Tired of staring at that plastic soap bottle every time you wash your hands? These 30 DIY soap dispensers swap it for something you’ll actually want on the counter! Every idea starts with a container you already have or can grab for a dollar, like a pint mason jar, an empty whiskey bottle, a pickle jar or a vintage Coke bottle. Add a pump and make it yours with paint, vinyl, etching cream or a little jute twine. Some take two minutes and some take an afternoon. 🧼 They’re perfect for:
• farmhouse and rustic bathrooms
• kitchen sinks that need a refresh
• easy hostess, teacher and Christmas gifts
• using up empty jars and bottles
• saving money with homemade foaming soap
1. Mason Jar Soap Dispenser With a Vinyl Decal
Want the farmhouse soap jar everybody’s buying for twenty dollars? You can make it for a few bucks. Start with a pint mason jar that has one plain side, wipe it with rubbing alcohol so the paint grips, then brush on two coats of white craft paint and let each one dry all the way. Cut the wash your hands lettering from permanent vinyl (there’s a free cut file with the tutorial), burnish it on with transfer tape and add a black pump lid. Permanent vinyl matters here, since it lives right next to the tap.
Get the full tutorial at Crafts by Amanda.
2. Easy DIY Soap Dispenser from a Liquor Bottle
This is the fastest project on the list, and the one with the best payoff per minute! An empty liquor bottle keeps its label, a soap pump goes in the neck and the whole swap takes about two minutes. The bottle has already done the design work for you, so it suits a rustic or farmhouse kitchen without looking like a craft. Rinse the inside with hot soapy water and let it dry completely first, or the last of the spirits will scent your soap for weeks.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
3. Wash Your Hands Mason Jar Soap Dispenser
Got a cutting machine? This is the ten minute project that makes it worth every penny. You’ll paint a pint jar white in two coats, letting each dry, then cut a wash your hands design from permanent vinyl and lift it into place with transfer tape. A free SVG comes with the post. The maker skips sealer entirely and lets permanent vinyl do the work beside the sink. Pick a jar with a plain panel so the decal sits flat instead of bridging over embossed glass.
Get the full tutorial at The Country Chic Cottage.
4. Faux Etched Glass Soap Dispenser
Love the look of frosted glass but not the idea of etching acid in the house? You can fake it with frost paint, a translucent white medium that mimics etching. Mask off stripes on a dollar store dispenser with removable tape, then dab the medium on with foam makeup sponges instead of a brush, since they leave far fewer bubbles. One coat is enough. Peel the tape while it’s still wet for crisp edges, then let it cure for twenty one days or bake it at 350 degrees for thirty minutes.
Get the full tutorial at Pretty Handy Girl.
5. Easy DIY Nautical Dish Soap Bottles
Here’s the trick: pour blue dish soap into clear glass and the decorating is basically done before you open a craft supply. You’ll use an olive oil bottle with a pour spout and a handled cruet. Wrap brown jute twine around the cruet handle, knotting at the base, winding to the top and knotting again. Tie a little wood tag at the neck and it’s ready to give. The spouted bottle is handy for squeezing straight onto a sponge, while the cruet pours into a filling sink.
Get the full tutorial at Must Have Mom.
6. DIY Beer Bottle Soap Dispenser
No cutting and no drilling, just an empty beer bottle and a pump. You can buy a new pump or salvage one from a lotion bottle, and a dab of hot glue keeps it from spinning in the neck. Scrub the bottle and pump in very hot soapy water and let them dry before you put it together. Leave the label on, wrap the glass in jute rope from base to neck, or add a strip of white lace too. A fully wrapped bottle uses about one and a half packs of jute, so buy two.
Get the full tutorial at There's a Shoe For That.
7. Pickle Jar Soap Dispenser
Who says it has to be a mason jar? Save your next pickle jar and you’ve got a bigger dispenser than anything sold as one. Measure the diameter of a pump pulled from a plastic soap bottle, then drill a matching hole in the metal lid. Give the lid a coat of chalkboard paint or any color you like. The step people skip is trimming the pump straw a little shorter than the jar is tall, so it never bottoms out. Superglue the pump in and let it dry fully before filling.
Get the full tutorial at Mox and Fodder.
8. DIY Minnie Mouse Soap Dispenser
Need a little help getting small hands washed? Ten minutes turns a plain pump bottle into a Minnie Mouse dispenser kids actually want to use. Peel the label with Goo Gone, then wash off every trace of residue, because vinyl won’t stick to a greasy bottle. Size the silhouette to about two and a half by two inches, lay the black vinyl down first, then the pink glitter bow on top. Tie a coordinating ribbon at the neck and you’re done. Perfect for a kids’ bathroom or a Disney trip countdown!
Get the full tutorial at Pink Cake Plate.
9. Dollar Store Mason Jar Snow Globe Soap Dispensers
Every pump sets the snow drifting in these Christmas soap dispensers! Superglue tiny village figures to the bottom of a mason jar, holding each one down with tongs for a few seconds, then let the glue cure an hour or two before any liquid goes in. Fill with clear soap and a small pinch of glitter, since too much hides the scene. Stir the glitter in with the pump instead of shaking, which clouds the soap with bubbles. A proper mason jar pump lid keeps the insert from rusting.
Get the full tutorial at Mad in Crafts.
10. Easy DIY Mason Jar Foaming Soap Pump
Don’t toss that empty foaming hand wash bottle! Its plastic collar is the missing part that makes a mason jar foam. Trace the bottle opening onto the flat lid, open it with a step drill bit and finish the cut with kitchen scissors. Then slice the top off the plastic bottle lid with a craft knife, push that collar through the hole and hot glue where plastic meets metal. Two real warnings from the tutorial: the cut edges are sharp and metal shavings fly, so keep kids well away while you drill.
Get the full tutorial at Crystal and Comp.
11. Nautical Twine Wrapped Soap Dispenser
That disposable foaming soap bottle headed for the trash makes a perfect coastal dispenser. Anchor the end of your jute twine with hot glue at the ridge under the cap, then wind downward, adding a dab of glue every few turns so nothing slides once it’s handled every day. Finish at the base and glue a seashell to the front. Choose a shell with a flat back so it sits tight against the curve. Not a beach person? The same wrap works with metallic cord or a small charm. It takes about an hour.
Get the full tutorial at Akram's Ideas.
12. Mason Jar Foaming Soap Dispenser
One bottle of hand soap can last you months once a foaming pump does the work. Cut a one and a half inch hole in a mason jar lid with a spade bit, finishing with a sharp utility knife if the bit binds. Drop in the plastic collar from an old foaming soap bottle and screw the ring down over it. Mix about one part liquid soap to four parts water, or even less soap. Seal the cut metal with clear nail polish or clear coat so it doesn’t rust.
Get the full tutorial at Pretty Handy Girl.
13. Laundry Soap Dispensers With Chalkboard Tags
Detergent jugs are the ugliest thing in any laundry room, and this fix takes an afternoon. Pour your detergent, bleach and fabric softener into one gallon mason jar style drink dispensers with spigots. For the labels, drill small holes in cheap wooden shapes, paint them with chalkboard paint and let them cure for 24 hours. Rub chalk over the surface and wipe it off, then write the labels with a chalk marker and tie them on with twine. Thick detergent pours slowly through a spigot, so many people thin it with a little water.
Get the full tutorial at Simply Designing.
14. New and Improved Mason Jar Soap Dispensers
This tutorial fixes the two problems you’ll hit with a basic jar dispenser after a few months of daily use: a pump that works loose and a lid that rusts around the hole. The fix is metal pumps in satin nickel, matching galvanized lids and a metal punch set for a clean round hole instead of a torn one. Epoxy the pump to a rubber stopper on the underside of the lid so it can’t move. Painted jars hold up fine, as long as nobody takes a scouring pad to them.
Get the full tutorial at Our Lovely Bungalow.
15. Painted Monogram Soap Pump
Wouldn’t guess this started as a supermarket soap bottle, would you? Peel the labels with Goo Gone and a scraper, then spray a base coat of paint made for plastic. That primer is the step that matters, since ordinary spray paint bubbles and peels on a bottle like this. Add oil rubbed bronze spray over the top for depth and a brownish metallic on the pump head for contrast, allowing about two hours between coats. Finish with a vinyl monogram letter on the front.
Get the full tutorial at House of Hepworths.
16. Blue Mason Jar Foaming Soap Dispenser
Why buy foaming hand soap when you can mix your own for pennies? Fit a pint mason jar with a rustproof foaming pump lid in brushed nickel or bronze. Pour in one cup of distilled water and a quarter cup of castile soap, which together reach about the ten ounce mark, stir gently, then add around fifteen drops of essential oil. Don’t worry when it looks watery with a few bubbles on top. That thin mix is exactly what a foaming pump needs. A little vitamin E oil helps in winter.
Get the full tutorial at Back Porch Bliss.
17. Fabric Covered Soap Pump
Every other project here has you pour the soap into something prettier. This one dresses up the bottle you already have! Decoupage a scrap of floral cotton onto a big pump bottle with white glue thinned one to one with water. Work from the bottom up, clipping the fabric so it lies flat around the curves. Mask off the threads at the top, seal it with three coats of acrylic sealer and paint the pump head gold. It’s a perfect use for a fabric scrap that’s been sitting in your cupboard.
Get the full tutorial at The Salty Knitter.
18. Etched Olive Oil Bottle Dish Soap Dispenser
A pour spout instead of a pump gives you much better control when you’re squeezing soap onto a sponge. Start with a tall square olive oil bottle and cut the words dish soap from vinyl contact paper. A design this simple works with a craft knife if you don’t own a cutting machine. Spread etching cream on thick over the stencil, wait the time on the packet, then rinse and peel to reveal frosted letters. If the soap pours too slowly, thin it with a little water.
Get the full tutorial at Lil Blue Boo.
19. Whiskey Bottle Soap Dispenser
Looking for a gift for the whiskey lover in your life? This one’s almost too easy. Pick a liquor or beer bottle with a screw top, not a cork, so a standard soap pump threads right in with no drilling. Keep the label on if you love the look, like a square Jack Daniel’s bottle, or scrub it off for plain glass. Rinse the bottle well, screw in the pump and fill. It’s perfect for a basement bar, a guest bath or a Father’s Day gift.
Get the full tutorial at Green With Decor.
20. Mason Jar Soap Dispenser
No workshop? No problem. You can open a mason jar lid three ways: with a drill, a nail and hammer, or wire snips. The nail is the easy winner. Punch a ring of holes, then bend the torn metal back underneath. Make the hole just big enough for the straw while the pump’s threaded collar still covers it. Run hot glue around the pump to seal the join and cover the raw edge so it won’t rust. If you spray the pump, prime first so the paint doesn’t chip.
Get the full tutorial at The Frugal Homemaker.
21. Flavored Syrup Bottle Soap Dispenser
Hardly anybody thinks of a coffee syrup bottle as a soap dispenser, and that’s exactly why it gets noticed! Save an empty Torani bottle and buy the matching syrup pump for a couple of dollars. Stick with that brand, since the pump made for one bottle won’t fit another. The labels take some elbow grease to remove. Then add a vinyl soap label, either cut on your machine or ordered ready made from an online seller. It looks right at home by a kitchen sink.
Get the full tutorial at Dwellings by DeVore.
22. DIY Dispensers from Glass Bottles
Want a dispenser that costs nothing at all? Look for glass bottles with ridges at the neck, because the screw on tops from store bought soap often thread right on. A lime juice bottle can take the pump from a hand soap bottle, straw length and all, and a sparkling cider bottle can take a dish soap top. Since you can’t squeeze glass, a dish soap top needs a good shake instead. Finding the right pairings takes some trial and error, which is half the fun.
Get the full tutorial at The Red Chair Blog.
23. Etched Glass Soap Bottles
Restaurant style oil dispensers cost very little, and one etched letter tells you which is hand soap and which is dish. Clean off every label and trace of adhesive, then stick on a die cut vinyl letter. Brush a thick layer of etching medium over the design and wait five minutes. Run it under water with the vinyl still in place, using the brush to help the coating away without rubbing. Dry it to reveal the frosted letter. Two in a basket with a tea towel make a lovely hostess gift.
Get the full tutorial at Lulu the Baker.
24. Coke Bottle Soap Dispenser
Two dollars is the entire budget for this vintage cutie! Grab a glass Coke bottle about eight inches tall and pull the salon pump off a shampoo or lotion bottle. The pump screws straight onto the bottle’s opening with no glue or drilling at all. A dollar store funnel makes filling easy. The only real work is trimming the tube, and you can do that by eye, holding it against the bottle instead of measuring. It’s perfect for a retro kitchen or a diner themed bathroom.
Get the full tutorial at Keep Calm and Decorate.
25. DIY Chalk Painted Mason Jar Foaming Soap Dispenser
This is a two for one: a painted jar dispenser and the trick for making your own foam soap. Mix one part generic hand soap with one part water in a foaming dispenser and shake, and each cup costs about eighteen cents. For the jar, mark the size of the pump collar on the flat lid, punch a ring of holes with a small nail and hammer and pull out the center. Glue the pump in with E6000, spray paint the jar inside out in a soft color and shake before using.
Get the full tutorial at Domestically Blissful.
26. Mason Jar Soap Dispensers Two Ways
Can’t decide how to put your pump in the lid? This tutorial tries two methods and tells you which is easier. For the first, trace the bottle opening on the lid and tap a screwdriver around the circle with a hammer, then cut the top off the soap bottle and glue it in. The second skips the cutting: just push the pump straight through a snug hole. Prime the lids, spray them oil rubbed bronze or black and add a few coats of sealer. Use epoxy or a water resistant glue.
Get the full tutorial at Love Grows Wild.
27. Painted and Distressed Mason Jar Soap Dispensers
Soft blush, aged gray and linen white jars look like they came from a boutique, but they’re about the easiest project here. Brush two coats of chalked paint on pint mason jars, letting them dry well between coats. Sand the raised lettering and edges with 80 grit sandpaper so the glass peeks through, then seal everything with a matte spray. Pop in a stainless soap dispenser insert and you’re done. Fill one with lotion and one with hand soap for a matching set. Perfect for gifting, too!
Get the full tutorial at Mason Jar Crafts Love.
28. DIY Mason Jar Soap Pump With a Paper Lid
Here’s a sweet way to hide a plain metal lid: cover it with pretty paper! Drill a hole in the center of a mason jar lid big enough for the bottom of your pump. Cut a circle of decorative paper to fit the lid and glue it on. Take the pump off an old lotion or soap bottle and push it through, then run hot glue underneath to seal it. That glue also helps keep the lid from rusting. Fill it with hand soap or lotion and enjoy!
Get the full tutorial at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs.
29. Gold Pump Foaming Soap Dispenser
Want the spa bathroom look for less? Start with a glass foaming dispenser with a brushed gold pump, or reuse the bottle from your store bought foaming soap. Use a strip of washi tape as a guide so the hand soap label goes on straight, then press each letter down and slowly peel away the top film. Mix one part castile liquid soap to about four parts water, pour it in and pump. Lavender scented castile soap smells amazing. Perfect for a guest bath refresh!
Get the full tutorial at It All Started With Paint.
30. Rustic Mason Jar Soap Dispensers
Want a soap dispenser that costs you nothing? Use a mason jar and a pump from an old soap bottle you already have. Punch three holes close together in the lid with a hammer and nail, widen them with a screwdriver, then cut a circle with tin snips. Start small and keep enlarging until the pump fits snugly. For a rustic finish, paint the lid white, add a metallic top coat and sand lightly. Lace trim and tiny bells make them a sweet Christmas gift.
Get the full tutorial at Rustic Crafts and DIY.
