Soap certainly isn’t what it used to be. Just a few decades ago the big decision was whether to go scented or not when you bought your bars, but now there’s a soap for anything and everything.
From body washes to liquid detergents, it’s hard to know what soap is meant for what. News to you or not, the tried and true bar of soap is just as effective, and much more environmentally friendly than any alternative you might find.
If you’re not yet convinced that solid cleansing is the way to go, though, consider everything else you can do with that miracle bar. Who knows, you might be so impressed you’ll start buying in bulk.
1. Freshen Your Luggage
Pack a bar of your favorite scented soap when you store luggage. It will deodorize the insides of your bags and keep them smelling fresh.
2. Remove Wallpaper Glue
Rid yourself of unwanted wallpaper glue by making a solution of soap and warm water and sponging said solution on your goop-covered walls.
3. Keep Garden Pests Away
You can keep garden bugs from eating away at your plant leaves by mixing soap with water and spraying the solution on the underside of each leaf.
4. Remove a Broken Light Bulb
Broken bulbs in your light fixture can be dangerous to remove, especially if they are CFLs. To make the task a little easier, use a bar of soap.
First, turn off the power. Then, slowly insert the corner of a dry bar of soap into the socket. Turn the bar a couple of time and the base will unscrew, leaving you unscathed.
5. Detect Gas Leaks
Find gas leaks by creating a soap and water solution and rubbing it on susceptible pipe joints. Bubbles forming indicates a leak.
6. Loosen Stuck Zippers
Faulty zipper? Run a bar of soap along the zipper's teeth and give that zipper a go. Natural oils in soap will lubricate the piece and get things moving.
7. Un-Stick Old Furniture Drawers
If your cabinet, kitchen or dresser drawers are sticking, use a bar of soap to lubricate the bottom of the drawer and drawer supports.
8. Deodorize Your Car
If you’re looking for a cheap, green way to deodorize and freshen your car, hang soap from your rear-view mirror. If you prefer, you can wrap it in mesh or cheesecloth first.
9. Mark Fabrics
Use a thin sliver of soap to mark your fabrics for sewing. Not only can you skip out on buying special marking chalk, your DIY marks will wash right out.
10. Keep Camping Pots Looking New
If you’re going to be using pots and pans over an open flame, a bar of soap can save you from sulking over ruined kitchenware. Rub the bottom of your cast-iron pot with a bar of soap before cooking with it over an open flame to keep the bottom from turning black.