit of a mess on the counter, not gonna lie, but nothing a quick wipe with a damp cloth couldn’t fix.
The Big Test and What I Reckon Now
So, the moment of truth finally arrived. I’d just finished up prepping some chicken, hands feeling a bit greasy and definitely smelling of raw poultry. Not pleasant. I went over to the sink, pumped out a bit of my homemade soap, and lathered up.
And you know what? It worked a treat! The lather was decent, not super foamy like some commercial ones, but enough. The lemon smell was really fresh and it definitely helped get rid of those kitchen odors. Most importantly, my hands felt clean, properly clean. And afterwards, they didn’t feel all tight and dry like they often do. That glycerin must be doing its job.
Was it absolutely perfect on the first try? Well, if I’m being honest, maybe the consistency could be a tiny bit thicker next time. It’s a little runnier than what I’m used to. I might experiment with the water-to-soap ratio a bit, or perhaps look into natural thickeners if I get adventurous. But for a first proper go, I’m calling it a solid win.
It’s pretty satisfying using something you’ve made yourself, especially when it actually works well and solves a little problem. Plus, I know exactly what’s in it. No weird stuff I can’t pronounce. I’ll definitely be making another batch when this one runs out. Maybe I’ll try a different scent next time, perhaps sweet orange or even a bit of peppermint? We’ll see. For now, this lemon kitchen soap is my new best friend by the sink, and I’m quite pleased with how it all turned out.
