I am a fan of liquid soap. It’s easy and convenient to use, but after putting the bar of soap to the test, today’s soaps not only last longer but a bar of soap has far more penny-saving uses compared to store brand liquid soap.

A few years ago, a bar of soap got a bad rap and for good reason. Whatever was in commercial brand soaps, they not only stripped the skin, but many complained about flare-ups and irritations leading to perceptions that soap caused bad skin.

I experienced this, but when I would travel (this was before the explosion of globalization) and buy artisan soaps, I had no way of stopping in a store to buy them or find a website to order from.

Fast forward and artisan soaps have made a comeback and can be found anywhere.

The amount of drip and excess leftover from the liquid pump I find on my countertops or in the sink is like hard-earned money washing down the drain.

For the cost of one container of liquid soap, learning how to make liquid soap and body wash from bar soap, on top of four other bar of soap uses for pennies on the dollar, you will think twice about rebuying store brand liquid soap.

Here are five cool ideas on how to use bars of soaps that are not just for the shower or sinks.

5 Uses For a Bar of Soap

1. Fresh Smelling Clothes, Shoes, Suitcases, and Cars

Instead of buying scented drawer liners, take those bars of soap sitting in the storage box, add your favorite scent to the dresser drawer, lingerie drawer, boot or shoe boxes, and in your suitcase to give a little freshness.

I leave the wrapper on and just slip a couple in between my clothes.

I like to rotate between my favorites soaps: AVEDA Rosemary Mint bath bar, anything Beekman 1802, Vermont’s Orignal Bag Balm Rosemary Mint scent, Native Coconut and Vanilla, and Michel Design Works oversized shea butter soaps.

2. Travel Soap

When getting ready for a trip, do you stock up on travel-sized products?

Got a favorite scent you love to use at home and want to take it with you for your upcoming one week vacation, but the bar of soap that is too big for your travel soap container?

Skip buying the travel soap and simply cut a bar of soap in half or in thirds if you buy large or oversized soaps.

3. Homemade Liquid Soap and Creamy Body Wash

Using a hand grater with large holes (cheese grater in the kitchen pantry works), grate one bar or four ounces of soap.

Add the grated soap to four cups of boiling water. Stir until fully dissolved.

Allow the mixture to cool, pour into a liquid soap dispenser.

Now going DIY doesn’t mean you have to give up body wash.

Follow along with this video to learn how to make homemade creamy body wash.

4. Shave With It

Give your body some love with dollars and sense. Pick soap that moisturizes and does not strip your body’s natural moisture.

Beekman 1802’s soaps are one of my favorites as each bar is made using goat milk. No, the soaps don’t smell like goat cheese.

The lather is not drying or stripping on the face or body as goat milk has the same PH balance as the human body. You will notice the difference after one use.

I have noticed that I use less lotion to moisturize due to these milk rich bars of hydration.

Their nine-ounce bars are perfect for cutting in thirds into travel soap.

Once you try one of these soaps and experience how your skin feels, you will never go back to cheap and easy bar soap treating your shower or bath as a chore.

First, prep your skin with coconut oil, lather up with soap.

I use a men’s shaving brush to lather. Doing it this way, you end up using less soap versus using your hands.

Since my hair is coarse, I use, yes a men’s Schick Hydro razor and replace the blade once a month.

Compared to women’s razor blades that go dull and needing replacement every week, I’m saving mucho dinero.

Now I’m not saying that you start stealing your significant other’s shaving brush.

A shaving brush is not that expensive.

You can find one for less than $20 like the one I purchased from The Body Shop or invest a little more into a shaving set with a lathering bowl, stand, and shaving brush.

Use a small jelly mason jar or a container with a lid to transfer a small amount of shaving cream from your large container.

Your homemade creamy body wash will last many months-long than a can of $3 shaving cream.

Your legs will be feeling silky smooth from the coconut oil. You may be able to forgo moisturizer after a shower or bath.

Instead of going to a storefront and paying full price, I get Beekman 1802 soaps for half the cost by shopping on QVC.

I love shopping online, easy pay, and free shipping.

5. Uses For Bar Soap Pieces

As the bar of soap becomes smaller, don’t throw that little piece away.

Either add it to the soap replacement or keep a small piece in your sewing kit to mark hems and lines and sew with it.

Other Surprising Uses For Soap

• Homemade laundry detergent

• Silence squeaky door hinges

• Fill in nail holes from hanging up artwork on the wall

• Toothpaste

• Putting some soap under the nails before working in the garden prevents dirt from getting in your nails and keeps nails clean

• Lubricate screws for woodworking projects

• Unstick a sliding door

• Relieve itchy bug bites

Stay Away From Parabens and Additives

When it comes to selecting bars of soap, avoid brands that contain chemical substances like parabens, phosphates, and additives.

Mineral oil and petroleum-based chemicals dry out your skin which makes you use more products. Cheap and easy doesn’t mean good quality.

What do I mean? Take the soap you use to wash your hands, for the bath or shower and create a lather.

The big stiff rainbow colors in your soap may look pretty. This isn’t a scene out of The Wizard of Oz.

The water puddle under your car you drove over out of your driveway this morning is the same puddle from the gas station of leaking oil.

What is it you ask that is in that puddle of water?

Petrochemical by-products, a nasty chemical that is used in soaps and body cleansers which in fact strip away moisture from your body.

That is one of the reasons soap has gotten a bad rap and consumers switched to body wash.

What consumers don’t know is the same cheap ingredients like petrochemicals are being used in the body cleansers as well.

Bar of Soap vs Body Wash

I am not saying you have to give up liquid soap. My favorite liquid castile soap is Dr. Bronner’s peppermint and almond scents.

I like Dr. Bronner’s castille soaps because they’re multi-use. I use it for shaving, but the major use is making homemade housecleaning products.

If you’re looking for more creative homemade product ideas, GIY housecleaning products is another way to reduce exposure to nasty chemicals, save money, and go green.

Doing a cost comparison will help you decide which is more economical to buy store brand body wash and liquid soap, or put bars of soap sitting around in your pantry to use and spend a few minutes making these products yourself.

One bar of Dove or Dr. Bronner’s castille soap is less than $3.

A 16-ounce bottle of body wash ranges from $3-4.

Going DIY will cost you less than $.50 for a 16-ounce bottle of homemade body wash.

The creamy body wash recipe makes 49-ounces of body wash which comes out to less than $1.50.

Artisan soaps might be a little pricey, but the soaps I buy last a long time like a couple of months because of the density of the soap from being triple milled.

Buying a 7-9 ounce bar of soap for under $18 that makes 49-ounces of creamy body wash compared to buying a 33-ounce of body wash at $73.

Feel free to test the bar of soap vs body wash theory for yourself and then answer this question.

Do you really want to shower or bath with nasty chemicals like petro waste products on your face and body? Umm ew.

Say no to toxic chemicals and join the clean beauty movement by embracing natural ingredients that are good for the skin and body.

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