The Many Uses Of Soap

With other tasks on the agenda, today was not a day to make soap in the shop, but I did think about it!

I like to think a pretty bar of soap, one that smells wonderful, or is healthy for the skin, is used for the obvious, but there are so many other uses for soap.

Remove laundry stains. A good bar of soap sometimes removes stains from fabric when pre-treating better than a commercial bottle of stain remover. I learned this trick back when my boys were babies. Baby formula stains were quite the task, until I discovered how a white bar of soap, wet and rubbed in before laundering seemed to remove the stains, they vanished!

Deodorize your car. I have done this myself. Place a bar of soap in an area of your vehicle, perhaps under the seat, and you have an instant air freshener that certainly smells better than fake pine (unless you prefer fake pine, and that is okay)! Be careful to not use the type of soap that melts easily in heat.

Make a pin holder. We hardly ever use diaper pins these days, however, needles and safety pins, and for the seamstresses, straight pins, all glide in fabric so much easier and have a safe storage space when they come from a pin cushion/bar of soap.

Freshen luggage. A bar of soap that is mildly scented, without loud colors, placed in luggage, keeps it fresh scented between uses.

Freshen clothes. I love to place a bar of soap in a closet or clothes drawer.

Soap slivers. I do not throw them away. Of course, I love to see how tiny the sliver can get before my soap actually can no longer be used. It becomes translucent, to be honest, before I lose its use. But, if you want, save the slivers, put them in a white cotton sock. Kids love to wash with them. Or, place the slivers in a slit in a sponge. The lather just billows for many uses.

Stuck zippers. Rubbing a bar of soap across a zipper, especially a metal zipper that has a tendency to stick, will help prevent it from sticking.

Insect bites. I find relief in dampening a bar of soap and rubbing it on a stubborn insect bite, especially one that itches.

Dirty fingernails. I have done this one as well. If you have to put your hands into a task where you do not want to wear gloves, you can dig your fingernails into a bar of soap before completing the task. The soap will prevent the nails from filling with dirt (or whatever substance you are trying to prevent).

Preventing soot on campfire pots. Okay, I have to admit, this one I have not tried, but did find it worth noting! If you rub the bottom of a cast iron pot or frying pan prior to placing it over the campfire, the soap will prevent the bottom of the pot from collecting soot. Interesting!