What to do with all that soap?

[Deborah Long]

Okay, it's official - I love this forum! I've learned so much and am still learning and I LOVE that people answer my questions and don't treat me like a drooling fool!

So, now - down to the meat of the matter. I'm looking forward to retirement in about 2 years, 5 months and 12 days (but who's counting!) and since this entire soap making thing is just fascinating to me, I thought that doing that may be a cool part time job after retirement.

In the meantime, I'm practicing, learning all I can and just having a blast! BUT - what can I do with all this soap I'm collecting?? There is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy more than my husband and I can use. The kids are getting sick of my 'gifts', I'm sure and still - it's piling up!

I'm not eager to sell it at this point - that will take a lot more experimentation on my part and licensing and insurance, and, and, and... So? Throw it out?? That's against my nature!
LOL

I look forward to all of your ideas...
Deb

 

[dixiedragon]

Gifts and donations. Christmas is coming - I gift my co-workers about 6 bars of soap each Christmas. Clean the World is a charity that provides soap. I'd love to give to my local food bank but nobody has returned my calls or emails. Same with a local veteran's organization. I'm considering (if I have time) making up Christmas gift bags for a local retirement home.

I also donated a bunch to the YWCA one year.

 

[shunt2011]

I'm with Dixie.....I gifted soap to everyone, I also donated to homeless shelters and sent some overseas to our military. I still donate soaps to this day.

 

[Megan]

I'm having this same problem. I'm embarrassed to give away my first batches though because they are cut all lopsided, etc.

 

[dixiedragon]

For my Christmas gift bags, I typically do a mix of "good" (meaning asthetically pleasing) bars and "bad" (bars that are lumpy or ugly).

 

[jcandleattic]

Donate!

Women's shelters, homeless shelters, kids clubs, military, etc.
A lot of times when I call, they will NEVER call me back unless I throw a money amount in the voicemail (mostly because it's a management company that answers, not the actual shelter), so instead of calling, I just show up. They are always glad to see me, and take whatever I can give them.

Someone also mentioned Clean the World. I will admit, I've never sent to this charity, as there are too many worthy local places I can send my extras too.

 

[dixiedragon]

IMO Clean the World isn't the best choice, just b/c I think it's not very cost effective to mail soap.

 

[dibbles]

Clean the World no longer accepts handmade soap donations. I used to send soaps there and it was nice because they took end cuts and trimmings too. I now donate to a large homeless shelter, a veterans home and my local food shelf. At Christmas time everyone I know gets soap. And I also give a lot away during the year. Even the guy that delivers our paper gets soap with a gift card for coffee.

 

[dixiedragon]

Dibbles, do you wrap/label your soaps before donating to the food pantry? I'd love to be able to just drop them off- I hate shrink wrapping.

 

[dibbles]

Dibbles, do you wrap/label your soaps before donating to the food pantry? I'd love to be able to just drop them off- I hate shrink wrapping.

Yes, I both label and wrap them. Usually in shrink wrap. I hate shrink wrap too, and once it’s gone will probably start wrapping in paper. The food shelf might not care about it though, I haven’t asked.

 

[amd]

Oooh, thanks for reminding me. I need to bring some into work again for the "farmers market" table in the break room.

 

[Dennis]

Under the bed, in the fireplace in summer, garage, back porch. It's everywhere! Then give a bunch to family and friends, coworkers. I've used it to barter at the bicycle shop for bike maintenance. You'll be surprised how many people will be willing to trade. They love it. And of course, donate, donate, donate.

 

[Alfa_Lazcares]

Keep a bar from each new recipe! I am doing just that to see how they behave in a year or two.

 

[msunnerstood]

I donate 300 sample size soaps to a missing persons conference every year plus make up a basket for their fundraising raffle. Great way to save the ugly bars, slice them up to sample sizes.

 

[soaring1]

Gifts and donations. Christmas is coming - I gift my co-workers about 6 bars of soap each Christmas. Clean the World is a charity that provides soap. I'd love to give to my local food bank but nobody has returned my calls or emails. Same with a local veteran's organization. I'm considering (if I have time) making up Christmas gift bags for a local retirement home.

I also donated a bunch to the YWCA one year.

Just walk in to the Food Bank with your box of soap. They will take your name and address. I deliver my farm fresh eggs weekly there and asked them if they would like some handcrafted soap. They said they accept anything for eating or personal care. Ingredients need to be listed on your products though. For the local Veterans, walk in and ask to speak to a counselor. Counselors are the ones that hand out free soaps etc. to their clients.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

You could:
--- use the bars to practice cutting & beveling to make the bars prettier.
--- grind them up and save them to make "confetti" soap later.
--- grind them up to make homemade laundry powder. (A welcome gift.)
--- grind them up and rebatch to test fragrances.
--- take them to work; put out a donation jar with a sign that says, "Compliments of a Soap Making Addict. Donations welcome to support my addiction."

 

[cmzaha]

I just dumped a box full in the trash today, just tired of looking at them... one of those days. Back at the parents and in a pretty bad mood so I took it out on old soaps. If we ever get some rain maybe we will have bubbles in the landfill

 

[Zany_in_CO]

I just dumped a box full in the trash today, just tired of looking at them... one of those days. Back at the parents and in a pretty bad mood so I took it out on old soaps. If we ever get some rain maybe we will have bubbles in the landfill

ACK! Be still my heart! LOL

Hey, Carolyn, if that felt good, then more power to ya, lady! You're right. Bubbles in the landfill is probably a VERY good thing.