This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Asa Conroy. Find them on Instagram at @asakayconroy. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
If you or someone you know is looking for a cute and crafty addition to their skincare routine, felted soap might be the perfectly sustainable idea. Recently, my aunt went to Iceland and brought back a few bars as souvenirs. They were made right there in the shop wrapped in the wool from sheep just outside the window, and they were adorable (both the sheep and the bars). It sparked my curiosity and now I’m seeing felted soap everywhere. It’s hand-made, Eco-friendly, and long-lasting!
So, What is Felted Soap?
Luckily, felted soap is appropriately named. It is a solid bar of soap that has been covered in raw alpaca or sheep wool. Alpaca and sheep wool are known for being antimicrobial and antibacterial while being gentle on skin, but tough on grime. The natural coating of fatty acids along the fiber inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, or bacteria, which makes it a good replacement for loofahs or washcloths who do not share the same properties. Wool also holds and maintains fresh scents for longer, aside from everyone appreciating a nice scent, this helps some added scents in the soap to stick around.
Felted soap has an easy-to-follow recipe for anyone looking to do it themselves. Start by collecting raw wool, soap, and hot water. Then by agitating the wool, which means to dip the wool-wrapped bar into hot water, you can get a nice, tight casing around the bar of soap. This full process takes roughly 15-20 minutes. Afterward, you simply let it dry for a few days and then you’re done. So instead of having a mushy pile of soap after a few showers, you’ll have a functional and decorative addition to your bathroom!
Many crafters also like to needlepoint cute designs with additional wool for a cozier effect. You could have simple swirls and stripes or get a little more detailed with pictures of plants, animals, or landscapes. It’s an easy DIY for skincare lovers or a nice gift you can get from farms, gift shops or online Etsy shops like this one or this one.
Why Would You Felt Soap?
As tempting as having swirly sheep bars in your shower may already be, felted soap bars are more than just a pretty face. There are four main benefits of felted soap bars users swear by:
- Longevity: The protective casing of the wool keeps your soap alive for much longer, depending on how frequently you use a felted soap bar, it can last you up to a year. While naked bars wear down with every soapy lather and will leave you with a mushy pile that’s hard to apply, a felted bar will keep you clean for much longer.
- Ergonomic: Naked soap gets slippery, but many felted soap users have found the wool allows their hands to have a better grip. No matter how soapy or wet the bars get, you can always have a firm grasp. Some even find that because the wool casing usually maintains its shape as the soap decreases, it helps prevent awkward hand positions that could be uncomfortable or even painful. Not to mention, you’ll never have to worry about dropping it.
- Lather and Exfoliation: Wool often has a slightly rough feel to it. Felted wool offers a gentle exfoliation that will leave you feeling squeaky clean. It can help scrape away dead skin cells and unwanted dirt and grime with a nice lather to top it off. You just need to rub the bar under running water for a few seconds to allow for the water to slip pass through the fiber and generate a good lather. The soap bar can get all sudsy and creamy for a smooth feel on your skin, but the wool adds a little oomph. Plus, the wool makes it easy to wick off those extra suds better than a washcloth or loofah.
- Eco-Friendly and Reusable: Raw wool is a natural, biodegradable fiber that is safe for both land and marine environments. Many soap makers choose to use soap of similarly friendly ingredients, so you can clean the environment as you clean yourself. When the soap bar runs out, some like to use the wool casing as a scrapper for stains around the house. Alternatively, wool makes for good compost. Safe to use, safe to discard.
What Else Could You Do?
While most soap makers and crafters felt their body wash bars, others find that felted soap can help wash any part of the body. You could felt a bar of face wash soap to help unclog your pores and have fewer breakouts. You could get bars of shampoo and conditioner felted for a deeper clean for your scalp. Theoretically, you could have a bar for everything and everyone. The benefits and designs easily appeal to adults and children.
Well, That Sounds Good, But Are There Any Drawbacks?
Like all skincare products, one size doesn’t fit all with felted soap. So, be aware of your or your friends’ limits before every bathroom features a fuzzy bar of soap. Not everyone with delicate or sensitive skin reaps the benefits of felting their soap, as the harshness of the wool may be too much for them.
Additionally, if you are allergic to alpaca or sheep wool, I would not recommend this method of exfoliation. Felting does not prevent any possible reactions when rubbing it on your skin. You may be able to keep it around as a nice bathroom decoration, but this might not be the newest addition to your skincare routine.
Lastly, while the properties of wool help prevent molding, these bars are not immune to mold. Soap makers recommend rinsing and wringing out your soap bar after every shower to make sure nothing gets trapped that may cause mold. Also, avoid leaving your bar submerged for prolonged periods of time. This doesn’t mean you can’t take baths while using your future favorite cleanser, just that it doesn’t need to take its own bath in the soap holder.
Felted soap could be the next great step for your shower/bath routine, make the perfect gift for your skincare-loving bestie, or a fun project for your next DIY spa day!
What do you think of felted soap? Let us know in the comment section below!
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