We all know that bar soap is one of those must-have items to keep in our survival kits and stockpiles in order to help us maintain good hygiene during a crisis. However, there are a number of other ways that we can put bar soap to good use as well. Here are a few examples of why we can all benefit from keeping a few extra bars on hand.
Friction Reducer
Rub some soap onto wood screws or nails to make it easier to drive them through wood. This simple trick can reduce friction by at least 50% and help you to get projects done a lot faster and with a less effort. You can also coat tracks of drawers or the edges of doors to make them less-likely to stick or squeak when opening or closing them.
Sewing/Patching
Coat your needle with a little bit of soap to make it easier to penetrate fabric. Not only will your hands thank you, but you’ll reduce the chances of breaking or bending needles as well. You can also use soap to trace cut lines or seams to make it easier to cut or hem material.
Ski and Sled Coating
Coat the the runners on skis, sleds, tubes or toboggans in order to make them easier to slide atop snow. Not only will this make winter sports more enjoyable, but you can also use this trick to make pulling sleds that contain supplies or gear easier as well.
Grease Protector
If you’re going to be doing work that involves getting your hands greasy, consider washing your hands with a generous amount of soap beforehand. Work up a good lather, but don’t rinse. Instead, wipe off the excess and get to work. The coating will prevent a lot of the grease and grime from getting into your pores, and this will make cleanup afterward a lot easier.
Along similar lines, scrape your fingernails on a bar of soap to create a protective barrier that will prevent dirt from getting embedded underneath. This will eliminate the need to spend a lot of time gouging out gunk when you’re finished.
In the Garden
Add some soap shavings to a spray bottle before filling with water and giving it a good shake. Spray the soap on leaves of plants in order to create a protective barrier that can prevent many insect species from devouring your plants. You can also use soap and water to drive worms to the surface and make it easier to collect them for bait or a compost heap. Just spray a generous amount, let it soak into the soil, and wait for the worms to pop up.
Foraging Animal Repellent
You can keep numerous species of foraging animals from devastating your garden or getting into garbage cans by placing some soap in a few sacks. Position the sacks in areas where scavengers frequently travel, and there’s a good chance that they will avoid the area. While this won’t work in every situation, it can help you to gain the upper-hand when it comes to vermin control. This method is thought to work particularly well for keeping deer away from edible plants and shrubs.
Deodorizer
Bar soap is a great deodorant, and you can use it to reduce odors from dirty laundry, socks or smelly shoes. Just place a few pieces inside of footwear overnight, and chances are that much of the odor will be gone by morning. You can also put some soap in drawers to keep clean clothes smelling fresh as well.
These are just a few random examples that illustrate how you can benefit from having some extra bar soap on hand. Explore some other ways that you can put some extra soap to work for you, and feel free to share any tips that you may know about as well. Chances are that you’ll want to stock up on some extra bars once you discover how useful they really are.