How to Make a Mason Jar Foaming Soap Dispenser
My sweet little sister, Caitlin, sent me vintage blue Ball Mason jars for my birthday. I had resisted buying them because I might have a bit of a jar hoarding problem. (If you’re in my home, don’t open the cabinet in the laundry room. You might be horrified or shocked by all the jars I’ve rescued from the recycling.)
When I opened the package of six brand new blue jars, I knew I had to keep them and find some ways to display these beauties. Caitlin suggested I should turn one into a soap pump. I agreed, but decided to make it a foaming soap dispenser. Any one else addicted to bubbly foamy soap like I am? Raise your hand and be proud. We can start a foaming soap addicts group (right after the recycled jar addicts group meeting.)
Here’s my tutorial for turning a blue mason jar into a foaming soap dispenser.
- Scrap of wood
- Drill
- 1 1/2″ drill bit
- Foaming soap (Method had the longest stray and the perfect blue liquid)
- Blue Ball Mason Jar with lid
- Clamp
- Utility Knife (with sharp blade)
- Pencil
- Safety glasses
Mason Jar Foaming Soap Dispenser Instructions:
Unscrew the lid off the Ball jar.  Measure and mark the center of the jar lid. Clamp the lid securely to the scrap wood.
Very gently drill a hole into the lid with the spade bit. At some point the bit may bind in the lid. You can finish cutting the hole with a sharp utility knife. (Just be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edges.)
Test the fit of the hole over the soap bottle.
Pour the liquid foaming soap into the Ball jar.
Use the utility knife to carefully cut off the top threaded portion of the soap bottle (leave enough collar to fit under the hole in the jar lid.)
Line up the pump dispenser, the plastic collar, the jar lid and lid ring.
Assemble the pump dispenser inside the lid as shown below (1. Insert plastic collar into the jar lid. 2. Thread pump onto the plastic collar. 3. Tighten pump lid. 4. Insert pump into jar and screw on the lid ring.):
Pump out luscious foamy soap to your heart’s content!
When it’s empty, refill with more liquid foaming soap (it’s better than using one time soap containers!) Did you know you can make your own foaming soap by mixing water and your favorite liquid soap? Hand soap or  dishwashing liquid soap will work.)
I have five more Blue Mason jars. What do you suggest I use them for???
UPDATE: Many people had asked if my jar lid rusted. The answer is, Yes, it did. But, I was able to clean off the rust and seal the lid with clear nail polish and so far it isn’t rusting (four months now.) Also, Michelle from Counting Willows has her own solution!
Just made this with a clear jar and snuck it in my boyfriends bathroom, hummmI wonder if he will like it? I will have to wait and see, how could he not? right?
I love Neutrogena facial cleanser as well. I have saved some of my hand soap “foamers” from Bath and Body Works. Do you use the cleanser in the light blue bottle? What ratio do you use? I hope you can help and guide me. Thanks!
Cheryl, I used the method foaming soap undiluted. Other soaps, I just pour enough to cover the bottom, then add water to the rest.
Can you explain how you “sealed the lid with nail polish”. Did you paint the entire flat jar lid with polish on both sides, just the bottom side? I have made some of these jars and mine rusted fairly quickly and mostly on the inside bottom of the flat jar lid.
Beth, I painted clear nail polish over the spots that were rusting before (around the ring where water sits and around lid where the plastic pump sits on top of it. For best rust prevention coat the whole lid and ring.
There are clear coat spray paint that is much easier to use
I made it!
Well, my Hubs helped…a lot…
Okay, Hubs made it.
It’s pretty, and I love using another Mason Jar in my house!
http://journeyswithjuju.blogspot.com/2014/06/no-rust-mason-jar-foaming-soap-dispenser.html
Thanks for the inspiration, Brittany!
Blessings, Juju
I found Canning Jar Lids (Mainstays Brand) at Walmart that are plastic, one piece lids, that fit Regular Mouth Mason jars!
I’m going to try out your idea using them, and I’m excited that it won’t rust here in Hawaii!
Juju, that’s awesome!!! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll have to check that out.
I went to JoAnn fabrics and they had all the jars but no pumps, lady there said go to dollar store they have empty containers with pumps. I did they were all glass. Then came home and found your website thru facebook. I love your site!!!!! Thank You
I wonder if painting the lid would help with any rusting that is sure to occur?
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I did it! And I love it!
Bless you,
Marilyn
Made this in under a half hour. Very pleased with the way it came out exactly how you explained. Thank you for sharing.
Love! I think you should make some more and sell them on Etsy. (I didn’t read the comments before posting so forgive me if I just reiterated someone else’s comment).
I made a liquid soap dispenser out of a mason jar and lid, the lid rusted very quickly. I found that a plastic peanut butter lid fits my jar. So I cut a hole to fit covered it in some scrap material and put matching ribbon around the edge and it looks so cute. Cotton material worked better, polyester would not stick.
Becky, awesome idea! Mine has started to rust. I was going to try putting a bead of silicone around the pump to see if that helped. But, great tip on the PB lid.
Love the foaming soap. I have a special needs son in his 20’s that had problems washing his hands and getting the soap all over like he should. Foaming soap was just the right thing. He can easily see where the soap goes, and he likes the feel of the soap. We now also put his body wash in a foamer for his showers.