Thursday, June 14, 2012

soap bits to hand gel

Used soap bar to hand soap gel

This gel is great  for repurposing all those otherwise not-so-useful scraps of soap bars that tend to accumulate. The scent of the soaps used will be blended and masked by the fragrance that you add to the gel in the steps below; however, sometimes there may be a mismatch of scents, so be careful of using any soap that you think smells overwhelming.
  1. 1
    Collect scraps of previously used soap bars, enough to equal 1 cup of chopped or grated soap.
    Collect scraps of previously used soap bars, enough to equal 1 cup of chopped or grated soap.
     
  2. 2
    Chop the soap into bits, the smaller the better.
    Chop the soap into bits, the smaller the 
    better.
  3.  
    3
    Combine the 1 cup of soap bits with 1 cup of water in a pan on the stove.
    Combine the 1 cup of soap bits with 1 cup of water in a pan on the stove.
    Combine the 1 cup of soap bits with 1 cup of water in a pan on the stove. Stir frequently and keep at medium heat.
  4. 4
    Continue heating and stirring the mixture until the soap pieces melt and combine with the water.
    Continue heating and stirring the mixture until the soap pieces melt and combine with the water.
  5. 5
    Once the soap and water combine to make a smooth mixture, remove from heat and let the shower gel cool.
    Once the soap and water combine to make a smooth mixture, remove from heat and let the shower gel cool.
  6. 6
    Add any scent additives, such as fragrance or essential oils.
    Add any scent additives, such as fragrance or essential oils.
  7. 7
    Use water-based colorant (food coloring) to give your shower gel an appealing color.
    Use water-based colorant (food coloring) to give your shower gel an appealing color.
  8. 8
    It's not a bad idea to add a natural antibacterial to your shower gel, such as a few drops of grapefruit seed extract.
    It's not a bad idea to add a natural antibacterial to your shower gel, such as a few drops of grapefruit seed extract.

    Make sure it is thin enough to pump through a hand pump dispenser.
    done :)