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How to Make a Soap Holder out of a Bag of Onions

How to Make a Soap Holder out of a Bag of Onions
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Find out how to turn a bag of onions into an environmentally friendly soap holder net.

Greetings all. This is my first i'ble, so please bear with me through my first attempt. Also, any suggestions for improvement would be appreciated.

This is not a very original project - the idea is actually pretty widespread in Japan. They sell these nylon mesh holders for bar soaps that usually are attached to a draw string. These are commonly found in public bathrooms in municipal parks and schools, where they are tied to sinks in an effort to keep bars of soap from getting dropped on the ground and lost, or to keep absent-minded citizens from walking off with them.

You may have seen something similar to this already, however, I did a search and couldn't find an instructable that outlines how to make one of these simple household devices so I decided it would be worthwhile to add the idea to the community. Also, the approach of repurposing packaging to another function is something that I think makes this project just a little bit unique.


So what are the benefits of making one of these little guys?
Advantages:
+Lower cost of bar soap as compared to liquid soap
+Reduction of plastic that would be diverted to landfill from packaging, dispensers, refills, onion bags, etc.
+Soap dries while hanging, resulting in a longer functional life per bar (i.e. No soggy soapy goop at the bottom of a soap dish to deal with! Less bacteria and mold growing in the dish leads to more hygienic soap)
+Those little tabs and chips of old soap bars that you've been avoiding throwing out now have a home, and can finally exercise their full potential
+Provides friction for gripping the soap bar, thus avoiding embarrassing memories of gym class
+Exfoliates the skin rather nicely and generates a nice lather
+Effectively free and indefinitely reusable (comes with onions!)
+Easy construction


Disadvantages:
- Depending on your particular aesthetic style, could be relatively unattractive

 
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Step 1Gather Materials & Tools

Gather Materials & Tools
All items needed for this project can be found around the house. What you will need:

1) Bag of Onions
The town I currently am staying in has an onion producing industry, so naturally I opted for onions. Basically you want any type of PP or nylon vegetable bag large enough to hold a bar of soap. You can often find them in different colors: red or orange for onions, green for avocado, white for garlic, etc, etc.

Alternatively, you could use a pair of nylon hose, but then you'd lose the quick drying benefit of the PP mesh bag.

2) Bar of Soap
Any type of bar soap will work just fine. (Yes, even Bacon Soap...)

3) Scissors (not pictured)
In case you need to cut open the bag.

4) Bic Lighter (optional)

5) Nylon cord (optional)
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12 comments
Aug 9, 2011. 2:38 PMcombatbootboy says:
Good idea... I do that with my left over soap pieces, I put them in a mesh bag. I don't find it scratchy one bit, in fact it makes the soap quite lathered! :)
Oct 14, 2009. 1:21 PMDantheman1993 says:
Good way to reuse the soap, but looks kinda painful and scratchy (fromexperience of handling these types of bags).
It would be even worse for me having eczema as the plastic would pulloff my scabs... not good.
Nov 11, 2009. 2:55 AMbluestockings says:
You could always find something gentler on the skin. For most people, I suppose women, more than men, getting rid of dead skin cells is a good thing. It makes your skin have a smooth. polished, younger look.
Very good idea. Get it really wet and soapy first. The do it GENTLY, and then soon you will not have to even use body lotion, unless you want to. I know this from experience.  Lets see how it works out. Give  some ideas on different bags. Just don't use it on you face and some other areas on the body.  Bluestockings

Nov 11, 2009. 2:35 AMbluestockings says:
Well, now how nifty! As we try to become greener and greener, that looks like a perfect idea. This is really good for shower or bath.

 Thank you I will try it very soon. Bluestockings
Nov 11, 2009. 2:38 AMbluestockings says:
And one other thing. Good for kids craft too. My grandson will love it. Keep the ideas coming. Love it! Bluestockings
Nov 3, 2009. 9:01 PMnave says:
wouldn't it kinda scratch?
Oct 19, 2009. 1:58 PMJeremy B says:
 "Eat Onions, procure bag" I don't know why this line makes me giggle so. 
Oct 18, 2009. 10:52 AMbrentonl says:
I use those when i go camping, but i usually used a sock.
Oct 16, 2009. 2:19 PMdombeef says:
Very ingenious.

They should start making onion bags with
some of the fancy nylon netting.

For our sake.
Oct 15, 2009. 8:33 AMhishealer says:
Next time I shop for produce, I'll look for a good textured netbag.  Not too rough!  Good idea, I think this may be whatthose fancy poufs are made of anyway...
Oct 15, 2009. 11:30 AMcokebottle tuque says:
Yeah same stuff, the poufs are made of one long segment of it that canbe unwound and used to hang shampoo bottles in the shower.

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