ISO hand soap refill (natural)

[sheryl]

Right now I've been buying Mrs. Meyers Clean Day liquid hand soap refill lavender.   Is this a good, safe soap?  

I thought someone here a while back had reservations with this brand.

Looked at ingredient list but don't know every ingredient and hoping someone here can just eyeball and quickly inform whether this is a good choice or not. If not, please recommend one. 

Thanks!

Lavender Liquid Hand Soap Refill | Mrs. Meyer's (mrsmeyers.com)

[Katy]

In general, unless you have a specific sensitivity, most soaps that don’t contain glitter, microbeads, or antibacterial qualities are fine for home use. I buy big unscented refills from softsoap but still get pretty seasonal ones from TJ Maxx pretty frequently. 

[LuvToRead]

What is your definition of safe?  I avoid essential oils and fragrances (although in wash off products like this it isn't a huge issue) because they irritate me.  I wouldn't considered those unsafe, though, because most people can handle those just fine.  I would never buy anti-bacterial hand soap.

Edited July 19 by LuvToRead

[Pawz4me]

1 hour ago, sheryl said:

 

I thought someone here a while back had reservations with this brand.

 

I don't know what a "safe" soap is.

I don't think it's so much having reservations about Mrs. Meyer's, but about all supposedly natural, "clean" brands. Because if you believe the Environmental Working Group many of the supposedly natural, "clean" brands rank worse than brands who make no such claims. For example, here is their listing for Mrs. Meyer's hand soaps. Looks like most of their products rank 3 or 4 (moderate hazard). And here is their listing for Softsoap. Some of their products earn a 2 ranking, which is low hazard. So according to EWG some Softsoap products are "safer" than any of Mrs. Meyer's products.

I suppose if I were concerned about such things and if I trusted the EWG (I don't really know a lot about them other than they rank these things), then I'd go with Dr. Bronner's products.

[sheryl]

2 hours ago, Katy said:

In general, unless you have a specific sensitivity, most soaps that don’t contain glitter, microbeads, or antibacterial qualities are fine for home use. I buy big unscented refills from softsoap but still get pretty seasonal ones from TJ Maxx pretty frequently. 

Thanks for rec.

1 hour ago, LuvToRead said:

What is your definition of safe?  I avoid essential oils and fragrances (although in wash off products like this it isn't a huge issue) because they irritate me.  I wouldn't considered those unsafe, though, because most people can handle those just fine.  I would never buy anti-bacterial hand soap.

See reply below to Pawz.  

1 hour ago, Pawz4me said:

I don't know what a "safe" soap is.

I don't think it's so much having reservations about Mrs. Meyer's, but about all supposedly natural, "clean" brands. Because if you believe the Environmental Working Group many of the supposedly natural, "clean" brands rank worse than brands who make no such claims. For example, here is their listing for Mrs. Meyer's hand soaps. Looks like most of their products rank 3 or 4 (moderate hazard). And here is their listing for Softsoap. Some of their products earn a 2 ranking, which is low hazard. So according to EWG some Softsoap products are "safer" than any of Mrs. Meyer's products.

I suppose if I were concerned about such things and if I trusted the EWG (I don't really know a lot about them other than they rank these things), then I'd go with Dr. Bronner's products.

That's good to know, Pawz.  So, about 15 years ago when dd was 10 and we were in a homeschool academy, one of the moms who happens to be a nurse (she might be retired now) said that sls is cancer causing.  I think it's sls.  I've always tucked that info away and stay away from sls.  I'm not sure how it contributes to soap.  

So, Luvtoread, that is my definition, I guess.  To find a soap product (all cleaning products) that do not have ingredients which may cause cancer.  

I just don't know enough about the ingredients to come to a logical conclusion.  

Pawz, I'll look at Softsoap you and katy suggested.  Will also look at the links.  Kudos to you!  I've been wanting to tell you, Pawz, the broom you recommended is THE.BEST!   Works very well and much more efficient because it actually does what a broom is supposed to do!  LOL!  Off to look at the links.  Thanks again!  

[sheryl]

Doing some research and I found this - interesting.   I'm on a quest to find non-toxic soaps of all kind (dish, hand, body/bar, shampoo, cond, etc).  

• Parabens– Parabens are a type of preservative used to prevent the growth of bacteria and prolong the shelf life of lip balm, deodorant, lotion, and other beauty and personal care products. The most commonly used are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben and butylparaben. Based on a study conducted at the University of California Berkeley, researchers found that parabens were able to stimulate breast cancer cell growth, even at concentrations 100 times lower than the natural growth factor heregulin. These findings suggest that paraben exposure doesn’t have to be high to lead to cancer growth.
• Phthalates– Phthalates are used to increase the flexibility and transparency in plastics. They’re also found in personal care products, and they enhance product absorption, help products stick to your skin and keep fragrance smelling fresh. Phthalates mimic hormones, interrupting hormone production. A 2018 review found that current human exposure to phthalates may have effects on the male reproductive system.
• Polyethylene glycol– Polyethylene glycol is used to make personal care products thicker and better able to transport moisture to the skin. The manufacturing process introduces impurities and by-products, such as ethylene oxides and 1,4-dioxane, which are known carcinogenic materials.
• Synthetic fragrance- Personal care products can list fragrance as one ingredient and don’t have to disclose the fact that these formulations may contain hundreds of ingredients. Synthetic Fragrance may contain carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, allergens, respiratory irritants and neurotoxic chemicals. Synthetic musks like galaxolide and tonalide, are linked to hormone disruption. Fragrance formulations also contain phthalates, which are hormone disruptors.
• Sulfates– Sulfates like Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) are added to many personal care products to produce foam. SLS can lead to irritation, and that’s something worth avoiding if you’re washing your hands multiple times a day.

[sheryl]

Dr. Bronner's does seem to keep in top place checking the bells and whistles.   It is expensive.  I'm going to look at Whole Food and Trader Joe's and look at labels.  

[Katy]

1 minute ago, sheryl said:

Dr. Bronner's does seem to keep in top place checking the bells and whistles.   It is expensive.  I'm going to look at Whole Food and Trader Joe's and look at labels.  

If you decide you want Dr Bronners, start with a small bottle and try it first. I loved the idea of it but hated the hand feel. Granted, I was working in nursing when I tried it, so I washed my hands very frequently. But to me Dr Bronners had a weird, hard but slimy hand feel, was difficult to rinse off, and left my hands feeling more dry & irritated than other soaps. Of the health store brands, I liked Kiss My Face things best, but they had so many supply chain issues in & since the pandemic I’ve given up. 
 

Anyway, if you try a bottle of Dr Bronners and love it, like many things that goes on major sale 1-2 times per year. And it’s occasionally a Whole Foods loss leader, so you might get on their email list. And Dr Bronner’s list if they still have one. They sell gallon sized refills, or at least they used to. 

[Corraleno]

10 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Dr. Bronner's does seem to keep in top place checking the bells and whistles.   It is expensive.  I'm going to look at Whole Food and Trader Joe's and look at labels.  

The ingredients in Dr Bronners unscented liquid soap are just saponified vegetable oils (coconut, palm, olive, hemp, and jojoba) plus vitamin C (citric acid) and vitamin E (tocopherols). They sell it in cardboard refill cartons now, too, to minimize plastic. They're also a very ethical company, offering good pay and benefits (the highest-paid executive cannot make more than 5x the lowest worker), and they use fair trade ingredients, ethical supply chains, are close to zero-waste, etc.

It is expensive but you can really stretch it by using the foaming type dispensers and diluting it in a ratio of 5 parts water to 1 part soap.

Edited July 20 by Corraleno

[sheryl]

4 minutes ago, Katy said:

If you decide you want Dr Bronners, start with a small bottle and try it first. I loved the idea of it but hated the hand feel. Granted, I was working in nursing when I tried it, so I washed my hands very frequently. But to me Dr Bronners had a weird, hard but slimy hand feel, was difficult to rinse off, and left my hands feeling more dry & irritated than other soaps. Of the health store brands, I liked Kiss My Face things best, but they had so many supply chain issues in & since the pandemic I’ve given up. 
 

Anyway, if you try a bottle of Dr Bronners and love it, like many things that goes on major sale 1-2 times per year. And it’s occasionally a Whole Foods loss leader, so you might get on their email list. And Dr Bronner’s list if they still have one. They sell gallon sized refills, or at least they used to. 

Oh man, it's so expensive. I burn through soap.  And, now that I'm painting a bit I use even more.  BUT, I should buy a gallon of something to see how long it would last. I may be surprised. Is there something similar to Dr. Bronner's then?  I looked for KM face on Amazon but didn't see a large refill size. 

1 minute ago, Corraleno said:

The ingredients in Dr Bronners unscented liquid soap are just saponified vegetable oils (coconut, palm, olive, hemp, and jojoba) plus vitamin C (citric acid) and vitamin E (tocopherols). They sell it in cardboard refill cartons now, too, to minimize plastic. They're also a very ethical company, offering good pay and benefits (the highest-paid executive cannot make more than 5x the lowest worker), and they use fair trade ingredients, ethical supply chains, are close to zero-waste, etc.

It is expensive but you can really stretch it by using the foaming type dispensers and diluting it in a ratio of 5 parts water to 1 part soap.

I do "cut" the Mrs. Meyer's a bit to "stretch it" even.  However, I can not buy foaming soap as I'm refilling dispensers that use gel soap only.  Is Dr. Bronner's gel or foam?

[LuvToRead]

16 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Doing some research and I found this - interesting.   I'm on a quest to find non-toxic soaps of all kind (dish, hand, body/bar, shampoo, cond, etc).  

• Parabens– Parabens are a type of preservative used to prevent the growth of bacteria and prolong the shelf life of lip balm, deodorant, lotion, and other beauty and personal care products. The most commonly used are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben and butylparaben. Based on a study conducted at the University of California Berkeley, researchers found that parabens were able to stimulate breast cancer cell growth, even at concentrations 100 times lower than the natural growth factor heregulin. These findings suggest that paraben exposure doesn’t have to be high to lead to cancer growth.
• Phthalates– Phthalates are used to increase the flexibility and transparency in plastics. They’re also found in personal care products, and they enhance product absorption, help products stick to your skin and keep fragrance smelling fresh. Phthalates mimic hormones, interrupting hormone production. A 2018 review found that current human exposure to phthalates may have effects on the male reproductive system.
• Polyethylene glycol– Polyethylene glycol is used to make personal care products thicker and better able to transport moisture to the skin. The manufacturing process introduces impurities and by-products, such as ethylene oxides and 1,4-dioxane, which are known carcinogenic materials.
• Synthetic fragrance- Personal care products can list fragrance as one ingredient and don’t have to disclose the fact that these formulations may contain hundreds of ingredients. Synthetic Fragrance may contain carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, allergens, respiratory irritants and neurotoxic chemicals. Synthetic musks like galaxolide and tonalide, are linked to hormone disruption. Fragrance formulations also contain phthalates, which are hormone disruptors.
• Sulfates– Sulfates like Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) are added to many personal care products to produce foam. SLS can lead to irritation, and that’s something worth avoiding if you’re washing your hands multiple times a day.

I did a quick google search and I couldn't find anything linking sls with cancer, just irritation.  There is so much mixed info on parabens it's hard to tell - but avoiding it makes good sense.  I'm probably not the right one to ask because I don't use all natural products.

If your interested, I make my own from humblebee and me.  https://www.humblebeeandme.com/rich-foaming-hand-wash/  

[Clarita]

12 minutes ago, sheryl said:

I do "cut" the Mrs. Meyer's a bit to "stretch it" even.  However, I can not buy foaming soap as I'm refilling dispensers that use gel soap only.  Is Dr. Bronner's gel or foam?

Neither, it's liquid-y.

Perhaps because they don't use this. 

31 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Polyethylene glycol– Polyethylene glycol is used to make personal care products thicker and better able to transport moisture to the skin. The manufacturing process introduces impurities and by-products, such as ethylene oxides and 1,4-dioxane, which are known carcinogenic materials.

 

[Katy]

I've only seen KMF gallon refills on their website and at one specific local grocery store.  But I know they used to have them.  I gave up maybe a year ago, but I used to LOVE their shampoo too.

[mmasc]

23 minutes ago, Corraleno said:

The ingredients in Dr Bronners unscented liquid soap are just saponified vegetable oils (coconut, palm, olive, hemp, and jojoba) plus vitamin C (citric acid) and vitamin E (tocopherols). They sell it in cardboard refill cartons now, too, to minimize plastic. They're also a very ethical company, offering good pay and benefits (the highest-paid executive cannot make more than 5x the lowest worker), and they use fair trade ingredients, ethical supply chains, are close to zero-waste, etc.

It is expensive but you can really stretch it by using the foaming type dispensers and diluting it in a ratio of 5 parts water to 1 part soap.

This diluting thing is exactly what I did when one of my dc was experiencing horribly dry, cracked hands. I would get a foaming hand soap bottle, dilute the unscented dr bronners, plus add about a teaspoon of grape seed oil. My son’s hands improved *drastically* that winter with this recipe!

[mmasc]

21 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Oh man, it's so expensive. I burn through soap.  And, now that I'm painting a bit I use even more.  BUT, I should buy a gallon of something to see how long it would last. I may be surprised. Is there something similar to Dr. Bronner's then?  I looked for KM face on Amazon but didn't see a large refill size. 

I do "cut" the Mrs. Meyer's a bit to "stretch it" even.  However, I can not buy foaming soap as I'm refilling dispensers that use gel soap only.  Is Dr. Bronner's gel or foam?

It’s gel, but you can use it in a foam dispenser diluted—which is my preference. 1) I like foam better and 2) I like the weaker strength better. 

[mmasc]

Re: SLS. This is a very common ingredient in toothpaste. One of my dc and I both were prone to canker sores. I did a TON of research and learned that for some people, eliminating SLS can greatly reduce canker sores. I found a toothpaste that was sls-free and neither one of us has had a canker sore in *years*. It was truly remarkable how quickly the change helped us.  (at the time, Tom’s made an sls-free toothpaste, which has since been discontinued. We now use a sensodyne one that doesn’t have sls)

[Corraleno]

32 minutes ago, sheryl said:

Oh man, it's so expensive. I burn through soap.  And, now that I'm painting a bit I use even more.  BUT, I should buy a gallon of something to see how long it would last. I may be surprised. Is there something similar to Dr. Bronner's then?  I looked for KM face on Amazon but didn't see a large refill size. 

I do "cut" the Mrs. Meyer's a bit to "stretch it" even.  However, I can not buy foaming soap as I'm refilling dispensers that use gel soap only.  Is Dr. Bronner's gel or foam?

"Foaming soap" is literally just extra-watery liquid soap — the pump on top is what makes it foam. If you buy "foaming soap" in a bottle you're just paying for a lot more water and less soap.

If you go through a lot of hand soap, it might be cheaper overall to invest in a few foaming dispensers and dilute the liquid soap yourself, because it will go much further that way. You could also switch to bar soap, which is cheaper, requires no plastic packaging, and lasts even longer. Dr Bronners unscented bar soap is $4-5 and has the same ingredients as the liquid.

[EKS]

1 hour ago, sheryl said:

So, Luvtoread, that is my definition, I guess.  To find a soap product (all cleaning products) that do not have ingredients which may cause cancer.  

I recommend looking up the studies yourself to see whether something has been shown to cause cancer.  

Something to think about:  There is evidence that exposure to harmful substances in small doses can actually be beneficial.  When it comes to cancer, this means that such exposure might give the body's systems that keep cancer at bay important practice.  No, I am not kidding.  Google "hormesis."

[sheryl]

12 hours ago, LuvToRead said:

I did a quick google search and I couldn't find anything linking sls with cancer, just irritation.  There is so much mixed info on parabens it's hard to tell - but avoiding it makes good sense.  I'm probably not the right one to ask because I don't use all natural products.

If your interested, I make my own from humblebee and me.  https://www.humblebeeandme.com/rich-foaming-hand-wash/  

Yes, that's what I learned too.  She was correct in that some of these ingredients are not the healthiest.  I just misinterpreted the sls.  Will look at link. Thanks! I never thought about a homemade batch of soap. Interesting!

12 hours ago, Clarita said:

Neither, it's liquid-y.

Perhaps because they don't use this. 

 

But, it's a thick liquid, no?

[sheryl]

12 hours ago, mmasc said:

It’s gel, but you can use it in a foam dispenser diluted—which is my preference. 1) I like foam better and 2) I like the weaker strength better. 

I don't have a foam dispenser though.  The directions specifically state not to use foam.  Will reread that again to make sure I got that right.

[sheryl]

11 hours ago, Corraleno said:

"Foaming soap" is literally just extra-watery liquid soap — the pump on top is what makes it foam. If you buy "foaming soap" in a bottle you're just paying for a lot more water and less soap.

If you go through a lot of hand soap, it might be cheaper overall to invest in a few foaming dispensers and dilute the liquid soap yourself, because it will go much further that way. You could also switch to bar soap, which is cheaper, requires no plastic packaging, and lasts even longer. Dr Bronners unscented bar soap is $4-5 and has the same ingredients as the liquid.

I should have mentioned I do want to continue to use a dispenser.  Great concept.  

[sheryl]

11 hours ago, EKS said:

I recommend looking up the studies yourself to see whether something has been shown to cause cancer.  

Something to think about:  There is evidence that exposure to harmful substances in small doses can actually be beneficial.  When it comes to cancer, this means that such exposure might give the body's systems that keep cancer at bay important practice.  No, I am not kidding.  Google "hormesis."

Have not heard that before.  Still, prefer to be cautious.  

[MercyA]

I LOVE this powdered soap designed to refill foaming dispensers:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N5JN9WR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For $18 you can make 30 bottles (2 gallons) of foaming soap by adding water to the powder. I just use Dial foaming dispensers--mine have lasted a long time! 

It's easier to paste this pic than to list all the ingredients the soap doesn't contain:

Edited July 20 by MercyA

[catz]

13 hours ago, sheryl said:

Dr. Bronner's does seem to keep in top place checking the bells and whistles.   It is expensive.  I'm going to look at Whole Food and Trader Joe's and look at labels.  

We actually use tiny amounts of dr. bronners in foaming pumps.  Works great, lasts a long time.  

[sheryl]

1 hour ago, MercyA said:

I LOVE this powdered soap designed to refill foaming dispensers:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N5JN9WR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For $18 you can make 30 bottles (2 gallons) of foaming soap by adding water to the powder. I just use Dial foaming dispensers--mine have lasted a long time! 

It's easier to paste this pic than to list all the ingredients the soap doesn't contain:

Wow, thanks Mercy!  I checked out the ingredients and they seem to be safe.  Thanks for this! 

[Bambam]

I also use small amounts of Dr. Bronners in the foaming pumps - maybe 1 part Dr. Bronners, 5 parts water. I add a little liquid Glycerin to help hands stay soft. I typically add a couple of drops of essential oil too - but if you are iffy on those, just leave them out. 
I buy the Method foaming hand soap pumps and use that, and then refill. Usually they last at least 10 more refills with the home mixture. 

[Teaching3bears]

Best kept secret: Dr. Bronners has actually saved me a ton of money!   I fill a dispenser with water and add 3 capfuls plus a few drops of essential oil like mint, lavender or tea tree.  It works and smells great! I do not need to refill the dispensers often.  A bottle of Dr. Bronners  lasts over a year with 3 bathrooms, used a lot.  
I have mild chemical sensitivities but not sensitivities to scents.  Both Soft Soap and Mrs. Meyers bother me but Dr. Bronzers, not at all.  There are other products in health food stores that don’t bother me but they are not cost effective.  

[Kanin]

On 7/19/2024 at 8:57 PM, mmasc said:

This diluting thing is exactly what I did when one of my dc was experiencing horribly dry, cracked hands. I would get a foaming hand soap bottle, dilute the unscented dr bronners, plus add about a teaspoon of grape seed oil. My son’s hands improved *drastically* that winter with this recipe!

The hand soap at my work is horrible. I'm not sure what it is, but during the school year, my hands are a disaster all week then heal a tiny bit on the weekend. I need to start carrying my own. Need a hand soap holster 🙂

[Kanin]

I use this brand and love it:

 

https://www.eoproducts.com/products/everyone-meyer-lemon-mandarin-hand-soap

[knitgrl]

On 7/19/2024 at 8:22 PM, sheryl said:

Dr. Bronner's does seem to keep in top place checking the bells and whistles.   It is expensive.  I'm going to look at Whole Food and Trader Joe's and look at labels.  

I think I've seen this at my local Walgreens. And we are rural.

[dsmith]

I've been using this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075TWC1XB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm very sensitive to various chemicals, as is ds, and this one is fine for us. I have it on subscribe and save. To refill foaming dispensers I add water, otherwise I just fill it straight.

[wathe]

13 hours ago, Kanin said:

The hand soap at my work is horrible. I'm not sure what it is, but during the school year, my hands are a disaster all week then heal a tiny bit on the weekend. I need to start carrying my own. Need a hand soap holster 🙂

Soap sheets: paper-thin sheets of soap, each meant to be just enough for a single use, in a durable travel-sized packet..   Sea to Summit Pocket Handwash is very nice.  I use it when traveling.  There are also eleventy billion generic versions on amazon (search "soap sheet" or "paper soap" or "pocket soap").

[Kanin]

10 hours ago, wathe said:

Soap sheets: paper-thin sheets of soap, each meant to be just enough for a single use, in a durable travel-sized packet..   Sea to Summit Pocket Handwash is very nice.  I use it when traveling.  There are also eleventy billion generic versions on amazon (search "soap sheet" or "paper soap" or "pocket soap").

Ah! Genius!!

[sheryl]

On 7/22/2024 at 10:17 AM, knitgrl said:

I think I've seen this at my local Walgreens. And we are rural.

Thanks, we have one a mile from us so guess where I'm going.  Good idea!

On 7/22/2024 at 3:14 PM, dsmith said:

I've been using this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075TWC1XB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm very sensitive to various chemicals, as is ds, and this one is fine for us. I have it on subscribe and save. To refill foaming dispensers I add water, otherwise I just fill it straight.

Will check in to this.  Thanks! 

21 hours ago, wathe said:

Soap sheets: paper-thin sheets of soap, each meant to be just enough for a single use, in a durable travel-sized packet..   Sea to Summit Pocket Handwash is very nice.  I use it when traveling.  There are also eleventy billion generic versions on amazon (search "soap sheet" or "paper soap" or "pocket soap").

Good idea for travel.  Although I'm looking for a refill for my dispensers.  Thanks!

On 7/22/2024 at 8:12 AM, Kanin said:

I use this brand and love it:

 

https://www.eoproducts.com/products/everyone-meyer-lemon-mandarin-hand-soap

Will look in to this.  Thanks!

On 7/21/2024 at 6:07 PM, Bambam said:

I also use small amounts of Dr. Bronners in the foaming pumps - maybe 1 part Dr. Bronners, 5 parts water. I add a little liquid Glycerin to help hands stay soft. I typically add a couple of drops of essential oil too - but if you are iffy on those, just leave them out. 
I buy the Method foaming hand soap pumps and use that, and then refill. Usually they last at least 10 more refills with the home mixture. 

Thanks!  Method - yes, we have that here.  Just need to refamiliarize with the ingredient list. 

On 7/22/2024 at 4:17 AM, Teaching3bears said:

Best kept secret: Dr. Bronners has actually saved me a ton of money!   I fill a dispenser with water and add 3 capfuls plus a few drops of essential oil like mint, lavender or tea tree.  It works and smells great! I do not need to refill the dispensers often.  A bottle of Dr. Bronners  lasts over a year with 3 bathrooms, used a lot.  
I have mild chemical sensitivities but not sensitivities to scents.  Both Soft Soap and Mrs. Meyers bother me but Dr. Bronzers, not at all.  There are other products in health food stores that don’t bother me but they are not cost effective.  

Thanks great. 1 year!  OK then!  I need to review this thread.  We have regular soap AUTOMATIC dispensers.  Not foaming AUTOMATIC dispensers.  I just realized I never made it clear these are automatic.