Laundry

Seven unusual uses for a bar of soap

From repelling pests to wallpaper removal
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Not just for keeping clean, a bar of soap has more uses than we thought.

From sewing to keeping your clothes smelling fresh, here are some unusual uses for soap that don’t involve washing your hands.

Loosen a zipper

If your zipper is giving you trouble, rub a bar of soap along the teeth to loosen it up. 

Keep fingernails clean

There’s nothing worse than the feeling of dirt under your fingernails. Before you get your hands dirty, rub your nails into a bar of soap to stop dirt piling up under your nails. 

Sewing a hem

While chalk is often used to mark a hemline, a bar of soap will not only have the same effect – it will wash off more easily. 

DIY pincushion

Wrap a bar of soap with fabric and use as a pincushion.

Remove shoe odour

Place a bar of soap in stinky shoes overnight to remove bad smells. 

Pest repellent for plants

Mix shavings from a bar of soap in a spray bottle and spray on the underside of plant leaves. 

Wallpaper removal

Removing wallpaper can be tricky. Make up a solution of soap and water to spray on the wall before removing.

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