How to Refill a Foaming Hand Soap Bottle (and Save Money Doing It)

Refilling your foaming hand soap bottle takes about a minute. It saves money and keeps another plastic pump bottle out of the trash. Here's how to do it, how far a refill goes and what to look for in a natural refill.

Can you refill a foaming soap pump?

Yes. Foaming pumps mix soap with air, so they need a thin, ready-to-foam formula. Regular liquid soap is too thick and can clog the pump.

• Don't put regular liquid soap in a foaming pump. It won't foam and can clog the pump.
• Don't put foaming soap in a regular pump. It will come out runny instead of foamy.

How to refill a foaming hand soap bottle

1. Unscrew the pump and rinse it with warm water. Set it on a paper towel so it doesn't drip on the counter.
2. Pour in the foaming soap refill until it's just below the pump tube's fill line. A funnel helps if your hands aren't steady.
3. Screw the pump back on and pump a few times to prime it until foam comes out.

How far does a refill go?

One Beessential 64 oz refill fills a 16 oz foaming pump four times.

Is refilling actually cheaper?

Yes. Here's how the numbers work out for Beessential foaming hand soap:

• 16 oz pump bottle: $9.49, or about 59¢ per ounce
• 64 oz refill: $22.49, or about 35¢ per ounce

Buying four new 16 oz bottles costs $37.96. One 64 oz refill gives you the same amount of soap for $22.49, which saves about $15 (around 40%). It also means four fewer pump bottles to throw away.

How to clean a clogged foaming soap pump

If your pump starts sputtering or the foam gets weak, dried soap is usually clogging the screen inside. Pump warm water through it 10–15 times until it runs clear, then let it dry before putting it back on the bottle. Doing this every few refills keeps the foam thick.

What to look for in a natural foaming soap refill

If you wash your hands a lot, the formula matters as much as the price. Look for:

• Sulfate-free cleansers that clean without that tight, stripped feeling.
• Moisturizing ingredients like honey, aloe, glycerin and plant oils that help hands stay soft through lots of washing.
• No parabens.

What's in ours?

Beessential foaming hand soap is sulfate-free and paraben-free, made in Ohio with honey, aloe, and coconut, olive and hemp seed oils. Every scent comes in a 16 oz pump bottle and a 64 oz refill:

• Peppermint
• Lemongrass
• Sweet Orange
• Lavender & Bergamot
• Grapefruit Lemongrass
• Spearmint Lime
• Tea Tree

Need a housewarming gift? The Foaming Hand Soap Gift Set bundles three scents.

Shop foaming soap refills →

Frequently asked questions

Can you refill a foaming soap pump?
Yes. Foaming pumps mix soap with air, so they need a thin, ready-to-foam formula. Regular liquid soap is too thick and can clog the pump.

How do you refill a foaming hand soap bottle?
Unscrew the pump and rinse it with warm water. Pour in foaming soap refill until it's just below the pump tube's fill line. Then screw the pump back on and pump a few times to prime it.

How many times does a 64 oz refill fill a 16 oz bottle?
Four times. A 64 oz refill holds the same amount of soap as four 16 oz bottles and costs less per ounce.

Why is my foaming soap pump not foaming?
Dried soap is usually clogging the pump screen. Pump warm water through it until it runs clear, let it dry, then refill.

Is Beessential foaming hand soap sulfate-free?
Yes. It's sulfate-free and paraben-free, made in Ohio with honey, aloe, and coconut, olive and hemp seed oils.