Has anyone here donated soap? If so, where?

[Rachael]

Hopefully this is the right forum for this.

I've got three failed batches I need to do something with. Nothing seriously wrong with them other than the fact that I learned about cleansing value a little too late and they're all hovering at about a 24, oops. They are very harsh on my skin. I washed my arms with a bar last night just to test it out and my arms were burning like crazy afterwards - ouch. My skin isn't sensitive at all when it comes to skincare products, so I'd imagine if it irritates my skin it's going to really irritate someone else's.

That being said, I don't know if I'd be comfortable donating them as-is to a shelter, retirement home, or something like that, but has anyone had experience with a charity like Clean the World? It looks like this particular charity sanitizes then grinds the bars. I assume then that the bars would be tested and rebatched into something usable.

I would rebatch them myself but in all honesty I'd rather save myself the work, I've got plenty of quality soap at home I need to give away and use up first!

 

[shunt2011]

Because of the high cleansing you could give them to friends as hand soap for really dirty hands. Otherwise I wouldn't donate them to anyone, especially since 24 is quite high cleansing unless you have a higher SF and depending on the age of the soap as well. Sometimes it will mellow out more with a good long cure. You could check with Clean the World though.

 

[Obsidian]

Have you zap tested those bars? A high cleansing soap should make your skin tight and itchy, not burning.

Double check to make sure they are safe. If they are, I'd give them to a machanic or someone who gets really greasy.

 

[lucycat]

I give soap to Peace at Home, my local women's shelter. They are always very appreciative. However, all are good soap but may be light on scent.

 

[TheGecko]

Sorry, but when it comes to donating anything to charity...if it's not something I would safely use or eat or wear, etc...I don't donate it.

 

[amd]

Clean the World no longer takes homemade soaps.

How old are the soaps? If they're freshly made, they need to cure properly. If they've had a minimum 4 week cure, I would let them cure longer - seriously. Throw them in a box and forget about them for 6 months. I've bought soap from another maker that 50% CO - let it sit for two years and my uber dry skin did fine with it, although the bar vanished quite quickly Same with salt bars (80% CO), I can't use them until at least 18 months.

If you don't have sensitive skin and are having a hard time with these soaps, I certainly wouldn't give them away. Rebatch or toss.

 

[dibbles]

I used to donate to Clean the World, but as far as I know they are no longer accepting soap donations from soap makers that don’t have a business. And I think there is a fee for those who do have a business, but I’m not sure about that. Please don’t donate soap that irritates or burns your skin to anyone.

 

[Rachael]

Thanks a lot for the replies, all. Of course, I wouldn't donate it to anyone while it's like this, I only thinking a larger company may be able to rebatch it into something good if they grind down, mix up, and test all their soaps anyway, etc. I know it's not lye heavy or anything like that, it is just far too drying on my already-dry skin. Failing that I'll keep it around a while to see how it does over time. Maybe my skin will be a bit more accepting of it during the summer and when it's had a lot of time to mellow out.