How to Make Your Own Coconut Oil Dish Soap
Simple, Natural Dish Soap Recipe for Sparkling Clean Dishes
⚠️ IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
This recipe is intended for adults and should only be attempted by those who are comfortable following the safety precautions involved in handling sodium hydroxide (lye). Always wear appropriate protective equipment, work in a well-ventilated area, and keep children and pets well away from your workspace throughout the soap making process.
Making your own dish soap is a rewarding and surprisingly simple project. Not only do you know exactly what goes into your soap, but you'll create a long-lasting cleaning bar that cuts through grease beautifully while reducing plastic waste from washing-up liquid bottles.
This recipe uses 100% coconut oil, making it perfect for washing dishes, pots and pans.
Why Make Your Own Dish Soap?
There are lots of reasons people are choosing to make their own household products.
Making your own dish soap means you know exactly what ingredients are in it, you avoid unnecessary plastic bottles, and you end up with a long-lasting soap bar that produces plenty of rich bubbles.
Unlike many commercial washing-up liquids, a solid dish soap lasts a surprisingly long time and is incredibly easy to use.
Simply wet your dish brush or sponge, rub it over the soap and wash as normal.
Why 100% Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is one of the best oils for making dish soap.
It produces a very hard bar with lots of fluffy lather and excellent grease-cutting properties, making it ideal for cleaning dirty dishes.
However, because coconut oil is such an effective cleanser, it can also remove your skin's natural oils.
For that reason, this recipe is intended only as a dish soap and is not recommended for washing your hands or body, particularly if you have dry or sensitive skin.
A Note About Soap Making Measurements
One thing that surprises many beginners is that soap makers measure everything by weight, even liquids.
Although water is a liquid, you'll weigh it on your scales rather than measuring it in millilitres. This ensures your recipe remains accurate, safe and produces consistent results every time.
Ingredients
- 250g Coconut Oil
- 82g Water
- 41g Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH/Lye – 100% pure)
- 7.5g Essential Oils (optional)
Choosing the Right Sodium Hydroxide
For this recipe you'll need 100% pure sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
Always read the label carefully and only use a product that lists 100% sodium hydroxide as the only ingredient.
If you're unsure, it's always best to buy sodium hydroxide from a reputable soap-making supplier.
Why Do We Use Sodium Hydroxide?
Many people are nervous when they see sodium hydroxide in a soap recipe.
The important thing to understand is that sodium hydroxide is only there to create the chemical reaction that turns oil into soap.
This reaction is called saponification. Once saponification is complete, there is no sodium hydroxide left in the finished soap. It has completely reacted with the coconut oil to create soap and natural glycerine.
Suggested Essential Oils
This recipe works perfectly without fragrance, but if you'd like a fresh scent you can add 7.5g of essential oils once your soap reaches light trace.
Some lovely options include:
- 🍋 Lemon
- 🍊 Sweet Orange
- 🍊 Grapefruit
- 🌿 Tea Tree
- 🌱 Eucalyptus
Or why not try one of these blends?
Lemon, Lavender & Orange
- 2.5g Lemon
- 2.5g Lavender
- 2.5g Sweet Orange
Lemon & Eucalyptus
- 3.75g Lemon
- 3.75g Eucalyptus
Safety First
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- Safety goggles
- Protective gloves
- Long sleeves
- An open window or good ventilation
The lye solution becomes extremely hot and releases fumes while the sodium hydroxide dissolves. Avoid breathing these fumes in and always work somewhere well ventilated.
During the first 24 hours after pouring, the soap continues to saponify. It will become very hot and is still caustic.
Do not touch the soap with bare hands until at least 24 hours have passed.
Place it somewhere safe where it cannot be knocked or reached by children or pets.
Equipment You'll Need
- Heatproof ceramic dish or pot, or a silicone mould
- Saucepan (for melting the coconut oil)
- Plastic jug for the water and lye solution (never use glass or metal)
- Plastic jug for mixing the soap batter
- Silicone spatula
- Accurate digital weighing scales
- Thermometer (optional but recommended)
- Stick blender
- Paper towels (for wiping up any spillage
Method
Step 1 – Make the Lye Solution
Weigh 82g of water into a plastic jug.
Weight 41g of sodium hydroxide into a separate plastic jug.
Always pour the sodium hydroxide into the water — never pour water onto the sodium hydroxide.
Once all of the sodium hydroxide has been added, gently stir until it has completely dissolved.
The mixture will become extremely hot and release unpleasant fumes. Avoid breathing the fumes and make sure your window is open. Once all the sodium hydroxide has dissolved, the fumes will disappear.
Leave the solution to cool until it is just slightly warmer than room temperature (approximately 35°C if using a thermometer).
Step 2 – Melt the Coconut Oil
As your lye solution cools, gently melt the 250g coconut oil over a very low heat. Once melted, remove it from the heat and pour it into a clean plastic jug.
Step 3 – Combine the Ingredients
Very carefully pour the cooled lye solution into the melted coconut oil.
Using your stick blender, pulse for a few seconds before stopping to stir. Continue pulsing and stirring.
At first the mixture will look very thin. After a minute or two it will begin to thicken.
Step 4 – Reach Light Trace
Continue blending until you reach light trace. Trace is similar to lightly whipped cream. If you drizzle a little mixture across the surface, it should leave a faint trail before disappearing.
This is the perfect time to add your essential oils if you're using them.
Add 7.5g of your chosen essential oil or blend. Blend again until fully combined.
Step 5 – Reach a Good Trace
Continue blending until the trail left on the surface becomes more noticeable and remains visible for a few moments. This is known as a good trace. Your soap is now ready to pour.
Step 6 – Pour Into Your Mould
Carefully pour the soap into your heatproof ceramic dish or silicone mould. Smooth the surface using your silicone spatula if required.
Leave somewhere safe and out of the way.
Remember...
Do not touch the soap during the first 24 hours. The soap will become surprisingly hot while it completes the saponification process.
After 24 Hours
After 24 hours your soap will have fully saponified. It can now be safely removed from the mould if you’re using a silicone mould.
Although it's technically ready to use, allowing it to cure for 1–2 weeks will make it harder and longer lasting as excess water slowly evaporates.
How to Use Your Dish Soap
Wet your dish brush or sponge. Rub it over the soap until you have plenty of bubbles. Wash your dishes as normal before rinsing.
A little goes a long way.
Storage
Store your dish soap on a draining soap dish or somewhere it can dry out between uses if you’re used a silicone mould, or keep it in the ceramic dish.
Keeping it dry will help it last much longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a glass jug?
No. Glass can weaken over time when exposed to lye and may crack unexpectedly. A sturdy plastic jug is much safer.
Can I use metal bowls?
Avoid aluminium, as sodium hydroxide reacts with it. For this recipe we recommend using plastic jugs throughout.
Can I use fragrance oils instead of essential oils?
Yes, provided they are suitable for cold process soap making and used within the supplier's recommended usage rates.
Troubleshooting
My soap thickened very quickly.
Your coconut oil or lye solution may have been too warm. Next time, allow both to cool a little longer before combining.
My soap hasn't hardened enough.
Double-check your measurements and allow it to cure for at least one to two weeks. As water evaporates, the soap will become much harder.
Enjoy Your Homemade Dish Soap!
Making your own coconut oil dish soap is a fantastic introduction to cold process soap making.
It's simple, satisfying and produces an incredibly effective cleaning soap that can last for weeks.
We hope you enjoy making it as much as we do!
Happy soap making! 💚
Disclaimer
This recipe is provided for educational purposes only. Always follow appropriate safety precautions when working with sodium hydroxide (lye). Our Lovely Naturals accepts no responsibility for injury, damage or loss resulting from the use or misuse of this recipe.