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5 from 1 vote

How to Rebatch Soap

Making rebatch soap is a fun way to prevent waste in soapmaking. Whether you have a batch of soap you are unhappy with or it’s time to use up those soap scraps, rebatching will allow you to reuse any unwanted soap.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
drying time1 day
Total Time1 day 40 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Author: Laura Ascher

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 30 oz Grated soap scraps from old bars or messed up new bars
  • 6 oz Distilled water
  • Optional: Fragrance oils or essential oils for scent
  • Optional: Colorants such as micas, clays, oxides, etc. for a new look
  • Optional: Other additives like honey, oatmeal, etc. for additional properties

Instructions

  • Shred any larger pieces of soap with a box grater.
  • Add the shredded soap and small soap scraps to a double boiler, or crock pot, leaving room at the top to stir.
  • Next, add distilled water and heat on medium-low, stirring often, until the soap is melted. Note: It's going to be thick and gloopy, not smooth like typical melt and pour soap.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the fragrance if you are using it, along with any other add-ins.
  • Quickly scoop/pour the soap into your soap mold. It will probably be more of a scooping action than a pour because of how thick the mixture is.
  • Tap the mold to release air bubbles.
  • Let the soap cool completely, for about 24 hours. If the mold pulls away from the soap easily, it's ready. Otherwise, wait another day.
  • Cut the finished soap into bars. You can use them immediately, but I do suggest letting them cure for 2 weeks for a firmer bar. Then, enjoy!

Notes

  • You can adjust the recipe based on how much soap you have to use up. As a general rule of thumb, use 2 ounces of water for every 10 ounces of soap. 
  • If you suspect your unwanted soap is lye-light or lye-heavy, it is best to consult a soap-making resource for guidance on adjusting the recipe.
  • More water will help the soap melt more smoothly, but the final soap will take longer to dry. 
  • As the soap melts, you can help it along by spritzing it with more water.
  • Only rebatch homemade cold-process or hot-process soap. Commercial soaps may have added ingredients that can interfere with the rebatching and react to the heat.