Confession: I look forward to getting dirty just to get clean again since I started using high‑quality, handcrafted bar soaps. They’ve transformed showering from something mundane to something sublime. There’s nothing like lifting a big Osmia bar off its soap-saver throne, lathering it between your hands, and watching the dirt slide away. Plus, the lingering scent of lavender, vetiver, or lemongrass turns your bathroom into a mini-spa.
But beyond cleansing, soap has many unexpected uses. Here are some of my favorite smart soap hacks:
1) Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Dermatologists recommend washing your makeup brushes once a week to avoid build-up and breakouts. Don’t think they’re dirty? Check out Refinery29’s results after sending their editors' makeup brushes to a lab. Ready to wash your makeup brushes now???
To clean your brushes, wet a brush with lukewarm water, grab a bar of our Oh So Soap or Oh So Detox Soap, and gently rub the brush over the bar until it’s nice and soapy. Then, wash the bristles against the palm of your hand, and rinse completely. Continue this process until the water runs completely clear. Shake the brush to remove excess water, and place on a clean washcloth to dry overnight. Repeat weekly.
2) Use Soap To Freshen Your Drawers
Keep your socks and undies smelling sweet with the help of our natural bar soap. Place a bar in your closet, your sock drawer, or your underwear drawer and get a refreshing whiff of essential oils every time you enter your closet or open a drawer. We recommend our Citrus Pearl, Lavender Pine, and Vetiver Grey for their long-lasting, beautiful scents.
3) Use Bar Soap As A Shampoo Bar
Get your locks sudsy with a bar of soap. Use the bar directly on your wet hair to create a creamy lather, then rinse completely. We absolutely love our Naked Body Soap for a shampoo bar. Follow with your favorite conditioner!
4) Use Bar Soap As Shaving Cream
Who needs shaving cream (and yet another bulky, probably non-recyclable container) to get a close shave? We know old habits die hard, but this is a no-brainer.
Try lathering your legs with our Oh So Body Soap and shave away—the low lather and extra olive oil give it a lovely slip under your razor. For super silky legs, scrub with our Himalayan Body Buff first, rinse clean, shave with one of our soaps, and finish up with your favorite Osmia body mousse.
5) Use Bar Soap To Wash Your Underwear
I recently had to employ this trick when I picked up Influenza A while traveling, and had to spend an extra five days locked in a hotel room with way too few pairs of underwear. I had a bar of our gentle Oh So Body Soap with me, and it did the trick perfectly. As for your fancy undies, no need for expensive lingerie washes—a quick wash with a natural bar soap works like a charm. 5) Use Soap To Wash Your Underwear
6) Use Bar Soap For Restless Leg Syndrome???
The jury (at least the scientific one) is still out on this one, but there’s anecdotal evidence to suggest that some people with Restless Leg Syndrome experience some relief from symptoms when they sleep with a bar of soap under the bottom sheet. Sound bananas? Check out these search results! It's not the New England Journal, but some people are true believers!
7) Use Bar Soap To Unstick A Zipper
Jacket season is right around the corner, and there’s nothing more annoying than being stuck in your coat, thanks to a stubborn zipper. Grab a dry bar of any Osmia soap, rub it on the jammed zipper teeth, continue to work the zipper gently, and take a whiff of freedom when your zipper is back on track.
With love and smart soap tricks,
