How to make new soap from remnants

Video: DIY: How to recycle soap scraps into new bars of soap

Content

Part 2 of 3: Supplements
Part 3 of 3: Pouring the soap
Tips
What do you need

1 Choose any soap. You can choose any kind of soap you want, but it should be something natural and odorless, something like pure Castilian soap is best. Later, this will give you more options to customize your product. Use about 340 grams of soap.

When hardened, handmade soap will have a grainy texture. It won't be as smooth as regular soap.
If you use multiple soap residues, make sure they have the same scent, otherwise you will end up with an unpleasant scent.
You can use different colors, but keep in mind that they will not always blend with each other to form a new color. Sometimes they can appear as spots or grains.

2 Rub or cut the soap into small pieces. The easiest way to do this is with a grater, but you can also grind the soap with a knife. The smaller the pieces, the faster the soap will melt.

3 Place the soap in a double boiler. Fill a saucepan 2.5–5 centimeters with water. Place a heat-shielding bowl on top; make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the surface of the water. Pour the crushed soap into this container.

If you have a multicooker, you can use it.
You can also melt the soap in a saucepan without a bowl, but it must be small and coated so that the soap does not burn.

4 Add some water to the soap. You will need 255 ml of water for 340 g of soap. This will help soften the soap. But do not add too much liquid, or the soap will not dry properly.

If you still want something unique, try tea or milk instead of water. You can also try goat milk or buttermilk.
If you are using freshly made cold processed soap, you may not need to use that much liquid.

5 Start heating the soap, stirring every 5 minutes. Turn the stove on over medium heat and bring the water to a boil. Stir the soap with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula every 5 minutes. Be sure to scrape the soap off the bottom and sides of the bowl.

If you are using a multicooker, cover it with a lid and set it to high heat. You will have to open the lid and stir everything periodically so that the soap does not burn.
If you are heating soap in a saucepan, heat it over low heat.

6 Continue cooking and stirring the soap until it softens. The remnants will never completely melt, as is the case with regular soap. Instead, they will turn into a grainy mixture, similar to oatmeal or mashed potatoes. Therefore, be patient, this procedure can take 1 to 2 hours.

At some point, the soap will no longer change texture. If some time has passed and the soap still looks the same, you won't melt it again. If so, you are ready for the next step. You are ready for the next step.
If the soap starts to burn, lower the temperature and add some cold water.

Part 2 of 3: Supplements

1 Allow the soap to cool to 66–71 ° C. To you not necessary add any additives at this stage, but they can still make your soap more refined. You also don't need to use all of the supplements. Pick one or two (or even three!) That you like the most!
2 For a more pleasant scent, add some kind of aromatic or essential oil. Use 15 ml oil per 340 g soap. If your soap is already scented, you can skip this step or use a similar scent. For example, if your soap base has a lavender scent, you can still add a few drops of lavender oil.
- You don't need to use as much essential oil as you use aromatic oil. Essential oil is much more potent.
- Never use the scented oil that is used to make candles. It is not skin-friendly.
- Another option for flavoring is with spices. They will also add some color to your soap. Use 1-2 tablespoons (7.5 to 15 grams) of spices such as ground cinnamon.
3 For added refinement, you can add some nourishing oils. If you want a truly extraordinary soap, add a few drops of nourishing oils such as vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, and so on. Anything you can put on your skin will work great with soap too. However, do not get carried away at this stage; too much oil can affect the hardening process!
- Another nutritional supplement is honey. Honey will not only make your soap more hydrating and more refined, but it will also give it a pleasant, golden color. Use ¼ to ½ cups of honey (90–175 grams).
4 Add a few drops of soapy dye for color. Since soap dye is translucent, this option is only recommended for white soaps. You can buy soap dye either online or at an arts and crafts store. Add 1-2 drops, then stir. Continue stirring until no streaks remain. If the color isn't strong enough for you, add and stir in another drop.
- Soap dye is very powerful. Add 1-2 drops at a time until you get the desired color.
- Use only dye for soap. Do not replace it with candle dye as it is not skin-friendly. Food coloring will not work either.
- you also can you add dye to enhance an existing color. For example, you can use a blue dye to brighten up a light blue soap base.
5 Give your soap a specific texture with plants and scrubs. They are great for those with dull and dry skin. Scrubs gently remove dry skin cells, leaving the skin silky smooth. Sea salt, oatmeal, and dried lavender buds are excellent materials for these products. The recommended amount for every 340 grams of soap is:
- ¾ to 1 (90–120 grams) cups of scrub such as oatmeal, almond flour, and coffee grounds.
- 1 cup (50 grams) low essential oil herbs like chamomile, calendula, lavender. They can be fresh or dried.
- 1-2 tablespoons (1-2 grams) of herbs that are high in essential oil, such as rosemary. They can also be fresh or dried.

Part 3 of 3: Pouring the soap

1 Prepare the form. You can buy a plastic soap mold. If you have a simple shape but would like your soap to be unusual, you can add a rubber stamp or stamp at the bottom of the shape. If desired, lightly spray non-stick spray inside the mold. You can also rub some petroleum jelly into it.
- Soap stamps and molds can be purchased online or at an arts and crafts store.
- Alternatively, you can use a silicone ice cube tray or baking dish.
2 Scoop out the soap into a mold. Since the soap is thick enough, you won't be able to pour it into molds. Instead, use a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to scoop out the soap into the molds. Use a spoon or spatula to smooth out the back of the mold.
3 Drop the mold with soap. Raise it 15-30 cm above the table, then drop it. This will completely dissolve the soap in the mold and release any air bubbles. You may need to repeat this procedure several times. You may need to do this a few times.
4 Let the soap dry for 1–2 days before removing it from the mold. Once the soap is completely dry, gently remove it from the molds. If you used long rectangular shapes, you can cut it into 1-inch slices.
- If you are in a hurry, place the soap in the freezer for 1–2 hours before removing it from the molds.
5 Let the soap harden if necessary. Depending on what type of soap you used, your already overcooked soap may still feel soft and sticky. If so, place it on a cooling rack and let it air dry for 2-4 weeks. If you've used store soap, you may not need this procedure, but if you have used freshly made cold or hot soap, you will most likely need to do it.
- Some handcrafted soaps (usually those made from store soap) dry in just 2 days.

Tips

Another very easy way to reuse soap bars is to cut a new bath sponge and stick the soap bars inside. When wet, the sponge will foam nicely, drawing out the soap and easily using up remaining pieces.
You can also simply leave the soap bars in the water for a while until they become soft and pliable. Then squeeze them in your hands until they stick together. Leave the new bar of soap to set for a while until it hardens and you have a new ready-to-use soap.
Another easy way to use up all of the soap is to stick an old, damp remnant to a new bar. Leave them on for a while, after that they will stick together like glue.
Digested soap always will have a grainy texture. It will never be as smooth as regular toilet soap, made hot or cold, or melted down.
Leave a window open or turn on a fan, especially if your soap is scented.
Some online stores sell handmade soap bases. Such bases tend to melt into a smoother, batter-like consistency.