If you have a couple soaps under your belt, you have probably encountered soap scraps. Whether it’s an end piece of soap that wasn’t quite perfect, or scraps from a soap beveller/shaver, they tend to build up over time. If you’re like me, you can’t stand to see even the tiniest bitĀ of soap go to waste. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do with leftover soap.
Rebatching is not only a great way to fix imperfect batches, but a great way to use scraps. Rebatch soap involves melting the soap with a bit of liquid, like distilled water or tea. It has a beautiful rustic look and you don’t have to handle lye. Check out the Soap Queen TV episode on How to Make Rebatch SoapĀ for instructions.Ā The video uses a double boiler for the rebatch, but you can also use a plastic baggie in a pot of boiling water. Click through the Rebatch Soap – Plastic Baggie Technique post to learn more. Please note that the older the soap scraps are, the more liquid you need to get them to ‘melt’ down (and by ‘melt’, I mean sort of gloppy congeal).
Top left, clockwise: Rebatch Soap Kit, Pink Clay and Primrose Hand-Milled Soap,Ā Ombre Rebatch Layers,Ā Green Tea Rebatch (Teabatch?)
Laundry soap is another way to useĀ soap scraps. Using shredded soap with baking sodaĀ andĀ washing sodaĀ helps keepĀ your clothes clean and fresh. As a bonus, it’s also a great use for lye heavy soap. Find out more in the Three DIY Laundry Soap Recipes post. We get a lot of questions about “How can I reuse old hotel soap?” or “I run a bed and breakfast and I hate to see all those soap scraps going to waste! What can I do with them?” We never recommend re-using old, used soap that random people you don’t know, used to make into “new” soap. However, for those very very very determined soap-reuser-folks, laundry soap is be the best option for you to give those soap scraps new life.
Soap scraps can add an interesting look to your soap recipes. The Cherry Blossom Glitter Cold Process Tutorial uses soap scraps, a swirly design and glitter for aĀ funĀ look. It’s a great base recipe for any time you have a pile of scraps. You can also add scraps to the top of your soap. In the Coconut Cream Pie Cold Process Tutorial, melt and pour scraps are used to mimic toasted coconut.
Left to right:Ā Cherry Blossom Glitter Cold Process Tutorial,Ā Coconut Cream Pie Cold Process Tutorial
Have leftover melt and pour?Ā It can go in your cold process recipes too.Ā In the Shimmering Sea Glass Cold Process Tutorial, leftover melt and pour is dusted withĀ Aqua Pearl MicaĀ andĀ Luster Black MicaĀ and embedded in the soap. TheĀ translucent melt and pour is enhanced byĀ Iridescent Glitter. Keep in mind, the melt and pour pieces will lose moisture over time and start to shrink. You can prevent that by usingĀ LCP (Like Cold Process) melt and pour bases, which have a lower glycerin content.
The asymmetrical chunks in the soapĀ create an abstract look. The same concept is used in theĀ Black Cherry Bounces BackĀ post. A mis-manufactured fragrance oil caused the soap to separate and left pools of oil. In the spirit of turning lemons into lemonade, we used theĀ Hot Process HeroĀ method to save the soap. It was then topped with soap chunks for a totally unique bar of soap.
We recentlyĀ asked soapers on the Bramble Berry Facebook pageĀ what to do with leftover soap scraps.Ā You savvy soapers had so many creativeĀ ideas! You can see all the answers here, and check out some of our favorites below:
- Put them in an organza bag and use them as travel soaps. You can also throw them in your drawers to add a fresh scent.
- Put them in a small bag and sell themĀ for 50 cents. They can fit easily in your purse or glove box.
- Place the leftover scraps in a sack and hang it from your bathtub faucet for a luxurious bubble bath.
- Combine the shredded soap with additional fragrance oil in a bag and hang them in your rear view mirrorĀ for a DIY car freshener.
- Cut end pieces of soap in cubes and mix them together in sample bags. Sell them for $1 as a soap sampler pack.
- Mix the scraps with salt for a lathering and exfoliating scrub.
- Use the shredded soap as packaging in place of raffia or packing peanuts.
What’s your favorite way to use leftover soap scraps?
Just wondering–how best to discount my recipe for the addition of scraps?
Hi Mary!
It can be a bit tricky to estimate how many scraps you’re going to add to your recipe! You can weigh out your scraps and then subtract that amount from the main recipe. So for instance if your scraps weigh 4 ounces, you can shrink your recipe by 4 ounces. However, you may end up not using the all the scraps. I would recommend making your recipe like normal, then have an empty mold nearby just in case. That way if you have any extra you can pour it into the second mold. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can old soap scraps be melted together in a microwave?
Hi Jonathan!
Old melt and pour soap scraps can be heated in the microwave! You can heat those on 10 second bursts and pour them into a mold for a new bar. š
Cold process soap scraps don’t microwave very well. They never fully melt, and form a really odd spongy texture. For cold process, we recommend rebatching! Learn how to rebatch cold process soap here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/soap-queen-tv-presents-how-to-make-rebatch-soap-2/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Oh, no! I thought I was a genius for coming up with these exact ideas! I guess I will have to settle for “great soaping minds think alike.” I truly do like making and using hot process soap, but it is limited with regards to swirls and colors. I often take soaps that did not turn out like I expected and RANDOMLY cut them down and add them to the hot process after it has cooked for a gorgeous bar of soap and no soap is wasted. I also use bits and pieces left over and make a thick trace cold process soap and add them to it. All the different colors, sizes and shapes make a gorgeous cold process soap with nothing being wasted. When I have bars of used soap too small to use, I keep them and eventually shave them down, dissolve them in hot tap water and use that in the laundry. When I make hot or cold process soap, I leave all the pots, utensils, etc sitting on the counter and let the batter become soap. I then put them all in a big pot of hot tap water and let the soap dissolve and use that large pot of water for one load of laundry. Once again, no soap is wasted.
Those are great ideas James, thanks for sharing! We’re fans of anything that keeps soap from going to waste. It’s too precious to throw away! š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi James,
I make powered laundry detergent which calls for a bar of soap so I shave my “ugly” and left over soap for that “bar” of soap. Gives great colors and scent to the detergent.
Thanks for the great idea about using left over soap for liquid soap.
I am a scraping soaper that attempts to get every drop.
Debra
Does the soap need to cure for 4-6 weeks after you rebatch?? I have some soap that after unmolding I butchered it can I rebatch in a crockpot and reuse right away or does it need to cure 4-6 weeks after rebatch?
Hi Crystal!
You can rebatch that soap right away! Fresher soap typically needs less water than cured soap, so use a light hand when adding it to your rebatch soap. š
Also, you may want to cure the soap for a 1-2 weeks after rebatching. That way any excess water evaporates, leaving you with bars that last longer in the shower.
Learn more about rebatching soap here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/soap-queen-tv-presents-how-to-make-rebatch-soap-2/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’m thinking of chunking up the leftover ends, then adding it to a new hot process base. What does the soap smell like after the left over bits get mixed together? Does it lose scent enough that the base should be scented? Or maybe an unscented base should be used. Thanks for creating such a fun helpful website!
That sounds like such a fun idea! We’ve found that fragranced soaps tend to hold their scent and add a subtle smell to the finished product. So, you can add a fun scent that would mix well with the hot process soap or leave it unscented. Either way works great. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I make soap buttons and put them in a small canning jar I use a apple corer to punch out little round buttons..
Hi Dorothy!
How cute! What a great way to use soap scraps. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Could you grate up old cp soap, put it in a mold and pour melt & pour over it?
You definitely can! I combine CP and MP all the time.
Hi Lorna!
Michael is right – you can absolutely add cold process soap to your melt and pour projects! We did something similar in the Cold Process Planets in a Melt and Pour Galaxy post: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/otion-repost-planet-soap/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you so much! I will be trying that soon.
You’re welcome! š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi Everybody!
What I like to do with my left overs. I will shred them with my cheese grater, put them aside and use them on the top of other soaps. Or inside the soaps for an extra nice texture.
Hi Josie!
Such a great idea! It adds a unique look to each bar. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’m hoping to collect up all my bits and bobs of soap to make planet soaps like the one in your tutorial.
Hi Monica!
That is such a fun tutorial! The soap looks really pretty too. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Cold Process Planets in a Melt and Pour Galaxy: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/melt-and-pour-soap/otion-repost-planet-soap/
I have had great luck taking small cubes and attaching them to a handbill or business card and distribute as samples. We have attended trade shows and attached handbills with prices and photos and a wee sample, as well as got on some online grocery lists by attaching samples to photo cards as a sneak peek to what is on next weeks list. i shred the tiny bits for laundry but the chunks are precious marketing material!
Hi Kristin š
Oh my goodness!! You are so smart! I am picturing baby soap on a rope (butchers twine)? Is that what you mean by “attach?”
Hi Kristin!
That is such a great idea! That way your customers can try your soap out and know just who to call. Thanks so much for sharing. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I keep a baggy of soap scraps in my purse to use in public restrooms!
What a great idea! I’m going to start doing that!
Hi Alyson!
Agreed, such a great idea! That way your hands are moisturized all day. š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Great post! I like to chop up or grate finely my leftovers and put them into a cold process recipe like confetti and/or sprinkle on top – they are nice “birthday” or “party” soaps for a loaf or for cupcakes. I also use organza bags as shown and use them as sachet bags, or single use gym bag/travel cubes.
Hi Michael!
Those are great idea! I love the way scraps look in soap. Also, I’m definitely going to put some soap in a bag when I travel from now on. No more hotel soaps! š
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Yeah – hotel soaps tend to be ucky for sure š