Six Unique Ways You Can Use Your Handmade Bar Soap
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That beautifully scented bar of handmade soap sitting in your shower doesn’t just have to live by the faucet. Artisan and handmade soaps are packed with natural essential oils, plant-based butters, and rich aromas that can do wonders far outside the bathroom.
If you are looking to get more mileage out of a favorite bar—or find a clever use for those leftover slivers—here are some of the most surprising, non-traditional ways to put a bar of soap to work.
1. Natural Closet and Drawer Freshener
Skip the chemical-laden plastic air fresheners and let your linen closet do the heavy lifting naturally.
How to do it: Unwrap your favorite scented bar, place it inside a small breathable pouch (like a cotton sock, muslin bag, or a scrap of linen), and tie it with a ribbon.
Where to put it: Toss it into your sock drawer, suitcase, gym bag, or winter coat storage.
Bonus tip: Lavender or eucalyptus bars act as a gentle, pleasant-smelling deterrent against moths and musty storage smells.
2. The Ultimate Anti-Squeak and Slide Lubricant
If you have a door hinge that screams every time you open it or a sticky desk drawer, dry soap is an old-school carpenter's best friend.
How to do it: Take a completely dry bar of soap and rub it directly along the edges of wooden drawers, sliding window tracks, or squeaky floorboards.
For stuck zippers: Glide the dry soap right over the metal or plastic teeth of a stubborn jacket or bag zipper for instant, smooth sailing.
3. DIY Garden and Plant Protector
Critters like deer and rabbits can be tough on a flowerbed, and you don’t always want to rely on harsh synthetic sprays.
How to do it: Cut or grate a strong-smelling bar of soap (peppermint, eucalyptus, or classic herbal scents work best) and place the shavings into small mesh produce bags.
Where to put it: Hang the bags around your garden perimeter or tie them to low tree branches to act as a mild natural deterrent.
4. Master Your DIY and Woodworking Projects
Hanging a picture frame or assembling flat-pack furniture can leave you with minor headaches—literally and figuratively.
Pre-waxing screws: Rub the threads of a screw or nail into a bar of soap before driving it into hard wood. It slides in much easier and prevents the wood from splitting or stripping the screw head.
Quick cutting guides: Use the corner of a light-colored bar of soap as a temporary "tailor's chalk" or pencil mark on fabric or wood—it wipes or washes away cleanly later.
5. Prevent Foggy Bathroom Mirrors
There is nothing more annoying than stepping out of a hot shower only to find a completely fogged-up mirror when you need to shave or do your hair.
How to do it: Take a dry bar of soap and lightly rub a thin layer over the surface of the glass.
How to finish: Buff the glass completely clear with a dry microfiber cloth before you turn the shower on. The invisible soap residue stops condensation from clinging to the glass.
6. The Garden-Keeper’s Fingernail Trick
Love spending time in the soil, but hate scrubbing dark dirt out from under your fingernails afterward?
How to do it: Before you head out to plant or weed, literally scratch a dry bar of soap with your fingertips until the soap packs tightly underneath your nails.
Why it works: The soap acts as a physical barrier. When you're done gardening, just wash your hands normally and the packed soap—and the dirt with it—rinses right out.
There are so many ways you can use our handmade, cold-process soaps. Comment below this blog if you use bar soap in other ways not mentioned here!