Make Homemade Olive Oil Soap and Save Money (As Well as Sanity)
Olive oil is an awesome ingredient to have in the kitchen…but did you know it is a winning ingredient in homemade soap as well? I will share with you how to make it, and some surprising benefits as well!
So, if you’ve learned the timeless art of making amazing homemade bar soap…obviously you’re overcome with accomplishment, and have it prominently displayed in every bathroom. But why stop there?
Every little scrap of soap you’ve made, from the imperfect bar that you’re not sure what to do with, to the irregular pieces and shavings left over, could be turned into a valuable cleaning product made with olive oil.
If you didn’t have to buy laundry soap each year, you could save a lot of moolah too! Beyond the financial savings you could reap, there are some real health benefits too!
Surprising Benefits of Olive Oil Soap
Store bought laundry soap is petroleum-based…it also includes dyes ad perfumes in its makeup. If you’re allergy-prone, it’s something to consider.
When you lay your head down to sleep at night, your nose is pressed up against pillows, pillowcases, and sheets all washed in this chemical soup – ick!
As it turns out, it may not be dust and dander that has been giving you problems lately…surprise, surprise.
Related Post: What Are the Benefits of Handmade Soap?
Homemade olive oil soap might just be your answer. It’s certainly worth a try – it is great for laundering as it is for facial and skin cleansing.
Left image Courtesy of Soap Queen
Materials Needed
The following recipe can be made in a couple of hours, all from the scraps of your soap making ventures. This method employs the “rebatch” approach – a great way to bring new life into the old!
To get started, you’ll need 16 oz. of homemade soap grated or cut into small chunks (Any kind will do.), 48 oz. water, 16 oz. white vinegar, and 6 tsp of pure olive oil.
Kirkland Signature Kirkland Pure Olive Oil, 2 Count
Saponify Soap Base Variety Pack – Eight 1-LB Bricks Melt & Pour BaseSilicone soap molds kit Flexible Rectangular Loaf Pan and Scraper
Did You Know? In the old days, people made “castile soap” using pure olive oil, lye and water. It got that name due to the province in Spain known as Castile, where the first batches were developed.
Making the Soap – Rebatch Method
Combine all ingredients into a large pot and simmer on stovetop at very low heat for 2 – 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Continue to heat until the soap chunks are completely dissolved. Your liquid soap will be quite thick, but it will thin a bit once it has completely cooled.
Allow your soap to cool, and afterward pour it into a jug or old laundry soap container that has been thoroughly rinsed.
Basic use: Add 1 cup of laundry soap to the water in your washing machine before putting in the clothes.
I think you will really enjoy olive oil soap, you will be amazed at how well it cleans too! You won’t have to deal with with oily spots on clothes, and seldom have to bother with pre-treating a stain.
Making Olive Oil Soap Without Lye
You may not want to stop with cleansing soap – consider making some traditional bars too! Olive soap is amazing for dry skin and provides good moisturizing properties. I love to cook with it as olive is one of the best and the healthiest oils out there!
As a matter of fact under some advice I got somewhere, I rubbed a little of it into my cat’s fur to condition it – but I digress 🐱
This method which I think is excellent if you’d like to carry out the enjoyment of soap into your own personal bars – has a tutorial and all the details in this article right here.
(In this post I’ll paraphrase it a little.)
Melt your ingredients using a double boiler. (Don’t stir it as that can cause air bubbles) Add some water to the bottom of the double boiler.
Take the melted mixture off the stove and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil. If you want your soap to be scented you can add a few drops of essential oils. The mixture will have a subtle greenish tint to it naturally so you probably won’t want to add dye to it. Start stirring.
Pour the mixture into your chosen molds and let them set. Let the batch(es) cure for at least 24-48 hours ..longer if needed.
Handmade olive oil soap makes a terrific gift, so if you get the hang of it, you may want to consider giving some of your bars to friends or family to test them out. Olive oil creates a good rich lather in soap. Your skin will thank you!
Let me know how it goes for you… Enjoy your new batch of handmade olive oil soap!
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