How to Make Soap on a Rope
Ditch the messy soap dish with handy, easy to use, soap on a rope. Learn how to make soap on a rope with macrame cord and a drill bit in this post. Tips for adding rope to any homemade soap are included.
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Soap on a rope is just kind of fun to use! I make it from time to time to add some variety to my regular soap inventory and people seem to enjoy it.
I make handcrafted soap with milk from my Nubian dairy goats. The bars are gentle, moisturizing, and last a long time. For my four-ingredient cold process recipe, click here. To learn more about the amazing benefits of goat milk soap, click here.
What is Soap on a Rope?
Soap on a rope is exactly what it sounds like, it is a bar of soap that has some sort of string attached to it for holding and hanging.
You can make soap on rope by boring a hole in your soap and threading the rope through it or embedding the rope in the soap batter during pouring. Both methods work, but I prefer the first option because it yields more predictable results. I will outline the equipment and process that I use below.
Why Soap on a Rope?
One of the benefits of soap on a rope is that it eliminates the need for a soap dish or soap saver bag. Soap dishes help bar soap dry out between uses, but they can get messy and slimy.
I love soap saver bags, but they do wear out over time and need to be washed. You can ditch them completely if you opt for soap on a rope.
Soap on a rope has a built-in hanger for drying and storing your soap. You can loop the rope on your shower fixture or a Command hook and it will be handy and ready the next time you need it.
Another advantage of soap on a rope is that it can be looped over your wrist when bathing. If you happen to drop the soap, it won’t fall to the floor. This is especially helpful for those with limited dexterity.
Materials Needed for Making Soap on a Rope
I use 4mm macrame cord to make my soap on a rope. This cord is 100% cotton and soft against the skin. Plus, it is strong, stays tied, and is economical to purchase. Other options are paracord and jute twine.
You will need a tape measure and scissors for measuring and cutting your rope to size. I make my cords 22 inches in length, which makes a handle that fits over a wide range of shower fixtures.
I wrap one end of the cut cord with masking tape which helps me thread it through the hole in the soap bar. Alternatively, you could use a large eye needle to accomplish this task.
A ¼ inch drill bit can be used for piercing holes in your soap by hand. No, you will not need an actual drill for this job! I have found that it is just the right size for the 4mm macrame cord.
You can make soap on a rope with any bar soap. The pictures show loofah bars that I used to make soap on a rope. For more on adding loofah to homemade soap, click here.
Video Tutorial on Making Soap on a Rope
In this video you can see how I add macrame cord to my loofah bars that were poured in individual molds measuring 3 inches across and 1 inch deep.
How to Make Soap on a Rope
It is easiest to add rope to your homemade soap if it is not fully hardened and cured. I prefer to add cords a day or two after unmolding because the soap is still relatively soft at that time.
Identify where you would like the rope to go on your soap. I recommend making your hole close to the middle of the bar because if you make it close to the edge, it will weaken the soap and the rope may break off prematurely.
Using gentle pressure at the desired location, penetrate the soap with the end of the drill bit using a twisting motion. Continue twisting the drill bit by hand until it comes out the other side of the soap bar. Then, untwist the drill bit to remove it from the soap. You should end up with a nice clean hole. Repeat this process until all bars are pierced.
Now, measure and cut your macrame cord to size. Cut enough so that each soap bar gets its own rope.
Wrap one end of each of the cords with masking tape and use that sturdy taped end to thread the cord through the hole that you made in the soap bar. Remove the masking tape and tie the ends of the macrame cord together forming a tight knot.
Let your soap cure 4-6 weeks on a drying rack with adequate airflow and enjoy!
