Maybe it’s my upbringing by parents who lived through the Depression, but I was taught never to waste anything. Because I did not live through the Depression, however, I often do waste things. I just feel a lot of guilt over it.

My great grandparents and grandparents were thrifty out of necessity. Some of their inventive practices amazed me. Nothing got thrown out unless there was absolutely no use in it. Little melted bits of soap bar got pressed onto a new bar or slipped into the toe end of a nylon knee-hi stocking. The latter creation made a perfect soap puff for the bath.

More crafty ladies sewed simple soap scrap sacks using face cloths or even netting fabric, giving each sack a different texture. A coarser fabric makes a good exfoliating puff. These simple sewn sacks are made from a rectangular piece of fabric. The ends are overlapped so no zippers, snaps, buttons or ties are needed.

Simplest Soap Scrap Sack

soap bar scraps
one nylon stocking (any size or color)*

Tuck the soap scraps into the sock or stocking. If using a thin nylon stocking, simply tie a knot and cut off the excess.

*Use a baby sized sock to make a gentle bath puff for toddlers. Just tuck in the soap, twist and pull the ends over the toe end.

Easy Sew Soap Scrap Sack

soap bar scraps
washable fabric with loose weave like a mesh or netting *or* a terry cloth or old wash cloth

Cut a piece of fabric about 5 inches by 3 inches. Fold one of the shorter edges over about 3 inches. Fold the other shorter edge over this until it reaches 2 inches past the top layer of fabric. Sew along the long edges. Pull open the short flaps and turn inside out. Tuck in soap scraps.