1. Loosen Stuck Zippers: Rubbing a bar of soap along the teeth of a stuck zipper can help lubricate it and make it easier to move.
2. Prevent Foggy Mirrors: Rubbing a thin layer of soap on bathroom mirrors and glass surfaces and then wiping it off can help prevent fogging after hot showers.
3. Ease Lawn Mower Blades: Coating the blades of your lawn mower with soap before mowing can help prevent grass from sticking to the blades, making cleanup easier.
4. DIY Liquid Hand Soap: Grate or shave a bar of soap and mix it with water to create your own liquid hand soap. This can save money and reduce packaging waste.
5. Bug Repellent for Garden Plants: Dissolve soap in water and use it as a natural bug repellent spray for plants. The soap helps deter pests without harming the plants.
6. Mark Sewing Lines: Rubbing a bar of soap on fabric before sewing can create temporary markings that are easy to wash off when you’re done sewing.
7. Remove Stubborn Rings: Gently rub a damp bar of soap over a tight or stuck ring to help it slide off more easily.
8. Lubricate Nails and Screws: Inserting nails or screws into a bar of soap before hammering or screwing them can make insertion smoother and reduce splintering.
9. Prevent Foggy Goggles and Glasses: Coating the lenses of swim goggles, safety glasses, or eyeglasses with a thin layer of soap and wiping it off can help prevent fogging.
10. Create Scented Sachets: Place small pieces of scented soap in fabric pouches to create homemade scented sachets for drawers or closets.
11. Silence Squeaky Floors: Rubbing soap along the edges of floorboards can help reduce friction and quiet squeaky floors.
12. Make a Soap “Eraser”: A dry bar of soap can be used as a mild eraser for removing pencil marks from paper.
13. Remove Sticky Residue: Rubbing soap on sticky surfaces, like labels or stickers, and then scrubbing with water can help remove residue.
14. Seal Envelopes: Dampen the flap of an envelope with a bit of soap and water to create a temporary seal.
15. Keep Tools Rust-Free: Coating metal tools with a layer of soap can help prevent rust during storage.
Remember to always test a small, inconspicuous area before using soap for any unconventional purpose to ensure it won’t damage surfaces or materials. Soap’s cleaning and lubricating properties make it surprisingly useful in a variety of situations around the home.
