How Do I Limit Soap Use?

Simple Human makes an awesome hands-free refillable soap dispenser. You can set how much soap is dispensed automatically. I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond, it's a little pricey, about $40, but BBB often has 20% off coupons. And it saves on buying disposable soap dispensers, you can buy a large refill bottle for less and just keep refilling. Plus I love that it doesn't get dirty and germy -- kids just put their hands underneath and it dispenses automatically.

Hi N.,

Try foam soap. Bath and Body Works has many great scents. They also have some for little girls. They are always on sale and you can get them for 3 for $5.

One or two (at the most) pumps should be plenty to fill up her little hands.

My little girl also figures the more she uses the "bubblier" it will get, the foam is already bubbly! Problem solved!

Have a GREAT day.
S.

I just buy the foaming dispensers (Soft Soap has them for sure), and then refill them myself with regular liquid soap (about a half-inch of soap, then fill with tap water). I had some Pampered Chef Suds Pumps (similar idea) that I thought were the greatest things, but they stopped working after awhile. The Soft Soap dispensers seem to be holding up much better.

We have the same problem with our daughter...and she's 13 year old! :) Tightly wrap a rubber band around and around the neck of the dispenser. That limits the amount of soap that comes out because the rubberband stops you from being able to push all the way down.

I also think the foaming dispensers work because they think they're getting a lot. I use the Bath and Body Works Foaming Hand Soap. I just buy a bunch when they're on sale and keep them. They last a long time and I like them toO!

Maybe explain why she can only use one pump - because it is wasteful and costs money. Maybe charge her a quarter every time you see her use more than 1 pump. Or,maybe you could tell her that if she does a good job at the 1 pump, she can "help" wash some dishes or give her a bucket of soapy water to play with outside.

I can soooo relate to that! I had 4 babies in 5 years and I know what it's like - you can't be there everytime they use the bathroom LOL! My oldest child did the same thing! Really just reinforce it as much as you can by telling her not to use too much or there won't be any next time. The foaming soap seemed to help too because it really fills up their hands and is fun and squooshy. Good luck!

Try Foaming soap. One pump and they have tons of bubbles. I just switched my self and the kids do a lot better.

Hi N.,
I just tell my little ones (including a 2 yo) "no" and never let them get away with it.

It means I have to monitor them closely until I know they're doing it properly. I'm not mean or angry or anything when I tell them: just matter-of-fact: "no, baby, that's enough." :)
T

I have a 2 yr old that is potty training and of course hand washing is the favorite part. I bought the foamy pump soap and used it. When it ran out I made my own from a little bit of soap and the rest water. He gets one pump on each hand. We go through a lot of it, but it is only using a small amount of soap so it doesn't matter.

have you tried to set up a 'game' that would use an old soap pump that's refillable and let her use it with water and a splash of soap as much as she wants? after she plays with it for a few hours/days maybe she'll loose interest and not use so much after using the toilet...

If the foaming soap doesn't work, maybe you could try a dispenser that is really hard to pump. That slowed down my little ones!

Have you tried the foamy stuff? It looks like she is getting a ton, but really it isn't that much. That might help a little. :)

Somewhere (Target maybe) I found a soap pump that "airates" the soap making it foamy...you don't put the liquid soap in straight...10% soap plus 90% water. Works well.

Pampered Chef sells the Suds Pump, where you delute the soap w/ water and it comes out as a foam. I'm sure there are other knock off brands as well, the Suds Pump also comes with an extra nozzle. That may be an idea.