Nowadays, more people tend to like liquid soaps, shower gels and pretty much, everything in a bottle. It seems that the old fashioned soap bars have been left behind. Those cute little bars of soap, however, hide a lot of power. This article is all about them and their many uses around the house.
Firstly, let’s see how soap is made. True soap is created by a completely natural process called saponification. It happens when oils, waxes or butters are mixed with sodium hydroxide and a chemical reaction occurs that creates soap. During the process natural glycerin is created and makes the soap gentle and moisturising. For many years people have done this by themselves, although nowadays soaps are manufactured and a lot of other compounds are added. In fact, most soaps nowadays are closer to detergents rather than real soaps.
However, there are various advantages of the soap bars. Some of those would be : soap bars being more cost -effective, better cleaning qualities thanks to the friction between the bar and the hands and last but not least – soap bars are more sustainable. They come in thin cardboard boxes that are more eco-friendly than the thick plastic bottles that liquid soap comes in. Even professional end of tenancy cleaners use soap bars.
We know that liquid soaps are much more convenient to use than bars. However, soap bars are rather useful and not only for washing. They are quite practical, easy to use, convenient for small spaces and cute. We are going to see in how many ways you can use a bar of soap:
- Liquid Soap
Yes, we already mentioned that liquid soaps are much more convenient than their bar cousins. And what if we told you that you can now turn your favourite soap bar into a liquid soap? Yes, it is very easy to do that and you can rest assured you get a good quality, cost-effective liquid soap. You can find a recipe at the bottom of this page. - Fix stuck drawers and sliding doors
When doors or drawers would not open smoothly, grab a bar of soap and rub it on the edges of the drawer or along the door tracks. It will help them start moving properly - Freshen shoes, cars, drawers, dressers, closets or suitcases
Before you use the soap in the bathroom, get double duty by placing it in places you would like to refresh. Remove soap packaging and wrap it in some fabric. An old washcloth could work. Put it in your closet and enjoy its pleasant smell. - Loosen a stiff lock
If you are trying to unlock a door but the key is stuck and won’t turn, do not worry. Grab a soap bar and rub the key on it. When you cover both sides of it, put the key in and operate the mechanism a few times. It should be unlocked smoothly. - Prevent foggy mirrors in the bathroom
Whenever you do not want your mirror to become foggy while showering, grab a dry bar of soap and run it across the mirror. Do not wash it after just grab a towel and buff away any streaks that are left. - Stop the squeaks
If your door hinges are squeaky, rub a bar of soap on the edges of the squeaky parts. Put them back in place and you should be good to go. - ‘Prevent paint splatters
When painting your walls or window sills, rub the edges of the windows that are close to them. If you get some paint on there, it will be much easier to remove it. It is also much more convenient to use than tape. - Make furniture assembly easier
If you are struggling to put together an IKEA shelf, for example, and the screws are just refusing to get in properly, rub a soap bar over the screw threads. You can also use it for a removable marking line when cutting wood and even rub it along the teeth of your saw to make it glide through the wood easier. - Pinpoint a leak
If a bike tire or an inflatable pool is broken, grab a soap bar, wet it and rub it all over its surface. The soapy film will create a bubble at the spot where air escapes. - Unstick a zipper
Whenever a zipper of yours is stuck, grab a dry bar of soap and rub it along its teeth. It will help it run smoothly.
And as we promised, here is the recipe for homemade liquid soap:
Ingredients
500ml water
½ tbsp glycerine
½ cup of your favourite soap
- First, pick your favourite type of soap and grate half a cup of it.
- Mix the water and the glycerine together
- Set aside and let it sit overnight
- Add the grated soap to the mixture and put it on the stove
- Wait until it melts together
- You will get a thick solution which you can whisk
- Bottle the liquid soap
Enjoy!