How to Melt Soap Bars

Rebatched soap can lather and clean as well as fresh soap.

Whether you are a hobby soapmaker who needs to rebatch or are simply interested in reusing slivers of soap for economic or environmental reasons, melting soap bars is a great way to create something new and useful from what could be considered trash. Like most homemade products, rebatched soap will vary greatly depending on the ingredients available and the artistic choices of the soapmaker. Be willing to take a chance and you will be rewarded with a batch of soap that is as unique as it is functional.

Things You'll Need

• Crock pot
• Soap molds lined with butcher's paper
• Soap scraps
• Kitchen grater
• Plastic or wooden spoon
• 3 tablespoons water
• Goat's milk or coconut milk (optional)
• Ziploc or other resealable plastic freezer bags
• Stainless steel or ceramic pot
• Scissors
• Soap scents or coloring (optional)
• Oven mitts

Instructions

Crock Pot Method

1. Grate the soap bars using a kitchen grater into a crock pot. Add 3 tablespoons of water if the soap appears dry.

2. Turn the crock pot on high. Watch for scorching. When the soap gratings are transparent, you can add colors, goat's milk or coconut milk or scents. Mix gently with a spoon.

3. Spoon the mixture into lined soap molds. Let cool, then cut and cure as usual.

Boil in Bag Method

1. Grate the soap scraps into a Ziploc bag. Add any additives (colors, scents) at this time. Add one or two tablespoons of water is the soap is very dry.

2. Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal it. Place the bag inside another Ziploc bag, squeeze and seal it.

3. Place the sealed bags into a pot of simmering water. If the soap does not begin to melt after 30 minutes, turn up the heat slightly. When the soap begins to melt, remove the bag from the water.

4. Squeeze and squish the bag to mix up the soap. Use oven mitts as the bag will be hot. Return the bag to the simmering water until it is completely melted.

5. Remove the bag from the pot and squish all the soap to one corner of the bag. Using scissors, clip off the tip and pipe it into the lined soap molds. Once cooled, cut and cure as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the color combination of your soap scraps: yellow and blue will make green, pink and green will make brown.

• Though you will not be working directly with lye, still use precautions especially when rebatching soap which might contain some pockets of lye. Do not use aluminum equipment as it reacts with lye and can burn you, and use hand and eye protection.

References

• Soap Making Essentials: Rebatching Soap; Cathy Winsby; 2010