During the 2020 Covid-19 crisis, many people encountered new challenges. Our world has changed very quickly, and have we all found ourselves figuring out new solution to things we weren't even aware were problems.

Our team was tasked at solving one of these problems as part of our Fixperts course at HIT (Holon institute of Technology) We have decided to address the challenge of keeping children engaged and cooperating in their daily hygiene habits.

To solve this problem, our team has come up with a home-made solution. This solution is a quick and easy craft project - A small colored bar of soap, which we hope will resonate with the children participating.

In addition, when using a strong color (as detailed in the tutorial) the soap leaves a visible color on the hands, which washes off with the soap. This color enables children to learn the recommended motions of hand washing, and clearly see which parts of the hands the soap has or hasn't reached.

This project is by Or Joffy, Darya Hadas and Daya Rozenfeld.

Happy Crafting!

Supplies

To start, gather the following materials:

1-3 white Soap bar(s) with no additives.

A sharp knife

A silicon mold

A cutting board

1 Beetroot

A cooking pot

1 Wooden stirrer

1 Small bowl

1 Large bowl

(A teaspoon is also recommended)

OTHER NOTES:
Some additive, such as chamomile may change the final soap color.

Step 1: Chop the Beetroot Into Small Chunks, and Put in the Pot.

This is to extract the color (pigment) from the beetroot.

The smaller you cut, the more color will be extracted during the next step.

OTHER NOTES:

In this tutorial, we have decided to use beetroot, though beetroot is in no way the only plant you can use! For more fun colors, you can try -

Red cabbage, Madder Root, Turmeric or experiment with your own ideas. The next steps will stay the same.

In some cases, you might want to use pre-made colors. For this, we recommend watercolor or gouache.

To use gouache or watercolor, skip to step 4, and see details in step 5.

Step 2: Cover the Beetroot With Water ,and Boil Until Very Little Water Is Left

The longer the beetroot boils, the more color sips into the water. Your aim is to reach a small amount (about 3-4 tablespoons) of a very dark, rich red-purple color extract. The time and amount of water needed depends on the beetroot, so it's a good idea to keep an eye out.

Step 3: Transfer the Remaining Red Liquid Into a Small Bowl

Then place the small bowl someplace safe, until it's needed again soon.

Step 4: Chop the Soap Bar Into Small Chunks and Place in a Big Bowl

Careful - chopping up the soap might be harder than you'd think.

Step 5: Pour the Red Beetroot Extract Into the Soap Bowl and Mix With the Chopped Soap.

When using different pigments:

For gouache, use 1/2 tablespoon of paint per 1 bar of soap.

For water-color, use 1 cake of a dry watercolor pallet per 1 bar of soap. Dissolve the water color in a little water (just enough to cover the cake) in water and proceed as usual.

Any color may be used, though darker colors are recommended.

Step 6: Microwave the Mixture for 30 Seconds and Mix.

Repeat as needed, to obtain a smooth even paste.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The soap might come out of the microwave VERY HOT. Work with care.

Step 7: Place the Soap in the Mold

Mix to obtain an even color, and use the wooden stirrer to spread the soap mixture into the mold.

Try to avoid any air bubbles or gaps in your mold, and flatten the top well.

OTHER NOTES:

In this tutorial, we have chosen to mold the soap into a round shape with a central hole. This shape was chosen to allow children to easily hold and use the soap independently even at a young age.

Since the shape of the mold does not make a significant difference to the hardening of the soap, all common mold shapes would work about as well.

Many cooking and dollar stores stock a variety of molds you or your child might like better - choose a shape you feel would work best for you.

Step 8: Place the Mold in the Freezer for at Least 30 Minutes.

Deeper or larger molds might require longer to harden all the way through, but 30 minutes is a good benchmark.

In the meanwhile, you could play cards, read a book or even clean your work area!

Step 9: Carefully Extract the Soap From the Mold.

You're done!

Enjoy!

You can now wash your hands using your very own hand made soap.

OTHER NOTES

This project is meant to help children engage and enjoy the daily tasks of keeping clean and healthy. For this, we recommend encouraging them to take an active part in the process of making the soap, and making the choices regarding mold shapes and colors used.