The wonders of the web pointed me to many different sites (including a favorite Not So Idle Hands) discussing methods and recipes for refilling these jars at home! I have been doing this for a few months now and have perfected my recipe. So here goes for those of you out there who feel the same way.
Materials needed:
Empty foaming soap dispenser
Body wash or dish soap in your favorite scent (I have only tested this out with 'clear' body washes and not creamy types)
HOT water (not boiling but really hot)
Method:
If your soap dispenser is a little gummy around the spout (like mine), give it a rinse to clean it off.
Pour your body wash/dish soap into the empty jar. I use approximately 1 inch of body wash or to the "T" on the side of the bottle. For dish soap I use a little less because it foams far more. There is no exact science for this...if you use more soap, the suds are thicker.
Pump a few times until you feel warm suds and then you are done!
I will be honest with you, I have used Bath and Body works Shower gel for this so the scent and the pump match. This is more expensive than using other shower gels or dish soap...but this is great for those of you who still want the scent but want to save some money. If you can buy the shower gels when they are on sale for buy 3 get 3 free you will save a lot. I think I should get 5 or 6 refills out of each shower gel!
This is awesome-- I've been wanting to do this and not realizing it is so simple! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea! We go through so much of this stuff, I love the idea of ways to make it stretch. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing....I will definitely try this!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea!! I'm going to try this. I love Bath and Body Works Vanilla Bean Noelle and it's only out during the Christmas Holidays so I would try that one out. I just noticed they have a sale on the body washes Buy 3 get 2 free. So that would be 31.50 if you can get 5 refills out of each one that would be 25 refills at a cost of only 1.26 a refill. That's actually pretty good I think. Especially to get the scent you want. And the regular hand pumps of foam soap from B&BW is 5.00.
ReplyDeleteI love to do this! And I spray painted the bottle ORB to cover the label. I cannot see how much is left that easy anymore but the difference in label and soap 'flavors' bothered me. Nice to see I am not alone in that little quirk!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I knew there had to be a way to make that stuff yourself. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!! Lovin' the shower soap idea! LOL
ReplyDeleteHAHA! I actually frequently walk into the bathroom, because it too quiet all of the sudden, only to find my little one stripped down to nothing and standing in the sink completely covered in soft-soap. She just smiles at me. And then giggles as she slips out of my grip trying to get her into the tub for a shower rinse off... She's a fish.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous money saver! I am going to be doing this like, this afternoon! Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for linking up to Making It With Allie.
I can't wait to see what you have next week!
AllieMakes.Blogspot.com
How FaBuLOUs is this?! Our budget has become pretty darn tight but I LOVE those foam soaps. I've been buying the refill at Target (I think it's Soft Soap) but boy do we go through it like crazy!) Believe it or not I've been reduced to using bars of soap in the bathrooms this week (I know, totally disgusting). But not anymore!! I have a few shower gels from B&BW that will now become foam soap! Luckily I've saved the empty bottles.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! You just never know how much you can help someone out by sharing. I'm glad I linked over from Finding Fabulous' Frugalicious Friday.
Sincere Blessings to you,
Missy
OK, I just had to post another comment to tell you how TOTALLY excited I am right now - I actually jumped up from the computer and refilled 2 soap pumps! I am so picky too about the color and scent, so you can imagine how pleased I am that I had Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel for my empty soap bottle of the same scent! Then I sadly realized that I did throw away 2 empty bottles BUT I was able to refill the 2 I did save (even though one was something from Target) but it totally worked! We're pretty dorky around here and actually high-fived over it! ha! ;).
ReplyDeleteThanks so much again!
Missy
Please don't think I'm a stalker...I just wanted to let you know I posted about this tip on my personal blog http://OneBlessedMommie.blogspot.com and added a link to your post.
ReplyDeleteGratefully Yours,
Missy
Hey Stephanie-
ReplyDeleteStopping by to tell you that I am featuring this today as party of the Making It With Allie Features! Come on by and pick up a button for your "street-cred"
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What a great tip! I love the foaming hand soap but we go through it so fast. I'll start saving the bottles to refill them!
ReplyDeleteawesome tip--gonna try it!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea. I was always watering down hand soap, but I see now the appeal of shower gel or dish soap. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBrittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
Love this idea!! Plan on trying it! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "recipe!" I've been refilling our foaming soap dispensers for months, but it's been total guesswork. Just FYI, the labels on the pumper peel right off if you heat them up with water. That's what I did, and now I can put any "flavor" in there that I want.
ReplyDeleteI am a fellow Bath and Body Works addict. It's a sickness with me really. I LOVE their foam hand soaps and cannot pass by a Bath and Body Works without picking up at least a half dozen of these babies. Now I learn that I can refill them and I think I have died and gone to heaven. Not only can I buy new ones...I can refill the old ones with my every present growing stash of shower gel! We may NEVER run out again. You are indeed the hero of my life!! Love you girl and your blog!
ReplyDeleteSuzie @
staycalmandsewsomething.blogspot.com
What a great idea! I have a similar problem in my house except I have no kids to blame, only my husband (who I think also bathes in these, haha). I will totally be trying this. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea:) I will definitely try it out. I am your new follower. You can follow me back at http://showmemama.com. Make sure you leave a comment so I know you visited.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend
ShowMeMama
Great idea! I've saved enough of the foaming pumps to do this throughout my whole house! I refill mine with a natural dish soap, scented with essential oils. I even use it in my kitchen in place of my regular dish soap, and it saves SO much! (oh, and the creamy soaps tend to clog the foam pumps!) We are actually planning to talk about this soon when we discuss chemical-free households at www.frugally-natural.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThis post is seriously cracking me up because we have been out of foaming soap for two days now. I was putting my foot down with the five dollar a bottle foaming soap that we seem to tear through. Just got a bag of the method refill from target, but it's killing me that the scent doesn't match the bottle! I love this! And I am a huge fan of diluting as it lasts so much longer and is just as effective. :)
ReplyDeleteNew follower!! I love this idea!!!
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I have been doing this for a while too and it saves on money... I also add a bit of tea tree oil for antibacterial purposes, scent and moisture.
ReplyDeleteI refill all my foaming soap bottles too! Love it, saves so much money, AND I love lots of foam.
ReplyDeleteI do this all the time! Love my foaming soap. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower! Will be buying my soap in bulk. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! What a great tip. Thank you!
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Tip: If you decide to spray the bottle to cutify it and want to see how much is left, put a narrow strip of blue painter's tape up the back side of the bottle before spraying it. When the paint dries, peel it off, and voila! You've got a window.
ReplyDeleteGreat Idea!!
Deletei do this with my dawn foaming dish soap dispenser. was wondering why the hot water though? i just use room temp.
ReplyDeleteHi Reneracine,
ReplyDeleteI use the hot water because body wash is really thick and hard to mix. Without the heat, the body wash sits at the bottom of the jar and stays seperated from the water. If I am using dish soap, luke warm water does work because it disolves far easier.
Hope this helps,
Stephanie
Featured this today...loved it, thanks!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic tip! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove this!! We are almost out of ours here, and were lamenting on how $$ they are! I think I will invest in some of their body wash to make our own! :) Thank you for the tip! :)
ReplyDeleteI have done this before but my question is - are the refill soaps anti-bacterial? Most body washes don't seem to be....
ReplyDeleteAnyone??
@Sara...if you add essential oils like rosemary, lemon, lavender (look them up...some have antibacterial properties). must be pure essential oil, that is appropriate for skin (ie. cinnamon oil is antibacterial, but too harsh for skin :)
ReplyDeleteI saw on another blog to spray paint the soap containers to match your decor.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely try this tonight :) I always get things at Bath & Body Works but only at the Outlet as they always have sales.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing this for a while too and find it's a huge cost savings. In the winter, because my hands get so dry, I use a moisturizing dish soap for my pump in the kitchen. Makes such a difference on my poor hands.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
I have been doing this for awhile but never thought to use hot water.. DUH! also, I took off the label and bought a metal soap dispenser cover. Bath and body works sells them and they are really cute. They only fit the new see through bottles though!
ReplyDeletegenerally B&BW puts their hand soaps on sale for 4/$15 and such, if you shop wisely you'll get them just as cheaply. buy in bulk when they go on sale. $2.50 or so each is likely cheaper than what you'd pay for bargain brands in the stores anyways.
ReplyDeleteThe first time one of my pumping foamers ran out of soap I refilled it with just about the same ratio of soap to water as you did, being careful to add the hot water slowly so as not to fill the bottle with bubbles. This worked so well for me that I go through a bottle of Dawn Dishwashing soap every 2 years. I have not saved a lot of money on this, but when you add shampoos, body wash, etc., to this list, you save enough to take yourself out to dinner and a movie ;-D
ReplyDeleteI just discovered that the little bottle of travel shower gel from BBW is the EXACT amount you need. And there are coupons ALL of the time for a free travel item. SCORE!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great tip! You can find those little ones on clearance all the time at BBW and the last time I stayed at a Holiday Inn, those were their free toiletries in the bathroom :) Thank you for sharing.
DeleteStephanie
i do this all the time with dish soap and leave it near the sink- also great for a few squirts into a pan, etc. for a quick wash. HUGE money saver :)
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried using the B&B thicker hand soap in the same scent and diluting it in the foam pump? I tried and it is coming out runny, any advice?
ReplyDeleteHi Vickie,
DeleteI have not tried it but I would think you would need more soap (maybe even 50/50) and less water than when you use body wash/dish soap.
Let us know if you figure it out, it is a great idea!
Stephanie
I also love bath and body works. Of course everyone loves it because of its aroma and use.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say, this isn't that great of an idea... all sorts of nasty bacteria will grow in unsterilized water without a preservative. And the preservative in the 'refill' soap is not meant to be used with so much water. Unless you are adding researched amounts of preservative for water-based products, play it safe and buy the real stuff.
ReplyDeleteI use warm distilled water, essential oils, glycerin and Dr bronners soap.
ReplyDeleteBacteria are not likely to grow in a soap solution. The pH is much too alkaline.
ReplyDeleteWe have been doing this for a while and loved the savings. Did notice that pump starting growing mold. We weren't able to completely get rid of the mold so we just threw it out.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these ideas. I really need to do this because, just like yours, my kids also love these products and they just use it all up in just a few days. I am really glad I came across with your post. This is absolutely helpful.
ReplyDeleteI made a refile with my kid's bath soap and added a tiny bit of icing color (like for cake frosting) and BAM foam bath "Paint" that they can use on themselves or the walls.
ReplyDeleteI tried this today, and it worked like a charm!! Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeletethis for a while too and find it's a huge cost savings. In the winter, because my hands get so dry Dry Cleaners
ReplyDeleteHere's a quick kid tip: I wrap a rubber band around the pump to save soap. It prevents the pump from going all the way down, thus reducing the amount of soap your kiddos are going through. (There is still plenty to clean your hands with a 1/2 pump) A pipe cleaner might also work if you wrapped it around several times.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! I love what you've done, so creative.
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I have bought the gallon of cheap Shampoo in luscious fragerances from Sally's and use that . Works good in any pump dispenser such as the one at the sink. Very inexpensive and works great.
ReplyDeleteThe people not reading your blogs are missing out a lot of quality contents.memory foam
ReplyDeleteI use shampoo...when there's only a few inches left I fill it with water, shake it up and store it under the bathroom sink. Squirt it into the foaming dispenser when neededI and im all set. I have been finding the suave and vO5 for like $0.78. Definitely a much cheaper alternative. And I like how I can get all yummy scents for so cheap.
ReplyDeleteTried this for the first time today. :-) It really worked.This tip will savev me money for sure.Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteTried this for the first time today. :-) It really worked.This tip will savev me money for sure.Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteI just tried my Trader Joe's Lavender and Chamomile soap in a old Bath and Body Works foaming soap container and it worked wonderful! Now I have the color container I like (brown) with one of my favorite scents! Thank You.
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I have been doing this for awhile, it really is a money saver. The only thing I do different is I buy my favourite bath & body works moisturizing hand soap scents when they are on sale and use them to refill the matching foaming hand soap container that way the scents always match. I'm picky but I like the scent to match the label. You still get at least 7 or 8 refills out of one bottle of moisturizing hand soap because you only need less than 1/2 inch for each refill. :)
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I do this but use distilled, filtered or bottled water and warm it in the microwave. If your using the soap to clean I want to make sure the water that I am putting in the bottle is just as clean as if I purchased it. Also she is right about not to hot. If warming in the microwave no more than 30 seconds. I did one minute the first time and the bottle bulged and won't sit flat . LOL I just had to find another bottle later. GREAT POST!
ReplyDeleteOne more I also made some with Summers Eve Lady wash for the shower! LOVE IT!
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