DIY Coconut Oil Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap

The Magic of Soap: DIY Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap

The Magic of Soap

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), soap is more effective at removing certain types of germs than alcohol-based hand sanitizers [1]. You see, soap has two layers—one that’s attracted to water and one that’s attracted to fat. Meanwhile, viruses have an outer layer of protein and fat surrounding them. When viruses come in contact with soap, their fat coating gets ripped off, destroying them in the process.

Soap has also been shown to eliminate bacteria from the hands more effectively than rinsing with water alone [2]. And it doesn’t matter what kind of soap you use. As long as it has suds, both homemade soap and store-bought work well against microbes without the need to add any additional antimicrobial agents like alcohol. Even the US Food and Drug Administration recommends leaving out the chemicals and just using soap and water [3].

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup distilled water
• 1 tablespoon liquid soap base
• 1/4 teaspoon jojoba oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil

Instructions

1. Combine the ingredients in an empty soap dispenser, then slowly fill the dispenser the rest of the way with water.
2. Screw on the pump and shake well to combine.

Notes

You can substitute jojoba, rosehip, sweet almond, or any other carrier oil that stays liquid at room temperature. As far as soap dispensers go, I usually just save a few plastic foaming dispensers and repurpose them. But you can find a bunch of different options online, such as glass dispensers and plastic ones.

References

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Hand Hygiene. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.html

[2] Burton, M., et al. (2011). The effect of handwashing with water or soap on bacterial contamination of hands. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8(2), 351-362.

[3] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Antibacterial Soap? You can skip it, use plain soap and water. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water

Additional References

• Zhao, H., et al. (2022). Peppermint essential oil: its phytochemistry, biological activity, pharmacological effect and application. Biomed Pharmacother, 151, 112944.
• Sabo, V. A., et al. (2019). Antimicrobial activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. plant extracts and essential oils: a review. Industrial Crops and Products, 132, 112-124.
• Batiha, G. E. S., et al. (2020). Syzygium aromaticum L (Myrtaceae): traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities. Biomolecules, 10(2), 241.
• Carson, C. F., et al. (2006). Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 19(1), 49-62.
• El Atki, Y., et al. (2019). Antibacterial activity of cinnamon essential oils and their synergistic potential with antibiotics. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 10(1), 12-21.
• Lima, E. B. C., et al. (2015). Cocos nucifera (L.) (Arecaceae): a phytochemical and pharmacological review. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 48(4), 341-352.