I gave this a try a few weeks back. We had run out of body wash (I use a bar but my SO loves his body wash) and that stuff can get a little pricey. Perfect chance to test out the recipe I pulled off of FB. 1. Combine 1 bar of soap, flaked with cheese grater, with one gallonish of warm water. (I did maybe three litres, which is a liter short of a gallon) 2. Place the mixture in a large pot and warm over medium heat until the soap is completely dissolved. 3. Add 2 tablespoons of glycerin and remove from heat. 4. Let sit overnight. It will go gelatinous, beat it with a wisk or hand held mixer. 5. Done and ready to be put in a hand despenser or wash bottle. (Old ketcup bottes are great) Turn it into dishsoap: Add 1/2 cup of white vinny or lemon juice at step 3 for degreasing boost. I'm never buying liquid soap again.
As long as you're recycling plastic bottle, this is a great way to use those slivers of soap that otherwise get thrown away. I'm a soapmaker, and people ask me all the time why I don't make liquid soap. All that plastic is one reason, and the other is that all liquid soaps require preservatives and antifungal ingredients. So if you make a bottle of this stuff, which works just as well as the expensive stuff, make it a small one and keep the bottle clean between uses.
Seems refrigeration might come into play. Dave I respect that you are aware of plastic use. Ordering small batch soap from a soaper that then arrives in plastic makes me sad.
Sounds like a great idea. I will have to start saving the last bits of soap bars for this! Is refrigeration enough or should it be frozen (can it be thawed)?
I did a simple version of scrap saving by using a crocheted "sock" for the slivers, and used that at the kitchen sink for hands and dishes. As for freezing, I can't see why it would separate, any more than room temp. Making slivers or shaved soap into an emulsion isn't using chemical changes. If it did, a good shake would fix it, I'd think. (now telling myself I don't need to do this just to find out)
