How to Make Soap on a Rope + a Mint-Grapefruit Soap Recipe

I never really had soap on a rope growing up. I always wanted it, especially at summer camp when other kids got it in their care packages, but it was a splurge my parents would never go for. Like most other novelties, they said there wasn’t really a purpose. But it turns out they were wrong—there is one! (And yes, I’ve been waiting years to say that.)

Not only is soap on a rope fun, but hanging the soap up and away from water helps keep it clean and dry (as opposed to a mushy, germ-ridden mess). Plus, a dry bar of soap actually lasts much, much longer than soft, water-logged soap so it will save you money in the long run.

Fewer germs and more money in my pocket? Yes and yes!

Mint Grapefruit Soap on a Rope

This soap is amazing because it’s made with super nourishing goat milk and chock full of good-for-you herbs and oils. Plus, it smells delicious thanks to grapefruit and mint essentials oils, and it’s loaded with skin-soothing chamomile to help calm inflamed skin and encourage cell regeneration.

Sprinkle a few dried flowers on top to give it a pretty feel and help exfoliate dry skin. Then hang it in your shower and step back to admire your new and improved (i.e., non-germy) bar of soap.

If making soap from scratch isn’t really your idea of a good time, go ahead and opt for a melt-and-pour soap base. While I have always wanted to dive headfirst into the DIY world of soap, I usually opt for a pre-mixed soap base like this goat’s milk soap to save time. Simply melt it in the microwave, then pour it into some disposable molds (I use plastic yogurt cups that I can simply peel off and throw away).

Dip your rope into the soap and prop it up by draping it over a ruler or popsicle stick laid across the top of your mold. Once the soap hardens (I let mine sit overnight just to be safe), your rope will be firmly affixed in the soap and you won’t have to worry about it coming out.

It seriously couldn’t be easier.

Print

4 from 1 vote

Grapefruit-Mint Soap on a Rope

Recycle your used yogurt cups to make your own soap-on-a-rope. So easy!

Prep Time15 mins

Cooling time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 15 mins

Course: Bath and Body Soap

Cuisine: DIY

Keyword: chamomile, essential oils, soap

Yield: 3 soaps

Author: Stephanie Pollard

Cost: $15

Equipment

• Plastic yogurt containers
• Rope
• Several popsicle sticks

Materials

• Melt and pour soap base I used this goat's milk base
• Grapefruit peppermint and chamomile essential oils
• Dried chamomile flowers

Instructions

• Cut your soap base into small chunks and place in a microwave-safe container (for easy clean up I chose a plastic food container I could simply throw away when I was done). A little soap base goes a long way, so I started with about 1 pound of soap and added more if needed to fill my yogurt cups. Microwave the soap in 30 second intervals until it is completely melted.
  
• While your soap is melting, cut your rope into 8-inch segments. Pick up one of your segments and tie the loose ends together with a small knot. Do this for the remaining segments as well.
• Once your soap has melted, add 10 - 20 drops of each of the essential oils and stir with a plastic spoon or popsicle stick.
• Pour the melted soap into the yogurt cups until they're about 3/4 of the way full. Take one of your pieces of rope and place it knotted-end first into the soap. To keep the rope in place, simply place a popsicle stick across the top of the yogurt cup and drape the rope over it. 
  
• Sprinkle the top of the soap with dried flowers and set aside to harden (at least several hours or preferably overnight).
  

Notes

After using your soap, put it somewhere it can dry when not in use, otherwise the rope may mildew.