Using small bars of soap up

[ladytoysdream]

I been trying to fiqure out the best way to use those small bars of soap...the size you get when you go to a hotel, etc. Travel size I guess you call them.
I seem to have quite a few of them.

Is there a way I can melt them down somehow and get them in a mold to make a regular size bath bar ?

I probably could use them to make laundry soap, but currently am ahead on liquid soap here.

[mandi0808]

I have a soap saver mitt I got from Walmart.
They have 2 kinds. One with a loofah front and one with a cloth scrubby front.
It's great for those small left over pieces that no one will use!

[paperlady]

I grate mine when i make homemade laundry detergent

[sunshine]

I just put them into an old tube sock and use it in the shower. Several go into the tube sock at once. . . and I just use it like a bath poof.

[Gardengal18]

I put them into an old knee high and knot the top and use in the shower.

[cab54]

You can re-batch soap (to make one bigger bar of soap):

Grind or grate the soap to as small a particles as possible. Weigh the ground soap. Use 12 oz. of water for every pound (16oz) soap.

Place the ground soap and 3/4 of the water in a double boiler (or a bowl placed in a saucepan half full of water) over medium heat and stir until all the soap is wet. Add the remaining water and stir again.

Cover the pot with a lid, or piece of foil, and leave it to simmer. The melting down process can take up to one hour and the soap should be stirred or whisked intermittently until all lumps have dissolved.

When teh soap has reached a smooth, creamy consistency, remove it from the heat. Continue to stirr till it begins to cool, and then pour it into a greased (Pam is fine) mold made of plastic, glass or stainless steel. Leave to set.

[ladytoysdream]

Thanks for the replies

I have tried putting odds and ends of pieces in one of those crochet soap bags that I made. It worked okay, but I was not impressed. I like the idea of soap in a sock....but if I did that, I think the hubby would be sure I had lost a few more marbles.

staceyy....thanks !

cab54, thank you for the detailed explanation
I did try something similiar awhile back, but I guess I did not leave it long enough over the heat. I did make 4 bars that day, and they be on the lumpy side. We are using one of them now. So far, he has not commented on the odd bar of soap in the shower. I am sure at some point in time, he will though .....

[MomK]

I like all these ideas! Don't forget to save one or two for kids going to camp!

[ladykemma2]

i grate mine with a cheese grater, melt them in hot water overnight and clean the bathroom with the goopy soap.

[Patty A]

Drop them in to a old nylon sock, tie the sock to the outside water spicket. Its great to have a way to wash hands after being in the garden! Works the same in the shower, makes a great back scrubber!

They are also great to rub down a sticky zipper, those ones like on coats that are hard to zip, it makes the zipper much easier to zip.

[madhen]

Drop them in to a old nylon sock, tie the sock to the outside water spicket. Its great to have a way to wash hands after being in the garden!

This is a great idea, and one I've never even thought of! Thanks!!

[mom21ofeach]

I have always saved mine for use in the kids bathroom. Ds is old enough to handle a regular size bar now, but dd still has small hands. They are the perfect size for the bathtub and the sink. A big bar always got so goopy, and it was too big for the kids to handle in the tub. I love those little bars!

[ladytoysdream]

Thanks for all the replies

Sometime soon, I will be trying to melt these down to make the biggger bars of soap.

I took one that I had done not too long ago, and put it in the soap dish in the bathtub for showers. It's not pretty but it is doing the job, and he has not said a word about it......whew !
Time to try it again


Maybe I can send some home with my son for the grandkids to use.
thanks for that tip

[homesteadmamma]

Wow what great ideas. Love it.

[frugal.lass]

I'm so happy I saw this thread!!. I probably spend as many nights in hotels as I do in my apartment. I've been using the soaps as "guest soaps" when I have company over but I'm looking forward to making some of my favourite hotel soaps into bigger bars.