Cleaning up!

[janesathome]

Hello, I haven’t made soap since the last century(!) and wanted to get back at it. Things have changed with the use of stick blenders, and availability of many oils, colours, and fragrances. Not to mention the internet! The ability to go online to ask a community for help or to watch videos and look up recipes makes for a totally different soap making world. I’m loving it!
I have just made my first three batches and so far, so good. My challenge will be to stop making soap before I run out of closet space for storage - and then finding people to give it to!

 

[TheGecko]

My challenge will be to stop making soap before I run out of closet space for storage - and then finding people to give it to!

I donate soap to the local homeless shelter, I donate to the local food bank and I donate to a DV group that runs several shelters for men and woman (and their children).

Soaps I donate to the Homeless Shelter are cut in half; half the bars to into a box, the other half are paired with an inexpensive wash cloth in a zip lock storage bag. The shelter has a list of ingredients and my contact information. Soaps I donate to the Food Bank; the bars are wrapped in a plain sandwich paper and I put an ingredients label on them and the church has my contact information. The Soaps for the DV are planed and trimmed, wrapped in a decorative paper with an ingredients label and the Shelter has my contact info.

The soaps I donate, there are various reasons why...the design didn't turn out, the colorant didn't turn out, the scent faded or I can't stand it, I was trying a new mold or the soap wasn't selling. And sometimes I purposely make soap to donate...I master batch and maybe I don't have enough 'mix' left to fill a standard loaf, so I'll grab come cavity molds or kids' molds or I don't have enough scent for a standard loaf or the scent has been discontinued.

 

[John Harris]

My computer program, SoapMaker 3.0, says I have 506 bars of soap around the house. With so much soap, I am a regular Santa Claus. I'm always handing out a bar here or there. Also, if someone wants to buy a bunch, they always get a very good deal. Still, my goal is to at least have my hobby pay for itself.

 

[AliOop]

Welcome, your soaps are very pretty.

 

[janesathome]

I donate soap to the local homeless shelter, I donate to the local food bank and I donate to a DV group that runs several shelters for men and woman (and their children).

Soaps I donate to the Homeless Shelter are cut in half; half the bars to into a box, the other half are paired with an inexpensive wash cloth in a zip lock storage bag. The shelter has a list of ingredients and my contact information. Soaps I donate to the Food Bank; the bars are wrapped in a plain sandwich paper and I put an ingredients label on them and the church has my contact information. The Soaps for the DV are planed and trimmed, wrapped in a decorative paper with an ingredients label and the Shelter has my contact info.

The soaps I donate, there are various reasons why...the design didn't turn out, the colorant didn't turn out, the scent faded or I can't stand it, I was trying a new mold or the soap wasn't selling. And sometimes I purposely make soap to donate...I master batch and maybe I don't have enough 'mix' left to fill a standard loaf, so I'll grab come cavity molds or kids' molds or I don't have enough scent for a standard loaf or the scent has been discontinued.

That is a FANTASTIC idea! Once I have built up a supply I will contact our food bank and a few other organizations that support those in need, and see if they would welcome donations. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful giving strategy.

 

[janesathome]

My computer program, SoapMaker 3.0, says I have 506 bars of soap around the house. With so much soap, I am a regular Santa Claus. I'm always handing out a bar here or there. Also, if someone wants to buy a bunch, they always get a very good deal. Still, my goal is to at least have my hobby pay for itself.

John, I’m sure everyone is happy to see you coming with pockets full of soap.
I’d also like to get to a place where I can recoup my expenses, so that my newfound hobby will pay for itself!

 

[janesathome]

Welcome, your soaps are very pretty.

Thanks so much! It is great fun to see what the soaps look and smell like when they are coming out of the mold, isn’t it? It’s like Christmas (substitute any other holiday that includes gifts)

 

[TheGecko]

That is a FANTASTIC idea! Once I have built up a supply I will contact our food bank and a few other organizations that support those in need, and see if they would welcome donations. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful giving strategy.

Been through some hard times in my life and 'hotel' soap only goes so far. Also did a lot of volunteer work.

Here is my personal plug for donating as a whole...if you wouldn't eat it, or wear it or use it then don't dump it on the 'poor'. You'd be surprised how many people donate expired and damaged food, or 'odd' stuff like stuffed olives, pickled veggies, pimentos. Clothing is often ripped or stained. Lamps with frayed cords or cracked glass.

And don't use donation centers as a way to get rid of your garbage. I used to do intake at a local non-profit second-hand store...a full two-thirds of the stuff went straight into construction sized dumpsters that the NP had to pay for. I quickly learned to never open bags and boxes without industrial gloves and a respirator on.

 

[janesathome]

Been through some hard times in my life and 'hotel' soap only goes so far. Also did a lot of volunteer work.

Here is my personal plug for donating as a whole...if you wouldn't eat it, or wear it or use it then don't dump it on the 'poor'. You'd be surprised how many people donate expired and damaged food, or 'odd' stuff like stuffed olives, pickled veggies, pimentos. Clothing is often ripped or stained. Lamps with frayed cords or cracked glass.

And don't use donation centers as a way to get rid of your garbage. I used to do intake at a local non-profit second-hand store...a full two-thirds of the stuff went straight into construction sized dumpsters that the NP had to pay for. I quickly learned to never open bags and boxes without industrial gloves and a respirator on.

I agree. I think it’s critical to remember that everyone deserves quality food and goods. If I won’t eat or use it because I don’t think it’s good enough, I won’t donate it. So if I have rubbish soap, I promise you I will find another use for it, I won’t donate it to “the poor”. (And I donate $$ to the food bank - they can use it to bill purchase whatever they need and won’t have to haul heavy food items to their centre)

 

[TheGecko]

I agree. I think it’s critical to remember that everyone deserves quality food and goods. If I won’t eat or use it because I don’t think it’s good enough, I won’t donate it. So if I have rubbish soap, I promise you I will find another use for it, I won’t donate it to “the poor”. (And I donate $$ to the food bank - they can use it to bill purchase whatever they need and won’t have to haul heavy food items to their centre)

And when donating, consider the stuff that can't be purchased with Food Stamps. It bugs me still...I could buy chips and soda and candy with FS, but I couldn't buy soap...or toilet paper...or tampons. These items are just as needful as food, but you can't buy them and they are often missing in Food Banks.

 

[janesathome]

I live in Canada - no food stamps here. But good point re donating hygiene items. Toothbrushes and toothpaste also critical.

 

[Zany_in_CO]