I ordered some gorgeous hand dyed alpaca yarn for a new Etsy order. It's actually for my friend that called. His mom had ordered that dark green throw that I knit recently. He was visiting her when she received it in the mail. He described to me how happy she was to open her package. "I want one," he confided. How exciting! He found some gorgeous colors from my supplier that will go beautifully in his New York apartment.
I got the laundry done and hung it out on the clothesline in the backyard. I love how the hot sun whitens the sheets and bleaches out the hand knit dish cloths. I made a batch of liquid soap with the leftover soap slivers that I had collected over the past month.. I learned this from Rhonda Hetzel's blog, Down To Earth. As most of you know, I'm a soapmaker. I save the scraps from the bath soaps I use. I store them in a recycled cottage cheese container. I also crochet little bags for the tiny pieces of soap. They double as washcloths.
Once I have enough to weigh three or four ounces, I add that to eight cups of water, in a large pot on the stove. I simmer and stir it until the pieces of soap have dissolved. You can also grate a bar of soap and do it that way. It will melt faster. I like saving the slivers, it's less work. Plus, it feels good to recycle them. I also collect the bits that I trim off of my soaps that are cut into slices.
After the soap has turned to liquid, let it cool for a few hours. You can store your liquid soap in a recycled milk jug. It's great in laundry, for general cleaning, and to mop your floors. I use this combined with baking soda, washing soda, and Borax to wash my clothes.
How was your weekend? I hope it was enjoyable and relaxing.
It was so good connecting with you all via Skype and the course was amazing. I've really enjoyed getting to know some of you a little more and reading your blogs.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of your little soap washcloths. They would make lovely gifts too. Brilliant idea.
Great feeling utilising everything and making something else out of it. Well done.
Kylie
Thanks Kylie. It was nice to see and hear you on Skype. When I was little, a lady who was our neighbor made me one of these little crocheted soap bags. I just loved it. Children like putting the soap inside of it, and then using it as a washcloth. I knit linen washcloths and cotton dishcloths, too. They're nice, portable, small projects.
DeleteI too collect soap slivers. I haven't got a lot yet because I mainly use liquid castil soap.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I ordered lye to make my first batch of soap. I'm going to buy a used glass container from a thrift store to mix lye. Do you have containers just for soap making or is it ok to use the ones used for cooking?
Hi Nil, I bought a second hand bowl at the Salvation Army for my lye solution, too. I just use it for soap making. You can sterilize everything by washing your tools in boiling hot water after you finish. That's what they do in labs. Have fun making soap! I bet you'll love it...
ReplyDeleteI love your 'soap slivers in little towelling bags" idea and I might just steal it. What a great way to use up all the left over pieces - I hate throwing them away and the husband and kids won't use them as is. Perhaps this way, they will. Cheers
ReplyDeleteHi Lyndie, I hope so. I prefer the feel of a larger bar of soap, too. The liquid soap is another option. Have fun with the bags. They're a nice quick project.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of the crocheted bags to hold the soap slivers in. I haven't made liquid soap yet (my husband's skin is sensitive to any changes of laundry liquid), but I am keen to start recycling soap slivers.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. The bags are cute. I like to use them instead of gift wrap to package my soaps, too.
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