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, 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!
Think this can’t cause problems? Well let me tell you about my friend’s son.
For over a year her ten-year-old son suffered from severe allergy problems. He lived his life completely congested and was constantly on antibiotics for sinus infections. Finally his adenoids became infected and were removed.
The problems still continued. After suffering through 87 injections for allergy testing, the medical community ruled out nothing in the way of allergy triggers! She was also advised to track his diet for food allergies.
My friend had a better idea. She removed all of his bedding, the curtains in his room, and all of his clothing and 
washed everything in a batch of homemade olive oil laundry soap. Surprise, surprise – within a week, he started to show reduced symptoms – within two, his sinuses cleared completely. And now, it’s like he never had allergy problems!
And it’s all thanks to homemade olive oil soap! If you have a septic system, I would recommend liquid type laundry soap. And don’t forget, traditional bars too for yourself or to give as gifts 🎁.
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
If you’re looking for a simple method involving traditional bar soap, I encourage you to gather some glycerin-based “melt and pour” bricks, in addition to the olive oil, and fragrance of your choice, if you’d like to add any. Also you’ll need some molds, enough to accommodate the prepared batch.
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, not only is it great for people like my friend’s son, but 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.
It involves the use of a double boiler, another familiar culinary tool. I believe the recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of olive oil. The mixture will have a subtle greenish tint to it naturally so you probably won’t want to add dye to it. You can also add fragrances to it too, if you wish, before pouring the mixture into the molds.
Let the batch(es) cure for at least 24-48 hours ..longer if needed. 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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