Basically you grate the old soap, melt, blend and pour into something which will make a mold. If the soaps are different colors or degrees of dryness, the finer the grating, the better the result. Or grate. put in an old plastic container, put 1/4 cup water for small amount, 1/2 cup water for more, put on lid and let slowly melt over a few weeks in a cupboard. When it's a gooey mess, heat slowly in a stainless pot, or glass bowl in microwave in 20 second bursts on maybe 40 percent power. Stir until it all looks the same, use spatula to scrape into your 'mold' and let dry for few day until it pops out easily, Stand on side somewhere out of way and let get really dry and hard.
Sounds like a pain, but it's good practice if you ever want to double process home made soap. Directions for different methods are on web. If you double process soap, and let it dry for about 2 months it last so long you wouldn't believe it. Really.
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Request: Making a Bar of Soap from Soap Scraps
Archived on 09/22/2009
What is the easiest way to make a new bar of soap from all of my old soap scraps?
Tom from Homosassa, FL
Feedback:
RE: Making a Bar of Soap from Soap Scraps
I'd chop them all up just using a big chefs knife on a cutting board, then put them in a piece of fabric - just a cotton scrap. Then soak it in hot water for a minute and when you take it out, press it all together. Set it aside and let it dry. Once it's dry, just take the cloth off and you have a new bar. Of course, you could do this without chopping them up first - just mush them together in the cloth and hope they stay put. (03/12/2007)
Save up 11 ounces, making sure they are dry. Use your grater to grate them up. Put them in a sauce pan with 8 ounces of water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. They should blend together like a smooth pudding. Pour into molds. Our daughter uses the bottom parts of water bottles to make a cute, flower-shaped one, or use any flexible plastic mold. This should make about 3-4 medium-sized bars.
After they are set up, pop the bars out of the molds. If they don't come out easily, stick them in the freezer for 4 hours or overnight, or until they feel dry when you touch them. Then they will pop out easily. Air dry them without their touching each other for 2-3 days. As Mammy Yokum would say, "Abber Ka Dabber." (03/13/2007)
I have an apothecary jar with the rubber seal lid that I drop leftover soaps in with water and they melt and become creamy. Then add mouthwash to it if the slivers aren't antibacterial so it will kill germs, and it will thin out enough to add to a pump bottle for use :) (03/13/2007)
I found the best way is to chop up and use a little water and form a new bar or any shape you want, but you must let dry or it will melt when you go to use it. (03/13/2007)
By denise warner
RE: Making a Bar of Soap from Soap Scraps
Great info! Thanks! (11/09/2007)
By nancy
RE: Making a Bar of Soap from Soap Scraps
Here's a really lazy way: find a pair of old clean knee-high hosiery; slip one inside of the other; drop in the old soap slivers; use to lather up a washcloth as you would a bar of soap. Hang in shower to drip dry. They also tend to "congeal" together after a few uses. (06/03/2008)
