Using leftover slivers of bar soap

[Phroig]

I used to be able to easily attach old slivers to new bars, but this is getting to be impossible. I almost wonder if soap manufacturers have changed their formulations to prevent customers from being able to do this to increase soap sales. I realize that spending an inordinate amount of time trying to get the sliver to stick isn't worth my while, but I get a great deal of satisfaction when I can do it successfully.
Do you do this, and if so, do you have any special tricks or techniques?

 

[aja8888]

I used to be able to easily attach old slivers to new bars, but this is getting to be impossible. I almost wonder if soap manufacturers have changed their formulations to prevent customers from being able to do this to increase soap sales. I realize that spending an inordinate amount of time trying to get the sliver to stick isn't worth my while, but I get a great deal of satisfaction when I can do it successfully.
Do you do this, and if so, do you have any special tricks or techniques?

I don't do this. It's not my style.

I'm waiting for Gumby to chime in with his soap making hobby!

 

[Retire52]

I didn't know reattaching soap was a thing until now. I will give it a go since I've got one bar of soap that is getting too small to use.

Figure a warm, moist bar would stick better.

 

[pacergal]

I use a small sisal or bamboo soap bag holder, when the bar gets small enough, add a new bar to the bag. They are relatively inexpensive on Amazon, and can be replaced frequently.

 

[CaptTom]

Liquid soap in a pump bottle. Problem solved.

 

[Sunset]

I think there are little bags to put the soap slivers into, but the cost of those bags unless very durable probably outweighs the soap savings.

 

[Jerry1]

I use liquid now but I did the stick the sliver on the new bar method when I did use bar soap. Strange that it wouldn’t still work. I assume you press it on the new bar and then let it dry?

 

[JoeWras]

Sliver re-attachment still works on Dial brand, even after Henkel messed with the shape, added concave areas, and increased the depth of the brand print.

What I do is this. When I open the new bar, I use it for most of the shower. This softens it up. Then I use the sliver for just the last 10% of the shower, slam it down into the new bar, and leave it for next day. Works most of the time.

So I'm not the only one who does this? Glad to hear. Meanwhile Gumby is out boiling some fat and adding lye or something, making us all feel like we're filthy rich.

 

[aja8888]

Sliver re-attachment still works on Dial brand, even after Henkel messed with the shape, added concave areas, and increased the depth of the brand print.

What I do is this. When I open the new bar, I use it for most of the shower. This softens it up. Then I use the sliver for just the last 10% of the shower, slam it down into the new bar, and leave it for next day. Works most of the time.

So I'm not the only one who does this? Glad to hear. Meanwhile Gumby is out boiling some fat and adding lye or something, making us all feel like we're filthy rich.

Maybe Gumby is out pulling weeds from his garden...oh wait...it's winter in Connecticut!

 

[38Chevy454]

Sliver re-attachment still works on Dial brand, even after Henkel messed with the shape, added concave areas, and increased the depth of the brand print.

What I do is this. When I open the new bar, I use it for most of the shower. This softens it up. Then I use the sliver for just the last 10% of the shower, slam it down into the new bar, and leave it for next day. Works most of the time.

So I'm not the only one who does this? Glad to hear. Meanwhile Gumby is out boiling some fat and adding lye or something, making us all feel like we're filthy rich.

The key as suggested by Joe is that both need to be softened up a bit. This similar process works for me. I also put the glued soap bar so weight of the new bar helps the small piece to adhere over the next day.

 

[braumeister]

You need to apply some pressure to the softened soap sliver to get it to stick to the new bar (which also must be softened). Wrap them together with half a dryer sheet, knotted tightly. Place the wrapped assembly in the glove compartment of your Edsel (you still have it, don't you?) and allow it to dry overnight. In the morning, unwrap it (don't forget to save the half dryer sheet for other uses) and you should be ready to go.

 

[Koolau]

Hmmm. We use either Irish Spring or Dove. So far, no serious problem getting them to stick together. (I have no loyalty to these brands - it's just that Costco features them on sale from time to time.)

 

[MissMolly]

Maybe we should replace the dryer sheet status with soap reattachment status and quell some of the recent complaints

 

[Koolau]

Maybe we should replace the dryer sheet status with soap reattachment status and quell some of the recent complaints

Sorry, but there are some traditions you just don't mess with!!

 

[Gallaher]

NO!
I’m not that broke

 

[Koolau]

NO!
I’m not that broke

To me it's not even an issue of money. I just hate to waste perfectly good resources. Call it a "hang-up" and I won't even bat an eye. I'm not a radical environmentalist but, personally, I can't pitch things that are still serviceable. Turning something usable into landfill just seems sorta "wrong" though I would not criticize anyone else's choice on the matter.

 

[jimbee]

I attach old slivers to new bars. I try to reduce waste.

 

[Gallaher]

Still! You can’t convince me to recycle soap slivers.
I’ll eat cat food first. Especially if it’s Friskies brand.

 

[jcfradio]

I used to be able to easily attach old slivers to new bars, but this is getting to be impossible. I almost wonder if soap manufacturers have changed their formulations to prevent customers from being able to do this to increase soap sales. I realize that spending an inordinate amount of time trying to get the sliver to stick isn't worth my while, but I get a great deal of satisfaction when I can do it successfully.
Do you do this, and if so, do you have any special tricks or techniques?

My wife got one of these little bags , probably 20 years ago by now. We just add the slivers to the inner bag and then get it wet and use it as a scrubby in the shower. I am doubly cheap/frugal as I am still using old hotel soap bars from my days of w%*k travel.

 

[Dtail]

Maybe we should replace the dryer sheet status with soap reattachment status and quell some of the recent complaints

OMG just about to write some version of this statement. Kudos...

 

[Koolau]

My wife got one of these little bags , probably 20 years ago by now. We just add the slivers to the inner bag and then get it wet and use it as a scrubby in the shower. I am doubly cheap/frugal as I am still using old hotel soap bars from my days of w%*k travel.

We always donated those hotel soap bars, shampoo bottles, razors, tooth brush/tooth paste to the Women's shelter. They were really appreciated as there was a significant turn-over of clientele and providing fresh products to ladies in stress was expensive for these wonderful organizations.

 

[Purslane]

I collect them in an old sock with no mate. They eventually fuse together.
I hate waste.

 

[Sunset]

We always donated those hotel soap bars, shampoo bottles, razors, tooth brush/tooth paste to the Women's shelter. They were really appreciated as there was a significant turn-over of clientele and providing fresh products to ladies in stress was expensive for these wonderful organizations.

I don't think they want the used ones.

My wife got one of these little bags , probably 20 years ago by now. We just add the slivers to the inner bag and then get it wet and use it as a scrubby in the shower. I am doubly cheap/frugal as I am still using old hotel soap bars from my days of w%*k travel.

View attachment 53676

That's what I was thinking of... a really durable one. A self soaping scrubber

 

[jcfradio]

We always donated those hotel soap bars, shampoo bottles, razors, tooth brush/tooth paste to the Women's shelter. They were really appreciated as there was a significant turn-over of clientele and providing fresh products to ladies in stress was expensive for these wonderful organizations.

We donated a bunch to the shelters as well, but I still ended up with more leftovers. The current trend of using refillable bottles in hotel showers has reduced our inventory though...LOL!

 

[audreyh1]

We put the dry slivers into a small plastic bag and take it with us when traveling. Thus we don’t have to open the packaged soaps in the hotel rooms, just use a sliver. Easily fits is outside suitcase pocket for easy access.

Been doing this for years.