How to recycle soap scraps – Sustainable and eco-friendly ideas for recycling leftover soap

If you’re looking for new uses for old toiletries, you can get crafty and find an inexpensive way to recycle soap scraps. In many households there are a few slivers or pieces left over that stick to the rim of the tub. However, since it would be a waste to just throw these away, you can turn the old bars of soap into something useable for laundry and save money. To reuse the soap scraps after regular hand washing, here are some creative and eco-friendly methods you can try for yourself.

How can you recycle soap scraps by clever repurposing?

The leftover soap scrap is usually too small to grab with wet hands. In addition, after months of not being used in the bathroom or toilet, it can become hard and cracked. In most cases, the old soap bars can no longer serve their original purpose. However, sticking them into a new soap doesn’t always work and you risk them becoming loose in the bath and making the surface slippery. Instead of removing these soap scraps, however, you have many other uses that can give you a valuable repurposing.

Read also: How to Recycle Used Cooking Oil? 8 Proven Eco-Friendly Methods

So store leftovers in an airtight container or bag and make sure they are dry when reusing. The leftovers of various soap bars offer new ways to put them to good use and save money in the process. This also allows you to reduce your carbon footprint. The fact is, liquid soaps are usually packaged in plastic, leading to microplastics in the oceans.

Bar soaps, on the other hand, require little to no packaging and often contain nutrient-rich ingredients. These are good for both the body and the planet. They also last a lot longer than their liquid counterparts – even more so when you use a wooden soap dish to extend their life.

How to make laundry soap from soap scraps?

Recycle soap scraps by placing them in a food processor and grinding until you get a crumbly powder. Place the powder in a large bowl and add washing soda (sodium carbonate) equal to twice the amount of “soap powder”. Mix to combine and use 2 tablespoons for the next load of laundry. Do you prefer liquid detergent? No problem! You can also recycle your soap scraps by placing it in a 500ml jar and filling it with water. Keep adding old bits to the jar and when the soap has dissolved and thickened, use that in place of liquid detergent. In this way you keep your clothes clean in a sustainable way.

Use soap scraps to make a new soap

The easiest thing to do with old soap scraps is to turn them into beautiful new soap bars. Just save all your soap scraps until you have a large batch. Once you’ve collected enough of these to make a few bars, break up the leftover slivers into small pieces. Place the pieces in a saucepan and fill with water, then melt the mixture over medium heat until the soap starts to stick together. Make sure to stir the mixture frequently and not bring it to a boil.

Why not turn those leftover soap scraps into liquid hand soap for the kitchen or bathroom? Here are some easy steps to follow:

• First, simply grate your old soap scraps into small flakes until you have about 8 to 11 ounces of them.
• Then, bring 1 gallon of water to a boil in a large saucepan and stir the soap until completely dissolved.
• After that, mix in 2 tablespoons of glycerin if you’re using store-bought soap scraps as a base. If you’re using Castilian or handmade soap, they probably already contain glycerin.
• Once soap, glycerin, and water are combined, remove from heat and let sit at room temperature for 12-24 hours. After a maximum of 24 hours, the mixture should be thick (if it’s too thick you may need to whip it up a bit).
• Now stir in any essential oils, extracts or fragrances you like and pour the mixture into a soap dispenser, preferably also made from sustainable materials.

Refresh clothes with old soap

Have you ever noticed how your clothes take on a musty smell after sitting in your dresser or closet for too long? Use your leftover soap scraps to get them smelling fresh again. Simply wrap a scented bar of soap in a washcloth and pop it in the drawer for extra freshness. Do you have a pair of smelly sneakers too? This trick also works great for bad odors from shoes.

Use leftover soap and never buy shaving cream again

Shaving creams and foam are often full of ingredients that could be bad for the environment. So why not use your leftover soap to make your own shaving cream? Throw the leftover soap into an old coffee mug, add some hot water and use a shaving brush to create a nice lather. Both men and women can thereby use the so simply made product for their shaving. In addition, soap lathers up very well and provides the same smooth finish as shaving cream.

Make your own shower scrub from old soap

This is another great idea if you want to recycle old soap scraps. Simply slip these into an exfoliating glove and hang in the shower. The next time your skin calls for tender loving care, you have a wonderful shower scrub.

However, if you prefer the gentler shower, you can tuck your soap leftovers into a standard glove or large washcloth and tie it securely tied. This is a great way to use up your leftovers with very little effort.

Recycle soap scraps and use it as tailor’s chalk

Small bars of soap are perfect for marking fabrics while sewing when you can’t find your chalk. They particularly well leave visible marks on dark fabrics and, as an extra bonus, you can quickly wash out the markings with a little water. In addition, a leftover soap scrap can act as a versatile household remedy, saving you not only money but time as well. Also, another great idea is to use a wrapped bar of soap as a cushion for pens and needles to keep them lubricated and protected.

Make decorative soap balls from scraps

Soap balls are perfect for a guest bathroom or powder room and are ideal for those who are on the crafty side. You can either use leftovers that complement each other in color or be a little more adventurous with mixing and matching. Once you’ve picked the right pieces of soap, simply grate them and add some warm water to make the shavings malleable enough to shape into balls. Make sure you store them in a place where they can dry out and harden completely, which may take a few weeks.

Take a relaxing bubble bath with soap scraps

Who doesn’t love having an aromatherapy session in the bathtub? If you’re also trying to go plastic free in the bathroom, consider using your leftover soap scraps as a bubble bath. All you have to do is put your leftover soap in a mesh bag and hang it on the bathtub faucet. Would you like your bathroom to feel extra luxurious? Try adding healthy ingredients like lavender flowers and coconut oil to the tub.