Bulk Kitchen Sink Soap Dispenser

In this instructable I will be showing you how to make a Bulk Soap Dispenser for your kitchen sink to replace the relatively small reservoir that typically is there (as shown in the pictures above).

There are a few other instructables out there but mine differs in that I use a ridged tube instead of flexible tube since I have found that flexible tube tends to not want to stay in the bottom of the dispensing jug.

Here is the list of parts and tools that you will need for this project.

1. Hair Dryer with highest watt possible (or a heat gun - typically used for paint removal)
2. Razor knife
3. Ridged pex tubing appropriately sized (1/4 inch worked in my case)
4. Tubing that came with your soap dispenser
5. Brass hose splicer appropriately sized (1/4 inch x 1/4 inch in my case)
6. Pair of pliers
7. Large bottle of dish soap (I was able to buy a 135oz from Costco)

The tube that was attached to my soap pump had an inner diameter of about 1/4 inch so I used a 1/4 inch x 1/4 inch brass hose splicer and 1/4 inch ridged pex tubing.

You should choose what is appropriate for your soap pump. I just took the soap pump with tube to Lowes and picked the appropriate sizes. As you can see from the second and third picture my total cost was $5.24.

The existing pump should be easily removed by simply pulling up on it. The soap reservoir is usually screwed in from under the sink. We will be replacing the typically 10-16oz reservoir with something much larger.

Remove the tube from the existing soap pump and square off the end as in the first picture. If the tube refuses to come out you can manage without removing it.

Heat up the brass barb (holding the barb with pliers) and pump tube with a hair dryer on high for a few minutes until you notice that the tube has softened. As it warms up you can gently nudge the barb into the tube until it is firmly in place as in the last picture. It will help to spin the tube as you heat it to allow the heat to warm up all sides.

**NOTE: If you have a heat gun this will go much quicker but be very careful not to over heat the tube or it may simply collapse on itself.

Now heat up the other end of the brass barb and the Pex tube with the hair dryer. This can take quite a bit longer than the soap tube in the previous step due to the thickness of the Pex tube and the material. Be patient and it will warm up enough to slide the brass barb into the Pex tube. As in the previous step it will help to move it around so the heat is applied to all sides.

Be sure to hold onto the brass barb with the pliers as you push the Pex tubing onto it as it will be quite HOT.

When completed it will look like the last picture and will be air tight. You can cool off the tubing by placing it in some cold water. If you want to test that it is airtight put the barb joint under some water in a bowl, close one end and blow in the other end (you will likely have to enlist a helper to blow in one end).

Re-insert the soap tube back into the pump head.

Replace the completed tube into the sink holder and you will have to cut the Pex side of the tube to height. You can do a rough estimate cut by measuring how far the pump protrudes from the top of the sink as in the second and third picture (be conservative, it is better to undercut than over cut). Slowly trim about a 1/2 inch at a time with the razor knife (be careful!) until you get to the completed length of tube. When you are done it should look like the fourth picture with a small gap between the tube and the bottom of your cabinet.

Now simply remove the cap from your jug of disk soap and insert the Pex tube into the jug as in the last picture and you are done! I was able to get 135oz jug of soap from Costco that should last me quite a long time!