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Do you hate all the plastic bottles that you end up with when using shower gel? Me too. And I would use more shower bars and soaps, but they tend to go soft and mushy when left in the shower tray. AND – woe betide if you drop the soap! However – there is a way of using a soap bar or solid shower gel bar in the shower without this problem. By using a pouch for your solid shampoo, shower bar or soap! This guide will show you three different ways how to make a DIY soap holder.
How To Make A DIY Soap Holder / Soap Saver Pouch
A cloth soap holder will extend the life of a shampoo, shower or soap bar. It will help the bar create more lather without all the mushy mess. It is a bit like having a ‘soap-on-a-rope’ without all the risk of the rope becoming detached (how often did that happen?!)
By having a hanger, it allows all the water to drain off between uses.
This post is going to show you 3 different ways to make one – so on with the tutorial!
Method 1 – An Upcycled Towel Wash Cloth Soap Holder
If you are like me, you end up white white towels that go grey after a while. They look so bad! But they can be so useful in up cycling. I often make unpaper kitchen towels, make up remover pads and cloth sanitary pad inners from my old greying towels, but this is another great use.
For your DIY Soap Holder You Will Need
- An old towel
- Some old ribbon – mine was from some packaging
- Cutting pad, measure or quilting ruler
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Cotton coordinating thread
- A Sewing machine
I cut some pieces of towel approx 13 inches by 6 inches (33cm by 15cm)
I hemmed the short ends – or you can overlock all the way around the pieces to neaten them. (Please note! You end up with lots of little bits, so you will need to hoover afterwards!)
Measuring from the bottom, measure a third of the way up and add a loop of ribbon at one side so that the loop points into the centre – mine was about 5 inches (12cm) long
Then fold the bottom third up and the top third down. This means that the top third and the bottom third both lie on the centre third in 3 layers – with the ribbon loop pointing to inside.
Sew through the 3 layers of towelling at both of the shorter sides (marked by the grey dots bon the picture). This can be tough – you will probably need a denim or leather needle and your machine may find it tricky.
Finally, turn the whole thing inside out and you should have a pouch of towelling which has a complete envelope fold to cover the entrance, and a hanging loop!
Pop your shampoo bar or soap in and hang it up in your shower ready for use!
Method 2 – Use A New Washcloth
BUT – What if you want to give these away? They make great gifts, and are perfect for teacher presents too!
You don’t really want to be using old towels for that. So you can replicate the method above, but use a new regular flannel or face cloth as the starting point.
Take a regular face cloth and cut it in half (most are square so which way doesn’t really matter.)
Again place the ribbon a third of the way up one side, fold up the long sides to make a three layered pouch and sew the short sides as before.
Turn it inside out and you get another wash cloth soap holder! And this time in minutes. Plus, you can often find very inexpensive flannels/ face cloths in some very funky colours.
Method 3 – Pretty Bag Wash Cloth Soap Holders
Maybe neither of the above appeal to you?
I always have a tonne of fabric scraps, and am always looking for ways to use them up. See here for my post on other ways to use up scraps.
Plus I love up cycling old clothes, and have some great cotton pieces ready to reuse.
So here is the final method of making a soap or shower bar holder, using pretty pieces of fabric rather than old towelling.
These are essentially made using the same technique I use to make a drawstring bag.
See my drawstring bag tutorial.
The pieces of fabric I cut for the soap holders are 9.5 inches by 5.5 inches (24cm by 14cm). And I added a double drawstring of ribbon.
These look so pretty in the shower!
How To Use The Shower Bar Holders
Once the shower bar holder has been used, you will need to hang it somewhere dry. This will help water drain away and for it to dry between uses, or it will start to smell. But the wonderful thing about all these soap holders is that they can be washed with your normal laundry.
And ultimately, if you have used cotton components, these DIY soap saver pouches can be cut up and composted once they start to wear out. Or cut off and discard any non-cotton ribbon before composting.
They make lovely gifts. Why not pair it with a Hessian Shower Pouf?
Think you will be making some of these in the near future? I love to save your makes. Comment below of find me on social media.
And please do pin this post for later!
I love this idea! I have a ton of fabric scraps just sitting in a drawer. This would be a great way to use them up! Pinned!
The little bags will be useful for so many things, not just as soap bags. I am going to make plenty more. Thank you for reading Michelle.
What kind of fabric do you use
I use cotton, though you can use upcycled clothes or muslin cloth if you prefer. Hope that helps.
Oh, I love these Jo. You could use them for all sorts! They would be perfect for storing sanitary products in your handbag too. #MMBC
Thank you Jayne. Yes, the small bags are so useful for all sorts of uses.
This is so great- one of those forehead slapping moments! Why didn’t we think of this before! Thank you!
How often do these need to be washed ?
Really whenever you feel that they are starting to smell. Mine hangs in my (well – ventilated) shower so pretty much dries between uses. I wash mine every couple of weeks or when I change the soap inside.