Foaming hand soap

[bookworm42]

I've been reading up on making LS. I'm considering trying @IrishLass's recipe and method but have 1 question.

Can you use the recipe as is for a foam dispenser or do you have to dilute it more?

I'm still reading through the post so not sure if anyone asked it in there but a search though the forum didn't yield anything that I could see.

 

[Servant4Christ]

You'll need to dilute it more. That recipe makes a creamy thick liquid soap perfect for regular lotion bottle style pumps.

 

[bookworm42]

Perfect and thanks! That's what I thought but just wanted to be sure before I plowed ahead.

 

[AliOop]

I've been reading up on making LS. I'm considering trying @IrishLass's recipe and method but have 1 question.

Can you use the recipe as is for a foam dispenser or do you have to dilute it more?

I'm still reading through the post so not sure if anyone asked it in there but a search though the forum didn't yield anything that I could see.

Are you talking about the Creamy Cocoa-Shea recipe? If so, it is a wonderful recipe, but I wouldn't make it as-is for a foam dispenser.

I do make the original version for my SIL, who calls it "body wash" and says it works well to eliminate his post-shower itchy skin. However, when I make it for foamer bottles, I not only dilute it more, but I also leave out the stearic acid, because that significantly thickens the soap. There isn't much point in thickening something, only to turn around and thin it back out again.

I did recently learn (from DeeAnna, in @Servant4Christ's post) that stearic is also what gives the pearly look to the soap. So I guess you could add it for that reason, but my experience has been that once you thin it down enough for foamer pumps, it doesn't look that pearly anymore.

 

[bookworm42]

@Servant4Christ and @AliOop you guys are the best! I'm excited to try this. Now I just have to get some KOH. Any and all tips welcomed.
I'll also be doing more reading while I wait. That ultimate liquid soap book recommend on another post is tempting...

 

[DeeAnna]

I also think the added stearic in Irish Lass's coco shea LS would add to the amount of nozzle "snot" that builds up -- that annoying clump of semi dry soap that plugs the tip of a pump or squeeze nozzle.

 

[AliOop]

I also think the added stearic in Irish Lass's coco shea LS would add to the amount of nozzle "snot" that builds up -- that annoying clump of semi dry soap that plugs the tip of a pump or squeeze nozzle.

Very good point! You mentioned in another post that there is also some separation that tends to occur over time. I've definitely seen that, as well. It doesn't bother me that much, but I do prefer to make LS that doesn't need to be shaken up every few days.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Very good point! You mentioned in another post that there is also some separation that tends to occur over time. I've definitely seen that, as well. It doesn't bother me that much, but I do prefer to make LS that doesn't need to be shaken up every few days.

The PS80 doesn't fix that?

Bookworm42: If liquid soap is new to you, I personally think you'd benefit from making a simpler recipe to get your feet wet first. I actually had another member send me a bottle of IrishLass' recipe to see if I liked it before attempting a recipe with so many new-to-me ingredients and I am so glad because it turns out I'm one of the few who cannot use it.

 

[AliOop]

The PS80 doesn't fix that?

It doesn't appear to fix that completely in this recipe, at least, not for me. There's always white stuff at the bottom of the bottle, and often a thin layer on top, too. That only happens to me when I've thickened the LS with stearic acid, so I'm pretty sure it's separating out somehow.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Are you talking about the Creamy Cocoa-Shea recipe? If so, it is a wonderful recipe, but I wouldn't make it as-is for a foam dispenser.

I do make the original version for my SIL, who calls it "body wash" and says it works well to eliminate his post-shower itchy skin. However, when I make it for foamer bottles, I not only dilute it more, but I also leave out the stearic acid, because that significantly thickens the soap. There isn't much point in thickening something, only to turn around and thin it back out again.

I did recently learn (from DeeAnna, in @Servant4Christ's post) that stearic is also what gives the pearly look to the soap. So I guess you could add it for that reason, but my experience has been that once you thin it down enough for foamer pumps, it doesn't look that pearly anymore.

The stearic isn't giving me a pearly look, just an Elmer's school glue white. I've tried it at 2, 3, and 4% of the diluted soap weight.