Learn how to make zero waste solid dish soap!

How to Make Solid Dish Soap (with Lemon & Aloe Vera)

A Natural Zero Waste Alternative

Are you looking for a natural, zero-waste way to wash your dishes without the harsh chemicals found in store-bought products?

Lovely soapmakers, you’re in the right place. Today I’m sharing how you can make your own solid dish soap, a powerful, plastic-free alternative that’s tough on grease but kind to your skin and the planet.

What Is Solid Dish Soap?

Solid dish soap is exactly what it sounds like, a hard bar of ultra-cleansing soap designed specifically for handwashing dishes. Unlike regular liquid dish soaps, it comes with no plastic bottle, no waste, and no mysterious ingredients.

It works a lot like old-fashioned laundry soap bars, only it’s meant for your kitchen, not your clothes.

And unlike detergent-based versions you might find in shops, the recipe I’m sharing is made from scratch using the cold process soapmaking method. Natural, handmade, and effective.

Important: Solid dish soap is not meant for dishwashers. It’s perfect for handwashing only!

Why I Love This Recipe

This homemade solid dish soap is packed with natural grease-fighting ingredients:

• Coconut oil: Excellent cleansing power.

• Fresh lemon juice: A natural source of citric acid, which helps cut through grease and reduces soap scum.

• Lemon zest: Adds gentle color and texture.

• Folded lemon essential oil: A super-concentrated citrus oil that holds up better in soap than regular essential oils.

• Aloe vera gel: Gives the soap a softer lather and helps balance out coconut oil’s drying effect.

It smells fresh, cuts through grime, and makes your kitchen smell like sunshine, what more could you want?

DIY Solid Dish Soap Recipe (Cold Process)

This lemon & aloe solid dish soap recipe makes a firm, long-lasting bar perfect for daily use in your kitchen sink.

Ingredients (100% Coconut Oil – 0% Superfat):

• 14 oz (397 g) coconut oil

• 2.56 oz (73 g) sodium hydroxide (lye)

• 5.32 oz (151 g) distilled water

• Zest of one fresh lemon

• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 tbsp aloe vera gel or liquid

• 18 g folded lemon essential oil (added at light trace)

  
  

Step-by-Step Instructions

Safety First: Always wear gloves and goggles. Weigh all ingredients with a digital scale, no measuring cups!

If you're brand new to soapmaking, download my free Soap Making Checklist!

A quick snap shot of mixing lye with coconut oil

1. Make the lye solution

   
   

   Add the distilled water to a heat-safe container. Put on your gloves and goggles, then slowly sprinkle in the lye. Stir carefully, avoiding the fumes.

   
   

2. Stir in the lemon zest

   
   

   Immediately stir in the lemon zest while the solution is still hot (this helps distribute the color and break down the zest).

   
   

3. Let it cool

   
   

   Set the lye solution aside to cool to around 100–110°F (38–43°C).

   
   

4. Melt the coconut oil

   
   

   Gently heat the coconut oil until it reaches 90–100°F (32–38°C).

   
   

5. Combine the lye and oils

   
   

   Stir the lemon juice and aloe vera into the cooled lye solution. Then pour the lye mixture into the warm oils and stir by hand.

   
   

6. Blend to trace

   
   

   Use short bursts with an immersion blender, alternating with hand stirring, until the mixture reaches a light trace.

   
   

7. Add essential oil

   
   

8. Stir in the folded lemon essential oil.

   
   

9. Mold the soap

   
   

10. Pour the mixture into your preferred soap mold. I love using individual cavity molds, but loaf molds work too.

    
    

11. Unmold & cure

    
    

    If using individual molds, leave for 24 hours before unmolding. For loaf molds, unmold and slice within 2–3 hours if firm.

Tips

• Add zest while the lye solution is still warm, this gives your soap a brighter, more even tone.

• Folded citrus oils (like 10x lemon or orange) are much more effective in soap than regular citrus oils.

• Aloe vera may slightly thicken your lye solution, just stir well and continue as usual.

• Even though this soap is plant-based, coconut oil can be drying. Wear reusable gloves if your hands are sensitive!

  
  

Why Make Solid Dish Soap?

• ✅ Zero waste: No plastic bottles.

  
  

• ✅ All-natural: You control the ingredients.

  
  

• ✅ Budget-friendly: One bar lasts a long time.

  
  

• ✅ Eco-conscious: Gentle on waterways and wildlife.

  
  

• ✅ Aesthetic & functional: Looks beautiful on your kitchen counter and works just as hard as liquid soap.

  
  

Ready to give it a go? 

Let me know how your batch turns out, or tag @thesoapacademy on Instagram to share your beautiful bars!

Want more cold process soap recipes like this one?

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