Resourceful Living - What To Do With Leftover Soap Scraps

What Should You Do With Your Left Over Soap Scraps?

You just may surprise yourself at the versatility of a simple bar of soap or soap scraps (left over soap pieces that end up being too small to hold onto).

Besides being very cheap and easy to make into other common household products pure soap is also much better environmentally and personally than the more common option - detergent.

Don't know what do with all those left over soap trimmings or scraps?

Do you have boxes of soap scraps sitting around that you've been collecting from all your batches?

Hate rebatching soap?

Then maybe this is for you! Soap Scrap WashBalls, Children's Soap Crayons and SoapBags are just a few ideas of the top of my head that you can try out for yourself.

SOAP SCRAP WASHBALLS

All the soap scraps that you can muster

Water

Essential Oil

A large bowl

A grater or food processor

Gather your soap scraps and run them through the food processor or grate them all up.

Put the soap bits in a large bowl and add just enough water to make them mushy but not totally wet, just damp.

Remember, the more water you add, the longer these balls will have to dry. Add the essential oil of your choice.

You can also add botanicals, herbs, cornmeal, luffa or pumice if you'd like.

Squish the soap particles together to form balls and so that the soap bits will stick together. Sit the balls of soap on a rack to dry.

CHILD-FRIENDLY SOAP CRAYONS

Pour 11/2 cups Water into an old cup.

Fill the remainder of the cup with finely grated soap scraps. Mix together to form a thick paste.

Add about 30 drops of food colouring and mix well. Roll into crayon-like logs or press the mixture into an ice-cube tray or small soap mold.

If you would like to make different colour 'soap crayons' just separate the soap mix and add separate food colouring into each mixture.

Leave the mixture to dry for at least 3 days before using.

The children will love playing with these especially whilst having a bath and the advantage of these 'soap crayons' is that marks can easily be removed from the tiles, walls, sinks, hands, etc.

SOAPBAGS

Sew up or buy a small calico/cotton bag or face washer.

Place soap mixture in the centre of the fabric, draw up the ends and tie securely with a ribbon.

Alternatively fold the fabric in half, stitch along two adjoining sides and turn inside out then fill up the bag with the soap mixture and tie off the end or sew-up the end to prevent the soap mixture from escaping.

To make the soap mixture all you need to do is either grate the soap scraps into smaller pieces or just place the soap scraps as is into the bags because they will alter shape and size when being used.

Use an old-fashioned Soap Saver (if you are lucky enough to have or find one) to put your soap scraps into. If not an old stocking will suffice and this can be used hanging from a tap to wash dirty hands or even placed in the washing machine as a replacement for detergent (you just have to remember too remove it before the rinse water goes in).

CHILDREN'S SOAPY BATHTIME BUBBLE BATH

Pour 1 cup of Washing Soda into the bathwater as this will soften the water and enhance the soap and bubbles causing froth. Then place a simple recycled mesh bag or a soap bag (as mentioned above) into the bathwater and agitate the water to form soap bubbles.

SANDSOAP OR SCRUBSOAP

Mix soap scraps in a bowl with warm water until dissolved and add sand, pumice or rolled oats to give a rough sensation when washings hands. Mold into whatever shape you want and let the soap dry out before use.

SOAP SCRAP JELLY (not to be eaten)

Melt soap scraps as mentioned above but add 1 tablespoon of Borax to the mix. Stir in well and allow to boil then leave to cool off when it looks like jelly.

You can use this soap jelly for various tasks around the house such as in the washing machine for clothes washing, as a kitchen dishwashing detergent, as a liquid soap (will need further diluting to work in a pump-action bottle), as hair shampoo, as bubble bath, as floor cleaner, etc i'll leave it to your imagination.

Recycling Soap is a frugal alternative to utilizing discarded scraps of soap. Simply collect and accumulate soap scraps until you have sufficient amount or add some plain laundry soap to increase the amount of soap before making your revamped recycled soap product.

Note: Different types of soap will give you varying results as the end product of the soap recipes will depend upon the quality and type of Soap Scraps used. Should you have any problems with a particular type of soap blend using only soap scraps then try adding a plain laundry soap bar or soap flakes to help stabilise your soap mixture and bring it to a smoother consistency.

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Resourceful Rosee by Homeworker Rose/Resourceful Rosee 2010

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