Make Liquid Soap from Bar Soap- A Cool Way to Save Money and reduce waste!
Making your own liquid soap using leftover bar soap is super easy and a good way to save the lifespan of your soap. Not to mention all the plastic bottles you can eliminate. Having liquid soap without the cost of buying liquid soap is pretty cool, too!
The simple way to do this is to grate the soap, add it to boiling water and stir until combined. You can leave it for 12 hours to thicken, and you will have your very own liquid soap!
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Reasons To Make Your Bar Soap into A Liquid
There are actually many reasons why people prefer to turn their bar soaps or ends of soap into liquid soap. It may be because you want to make use of that fancy glass soap dispenser, or you’re just tired of the soap running out so quickly. All the reasons are good!
They include:
- It is cheaper than buying liquid soap.
- It makes your bar of soap last longer.
- Making liquid soap is a good way of using soap ends.
- It’s easier to use and requires only a small amount at a time.
- It’s better for families who use the same bathroom.
- Reduces plastic production while having the product.
- A fun activity to do with the kids.
How To Make Liquid Soap from Bar Soap
It is quite easy to make your bar soap a liquid. Follow these steps to make the change!
Step 1
Gather your soap. It can be a collection of soap ends or a big bar of soap. In my opinion, it’s always best to use those that are unscented so that you can add your own fragrance to them. If you only have scented soaps, ensure your ends have the same smell.
You can combine fragrances, but make sure they will go together! It would help if you also avoided soap with moisturizer, which can be hard to make into liquid.
Step 2
Grate the soap into small bits using a grater. You can also cut it up into small pieces or use a food processor or blender. The soap has to be in small bits before adding it to the water. Have a gallon of distilled water boiling on the stove. Slowly start stirring the soap into the water until they dissolve.
If you are not using handmade or castile soap, you can add 2 tablespoons of glycerin and stir it in.
Step 3
Switch the stove off and let the combination sit for 12 to 24 hours. The soap water has to cool down, so it will thicken. Every 30 minutes, you can stir the soap water to keep the consistency good. After a couple of hours, you will notice that the mixture will cloud up. This is a sign that your handmade liquid soap is almost ready!
Mix the soap water the next morning. You can add some more water if you feel like the liquid soap is too firm. Mix with a whisk or blender to get it loose again.
Step 4
You can add any essential oils for a nice smell and benefits. For example:
- Peppermint naturally cleanses the skin and has various antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
- Lemon fights bacteria and keeps your hands clean.
- Lavender keeps your skin clean and moisturized. It also helps with redness and eczema.
- Jojoba oil keeps your hands moisturized and helps soften your cuticles.
- Rosemary is a natural deodorizer and will help your hands smell fresh.
If you are using essential extracts, you should be wary of how much you put, as this is stronger than the oils. You should skip this step if your liquid soap is already scented.
Step 5
Pour your liquid soap into the dispenser. You can do this easily by using a funnel, so you don’t make a mess. It would be best if you used glass bottles so they can be reused over and over. Extra liquid soap can be put into containers for later use.
Can You Make Liquid Soap in the Microwave?
You can put a cup of the grated soap in a microwaveable container to allow the soap to melt. Then, add 3 cups of water to the container and stir before popping it back into the microwave. Put it on at half-power for 3 minutes, but stir the mixture at 1-minute intervals. You must keep a close eye on the mixture, as it must not boil.
When completed the 3 minutes, let the mixture cool. Mix the liquid soap every 5 minutes for 20 minutes. You can remove any small soap pieces by straining them or with a spoon. If the mixture seems too thick and firm, add ½ cup of water and stir.
Can You Make Laundry Detergent from a Bar Soap?
Yes! How cool is that?
Here are the ingredients and instructions on how to do it. You would need the following:
- 1 cup of washing soda
- ½ cup of borax
- A bar of soap (a stain-removing one, such as Fels-Naptha)
- 3 gallons of water
Grate the bar of soap into little soap curls. They should be as small as possible. Bring 3 cups of water in a pot to a boil, then slowly lower the heat to simmering. Add the grated soap, and stir slowly until it is all dissolved. Since the soap is in small particles, it will dissolve more quickly.
Add the 3 gallons of water into a clean bucket. Mix in the washing soda, borax, and the pot of soap water. Stir until all the ingredients are dissolved. Cover the bucket with a lid and leave it to thicken for 24 hours. Before using, give your homemade detergent a good stir. Use a cup for a normal load.
You can also make laundry detergent using the same method and leaving out the water. You can use the blender to combine all the ingredients into a powder. Use a heaped tablespoon for a normal load of clothes.
You should add the powder as you fill the machine with water before adding your clothes. This is to ensure that the detergent dissolves in the wash; otherwise, it may stick to your clothes. However, it can be rinsed off, but who wants the extra work?!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do if my liquid soap is too watery?
You can naturally thicken your liquid soap by adding some table salt. Mix some salt in warm water and add this to your liquid soap. Shake the bottle and let the mixture thicken over an hour.
How can I save my leftover bits of soap bars?
Apart from sticking it on your new bar of soap or making liquid soap, there are also other nifty ways to reuse your soap bar bits!
You can put them in a soap-saver bag. This reusable bag is made from natural fibers, which increases the lifespan of your soap while being a natural exfoliator. You can add your leftover soap bits to the bag, lather with water, and gently scrub your skin. Remember to leave it to dry in the shower.
You can also wrap a soap bar in a small washcloth and leave it in your clothes drawer to keep them smelling fresh. This trick also works great for stinky shoes.
How to store my homemade liquid soap?
Your liquid soap should be kept at room temperature, so it does not spoil. Shake your soap jar occasionally if you notice that the soap is hardening or gelling.
