The Versatile Bar of Soap: How to Use it for More Than Just Washing Your Hands

Are you a fan of liquid soap, but have a few bars lying around that you don’t know what to do with? Don’t toss them out just yet! There are plenty of surprising uses for a bar of soap around your home that you may not have considered. From fixing squeaky hinges to repelling pests, the humble bar of soap can do it all.

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Repurpose Your Bar of Soap

Before we dive into the various uses for a bar of soap, let’s talk about how you can repurpose it if you’re more of a liquid soap kind of person. Did you know that you can actually make your own liquid soap using a bar of soap? Simply choose your favorite brand and scent, and follow these steps:

Grate the bar of soap using a hand grater.
Mix the grated soap with boiling water (4 ounces of soap to 4 cups of water).
Stir until the soap is dissolved.
Allow the mixture to cool completely.
Pour into your soap dispenser.

Now that you know how to make your own liquid soap, let’s explore some creative ways to use that bar of soap around your home.

Surprising Uses for a Bar of Soap Around Your Home

Fix Sticky Drawers and Sliding Doors: Rub the bar of soap on the edges of drawers or in door tracks to make them glide smoothly.
Freshen Dresser Drawers, Closets, Suitcases, and Cars: Store scented soap bars in various places to add a fresh scent. Remove the outer wrapping, wrap the bars in fabric, and tuck them away.
Make Furniture Assembly Easier: Coat screws with soap to make them easier to insert. Use the soap as a cutting guide and to coat the teeth of a handsaw for smooth cutting.
Hide a Mistake: Fill nail holes with soap that matches your wall color until you can spackle and repaint.
Prevent Paint Splatters: Rub soap onto glass near trim before painting to make splatter cleanup easier.
Loosen a Stiff Lock: Coat a key with soap and insert it into a stiff lock to make it easier to use.
Prevent Foggy Mirrors and Glasses: Rub the glass with soap to prevent fogging after a shower.
Stop the Squeaks: Use soap to lubricate squeaky door hinges and floorboards.
Pinpoint the Leak: Use soapy water to locate leaks in tires, pools, and gas lines.
Protect Your Furniture From Pets: Use soap to deter pets from chewing on furniture.
Make Messy Hands Easier to Clean: Use soap to prevent soil or grease from getting under your nails.
Protect Your Plants: Hang a bar of soap from shrubs to repel deer and other pests.
Make Camp Cooking Cleanup Easier: Coat pans with soap before cooking over a campfire to make cleanup easier.
Unstick a Zipper: Run a dry bar of soap over zipper teeth to make them glide more smoothly.
Sew Easier: Use soap to mark hems and seam lines, and store pins and needles in a bar of soap for easy sewing.
Remove Tough Stains: Use soap to scrub away oily and muddy stains.
Make Homemade Laundry Detergent: Add grated soap to washing soda, borax, and baking soda to make your own laundry detergent.
Repel Ants: Use a soap solution to remove ant pheromones and deter ants from entering your home.
Relieve Itchy Bug Bites: Rub soap on bug bites for quick itch relief.
Prevent Garden Pests: Make a DIY insecticidal soap to treat plants affected by pests.
Loosen Tight Rings: Lather up a tight ring with soap and warm water to help remove it from your finger.

Conclusion

Who knew that a simple bar of soap could have so many useful applications around the house? From fixing everyday problems to repelling pests and protecting your plants, the possibilities are endless. So, before you toss out that bar of soap, think about how you can use it in a creative way to make your life easier. Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just looking for simple solutions to common household issues, the bar of soap is a versatile tool that shouldn’t be underestimated. Try out some of these tips and see how a humble bar of soap can transform your home!