Dish Soap Food Coloring Freezer? All Answers

A TikTok user has gone viral after revealing how to get your oven racks sparkling clean with frozen dish soap.

The woman, who goes by the name Tanya Home Inspo online, shared the unusual hack by posting a series of videos, leaving others in disbelief.

In one video, the London-based NHS worker started by pouring Fairy’s antibacterial dishwashing liquid into ice cube trays and freezing the detergent for a few hours.

The stubborn food stains can slide off the oven racks with ease when using the frozen cubes.

Scroll down for videos

In a TikTok video, Tanya poured Fairy antibacterial dish soap into ice cube trays and then used the frozen cubes to clean her oven and laundry

Tanya cleaned the oven racks over a sink filled with soapy water while wearing rubber gloves.

After constantly wiping the steel, the frozen cubes seemed to turn to a “squishy” jelly-like consistency, and the racks remained squeaky clean.

In a second video, she put two cubes of frozen detergent down the barrel of the washing machine to get the stains out of her white laundry.

Previously, others have recommended adding a few dishwasher tabs to the appliance to achieve a similar result.

Combined, both videos have garnered more than 160,000 views from TikTok users worldwide who couldn’t believe the unlikely cleaning hack worked.

“I just want to know how you found out,” one person wrote.

‘Omg I can save so much on washcaps!’ another said a third thought the hack was “life-changing.”

Freeze bubbles make the winter cold more magical

Don’t you wish bubbles lasted longer? When it’s freezing outside, you can make frozen bubbles.

According to AccuWeather, bubbles are made up of three very thin layers. The top layer is soap, the middle is water and the last layer is soap again.

The reason bubbles freeze in cold temperatures is because the freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, while the freezing point of soap is between about 12 degrees Fahrenheit. When a bubble is exposed to extremely cold temperatures, the middle layer of water freezes, creating a frozen bubble.

To create bubbles, AccuWeather recommends mixing 1 part water with 4 parts dish soap and a little corn syrup to increase the bubble’s durability. Use a bubble stick or straw to create the bubble.

This is what happens when you put dish soap down your toilet

If you want to keep your bathroom in pristine condition — or just want to get rid of the grime regularly — then you might be keen to utilize everything from hardcore bleach to slightly airy essential oils. You might also keep your eyes peeled for clever cleaning tips and tricks. Because of this, you may have seen a seemingly handy hack floating around the internet as early as 2020. Edinburgh News explains that a social media user went to the Mums Who Clean Facebook group to post about using dish soap to clean her toilet. She writes that she’s been adding “a large squirt” of the liquid “in the toilet tank compartment” about three times a week “for years” and claims that this “makes every flush…fresh” and results in “clean-smelling soap bubbles” as well as a toilet that” always looks clean”.

Apartment Therapy adds that dish soap can apparently help unclog a toilet, pointing out that you should put a half cup or more of dish soap in the toilet bowl (yes, they recommend the bowl and not the tank) and put it there leave it where it is while you go and get a gallon of hot (not boiling) water. Put the water in the bowl after the soap and let the two cast their clogging spells.

It sounds simple, but why does it supposedly work? Beyond that, should you do it at all? Read on to find out!

Did you know that turning ordinary milk into a rainbow of crazy colors is easy? With just four common kitchen utensils, kids will be amazed by the explosion of color created by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules in our magic ingredient!

Watch our demonstration video, then print out a materials list and instructions to plan this easy and fun science experiment. An easy to understand explanation of how it works is included below.

Jump to SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it works

Supplies are needed

Milk (must be either whole milk or 2%).

food coloring. The more colors the better

detergent

Shallow dish or bowl

Magic Milk Experiment Guide

Step 1 – Pour some milk into a shallow dish or bowl until the milk covers the bottom.

Step 2 – Add a few drops of food coloring to the milk. You can use a variety of colors, just be sure to add 3-4 drops of each color.

Step 3 – Put a drop of dish soap in the middle of the milk.

Step 4 – Watch in amazement as the colors dance across the surface of the milk. Do you know what caused the colors in the milk to move? Find out the answer in the How Does This Experiment Works section below.

video guide

Detailed step-by-step guide to science experiment with magic rainbow milk

How does the science experiment work?

The key to the dancing colors in this experiment is soap! Soap molecules consist of a hydrophilic (“water-loving”) end and a hydrophobic (“water-averse”) end. Water molecules are polar molecules that can dissolve other polar molecules. Fat (and oil) molecules are non-polar molecules, so they cannot dissolve in water.

Milk is a mixture of water, fat, vitamins and minerals. Adding soap to the milk helps separate the water and fat in the milk. When soap is mixed with fat and water, the hydrophobic end of the soap molecule breaks up the non-polar fat molecules and the hydrophilic end of the soap molecule connects to the polar water molecules. Now that the soap combines fat and water, the non-polar fat molecules can be carried by the polar water molecules.

When the soap molecules combine with the fat molecules, the food coloring molecules get pushed all over the place, resulting in a color explosion! As most of the soap molecules attach to the fat molecules and the soap disperses throughout the milk, the color explosion slows and eventually stops. Add more soap and see if there are more fat molecules not bound to soap – if there are still unbound fat molecules the color explosion will start again.

This experiment works best with 2% milk and whole milk as they contain more fat.

Other ideas to try

Try this experiment again with milk with different fat percentages. Try it with skim milk, 1% milk, 2% milk, whole milk, half and half and cream. Even consider trying condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk. See how the amount of fat affects the color explosion!

I hope you enjoyed the experiment as much as we did. Here are some printable instructions:

I would be happy if you share it!

This science experiment using magic milk is a classic for kids of all ages. Using ordinary, non-toxic kitchen utensils, children create vibrant works of art while learning the science behind the swirling colors that make this experiment truly magical.

Get ready for the Magic Milk Science Experiment:

This science experiment requires only a few common kitchen items:

Milk (we used whole milk)

Casserole dish, baking dish or plate

food coloring

Liquid dish soap (make sure it is NOT antibacterial)

Magic milk to print

Print out a few copies of the free printable worksheet available below so the kids can keep track of their results.

After gathering our supplies, we sat down at the kitchen table to conduct our science experiment. Pour a thin layer of milk into the bowl and then the kids chose a few colors they wanted to use.

The children then squeezed a few drops of food coloring into the milk in their plate.

Then they carefully dripped a drop of washing-up liquid into the middle of the colored milk.

Oh my god, there were screams of joy and surprise as they saw the colors scatter like fireworks!

The milk kept moving, mixing and scattering the colors as if by magic. It took several seconds before it came to rest.

The kids tried to drip more dish soap into the milk, but guess what? Nothing happened the second time. Why not?

The science behind Magic Milk

There are a few things that explain what happens behind the magic of the magic milk.

First, all liquids have this effect called surface tension. It basically means that the molecules on the surface of the liquid bead come together in a small dome due to their molecular bonds. If you’ve ever filled a cup of water past the rim of the glass, you might have noticed how the water forms a dome at the top and somehow levitates slightly over the rim. This is due to surface tension.

In this magical milk experiment, milk and food coloring form a small dome.

However, when dish soap is poured over the surface, the surface tension is broken as the dish soap breaks these bonds. As a result, the colored milk spreads like a flood over the milk surface.

The second effect at work here has to do with the interaction between the fat molecules in the milk and the soap molecules.

Soap consists of two sides:

one side loves water (it’s hydrophilic)

the other side loves fat and oil (it’s hydrophobic).

Soap works by absorbing oils on its hydrophobic side and binding to water on its hydrophilic side. When the soap is washed away with water, it takes the oils and greases with it.

When dish soap is dripped into milk, there is a whirlpool of activity from soap molecules that find and bond with fat molecules in the milk. With millions of molecules swirling around looking for mates, the colors in the milk get mixed up! It looks like the milk erupts for a few seconds.

If you try this magical milk experiment once with whole milk and once with skim milk, you may find that the whole milk swirls much longer due to the higher fat content in the milk.

If the kids want to repeat this artistic-scientific experiment (they will), rinse the bowl well with warm water and then pour in fresh milk to do it again. Once the milk is contaminated with soap, it loses its “magic”.

More scientific activities and ideas

Walking Water Science for kids

Scientific notebook

Oil and Water Science Activity

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Every detergent is different, so keep the type in mind when deciding how to store it.

KEEP AT A STABLE TEMPERATURE. Very low temperatures can cause powder detergents to harden over time, and high temperatures can cause the product to lose oxygen, making it less effective at removing stains. Ideally, keep it in a place that is between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius.

KEEP IN A DRY PLACE. Moisture hardens the product and makes it difficult to dissolve and wash, and it can also clog the dispensers in your washing machine.

KEEP CLOSED. Aside from the potential health hazards if left out in the open, liquid detergents are also more prone to microbial contamination and can spread to your clothes when you use them.

KEEP AT A STABLE, COOL TEMPERATURE. While liquid detergents are not moisture sensitive, they are heat sensitive. At a very low temperature it can freeze and become unstable, while at a high temperature its active components can separate and also destabilize. 10 to 25 degrees Celsius are ideal.

KEEP IN A DRY PLACE. Ariel 3in1 PODS will dissolve on contact with water or moisture, so make sure the inside of the pouch stays dry. Always handle PODS with dry hands.

KEEP THE BAG CLOSED IN THE BOX. Put the bag back in the original tub and close it with a click. Keep the box high on a shelf or locked away from children.

SEAL THE INNER BAG CORRECTLY. Ariel 3in1 PODS are equipped with an effective child lock that is easy to open and close, but difficult for little fingers to pry open. Make sure you always hear the “click” sound to fully close it.

Immediately after use, return them to their appropriate storage location in your laundry room or other safe place.

If you have children, try doing the laundry when your child is at school or napping. This way you can keep distractions at bay while handling the laundry and prevent your child from coming into contact with the detergents.

Wash your hands after doing the laundry and wash any tools you use to handle or measure the products.

For liquid detergents, rinse out the container before recycling or throwing in the trash.

Use or give away leftover detergent or flush unwanted detergent down the drain. When rinsing powder detergent, add a little warm water to break up any lumps.

If spilled on skin or clothing, remove contaminated clothing and rinse thoroughly with water, washing detergent off skin immediately.

If cleaning agent gets into eyes, immediately flush with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention if necessary.

Keep your laundry room tidy with these storage tips:

INSTALL A SHELF. If you have a bare wall, add a single storage shelf high enough to be out of the reach of children. Make sure it’s installed securely and use it to store detergents, gauges, shovels and other small items.

INVEST IN A MOBILE CART WITH DRAWERS. If your laundry room is in the garage or out of the reach of the kids, you can get a drawer cart to safely store your laundry detergents. You can also add parental controls to them, just in case.

Sign up for our eSpecials and get a FREE gift with your next order.

We’ll email you special offers, contests and new product launches once a week that can save you up to 50% off the list!

Freeze bubbles make the winter cold more magical

Don’t you wish bubbles lasted longer? When it’s freezing outside, you can make frozen bubbles.

According to AccuWeather, bubbles are made up of three very thin layers. The top layer is soap, the middle is water and the last layer is soap again.

The reason bubbles freeze in cold temperatures is because the freezing point of water is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, while the freezing point of soap is between about 12 degrees Fahrenheit. When a bubble is exposed to extremely cold temperatures, the middle layer of water freezes, creating a frozen bubble.

To create bubbles, AccuWeather recommends mixing 1 part water with 4 parts dish soap and a little corn syrup to increase the bubble’s durability. Use a bubble stick or straw to create the bubble.

If you’ve just made a large batch of homemade soap, you might be wondering how to store bar soap long-term. After all your hard work and money spent on supplies, the last thing you want is for your natural soap to go rancid. All homemade soaps will last longer if stored in a cool, dry place. That being said, there are differences in how you should store and melt and pour cold process soap. We’ll go over some of the best ways to store your soap to extend its shelf life and how to tell if your soap has gone bad.

Storing homemade soaps can be tricky as there are many factors involved. We’ll cover some common storage methods and give tips on how to tell if your soap has gone bad.

Why do commercial soaps last longer than most homemade soaps?

If you’re new to the world of handmade soap, it’s important to note that many types of natural products have a shorter shelf life compared to store-bought soaps. This is because most homemade soap bars contain natural ingredients and none of the chemicals or preservatives found in store-bought brands that extend shelf life.

In some cases, homemade soap lets you trade a longer shelf life for a more natural and nutritious bar (it’s worth it, according to many soap makers!).

Note: It’s important to realize that not all homemade soaps are created equal. Some bars of homemade soap can last much longer depending on the type and quality of the oils/fats used. Simple bars of soap made from “lard and lye” last longer than soaps made with more “fancy” oils.

Factors affecting the longevity of homemade soap

The type and quality of ingredients you put in your soap, how well you cure it before use, and proper storage all affect how long your soap will last.

Allow proper curing

This is perhaps the most important aspect of making a long-lasting bar of soap – the right setting time. All homemade soap bars made using the cold or hot process need to be cured.

Melt and pour soaps do not need to be cured as they are already saponified, but you should allow them to dry and cure completely before use.

While you may hear that hot process soap is ready to use once it has set, this is not entirely true. While hot process soap is safe to use after the cook time, it still benefits from a curing time of at least 1-3 weeks.

Cold-process soaps require a longer exposure time of 4-6 weeks. Some makers of traditional Nabulsi soap (a pure Middle Eastern olive oil soap) let their soaps harden for up to a year!

Why is it important to let soap fully cure? During the curing time, excess water evaporates from the soap, creating a harder, longer-lasting bar of soap. Any excess moisture left on the soap prior to storage will shorten its shelf life. Soaps that have not set properly may have less lather.

Tips: The length of curing time affects how long your soap lasts. The longer it cures, the longer it lasts. Keep your soaps in a well-ventilated area while they are curing so air can circulate freely. Keep away from heat elements and direct sunlight. Don’t let your soaps touch anything metallic as this can lead to the dreaded orange stains (DOS).

Types of oils used

Just as not all homemade soaps are the same, neither are all types of soap oils. Yes, even soap oils have a shelf life. If you use an old bottle of sunflower oil that has sat on your shelf for the past two years, that oil (and soap) will have a shorter lifespan than if you use fresh sunflower oil.

We could devote entire articles to this topic, but I’ll just mention that different soap-making oils have different shelf lives. The Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild (HSCG) lists some common oils and their shelf lives:

Three months or less: hazelnut oil, hemp seed oil and grapeseed oil.

Hazelnut oil, hemp seed oil and grape seed oil. Between six months and one year: apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, sesame oil, sweet almond oil, and wheat germ oil.

Apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, sesame oil, sweet almond oil and wheat germ oil. One year: avocado oil, castor oil. Coconut oil, emu oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, safflower oil and shea butter.

Avocado Oil, Castor Oil. Coconut oil, emu oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, safflower oil and shea butter. Two years: canola oil, olive oil and tamanu oil.

Canola oil, olive oil and tamanu oil. Three Years: Properly Frozen Emu Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Beeswax, Jojoba Oil, and Fractionated Coconut Oil.

fragrances

Once you’ve made scented soap, the smells can fade within a few months. Some types of fragrance oils can last longer than essential oils, but that’s really not an exact science. While the scents may fade, the soap is still perfectly fine. To prevent fragrances from fading, store them in a closed box, e.g. B. a shoebox.

Proper storage

Ideally, soap should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. High humidity could contribute to a shorter shelf life.

Credit: Yay Pictures

How to store cold and hot process soap

Airflow is key to keeping both cold and hot process bars happy. Sealed tightly, the soap bars do not have enough “air to breathe”. Any moisture released from the bars over time becomes trapped and can contribute to oxidation and DOS.

Even after several weeks of hardening, soap bars still release excess water into the environment, which is why you should never seal them.

Tip: Avoid wrapping or laying your soap on anything metallic (including wire shelves). Metal can cause soap to oxidize. Store the soap in a cool, dry, dark place away from direct heat or sunlight. Avoid storage in rooms with temperature fluctuations, e.g. B. a garage.

Here are a few ideas on how to store bar soap long term (cold and hot process soap):

Open Shelf: Many people store their fully cured soap on open shelves. Coated stainless steel grates (which prevent oxidation) are ideal as they allow plenty of air movement. Even a bookshelf works well too. If you’re concerned about dust, you can place a light mesh fabric like cheesecloth over the soap.

Many people store their fully set soap on open racks. Coated stainless steel grates (which prevent oxidation) are ideal as they allow plenty of air movement. Even a bookshelf works well too. If you’re concerned about dust, you can place a light mesh fabric like cheesecloth over the soap. Shoebox: Sometimes the simplest methods work best. Store soap in an uncovered shoebox. If you prefer to put a lid on the shoebox, either cover the lid loosely or poke a few air holes in it.

Sometimes the simplest methods work best. Store soap in an uncovered shoebox. If you prefer to put a lid on the shoebox, either cover the lid loosely or poke a few air holes in it. Box of cling film: Over at Vermont Soap, they recommend putting bare bars of natural soap in a box and then putting a piece of cling film on top. They also suggest freezing individually wrapped bars of soap in plastic wrap for long-term storage. I’ve never tried this personally, so can’t confirm this method.

Over at Vermont Soap, they recommend putting bare bars of natural soap in a cardboard box and then putting a piece of cling film on top. I’ve never tried this personally, so can’t confirm this method. Cardboard Lids: You know those big lids you can get at Costco? These are great for keeping your soap organized.

You know those great apartments you can get at Costco? These are great for keeping your soap organized. Plastic Box: Unsealed plastic boxes also work well. If you want to put the lid on, again make sure there are some holes for ventilation. A few people on several forums have mentioned using Rubbermaid boxes – if you have these on hand they work well but any brand will do!

Unsealed plastic boxes also work well. If you want to put the lid on, again make sure there are some holes for ventilation. A few people on several forums have mentioned using Rubbermaid boxes – if you have these on hand they work well but any brand will do! Wooden Boxes or Cases: Use any wooden box to store soaps, provided it has air circulation.

More storage tips

If you don’t have enough space to lay all your soaps in one layer, you can stack them. Try staggering them on the bottom layer, leaving several inches of space between each joist. Lay the second layer so that the soap covers the gaps underneath. Repeat as needed. This way each layer of soap still gets some air circulation.

by leaving a few centimeters of space between each joist. Lay the second layer so that the soap covers the gaps underneath. Repeat as needed. This way each layer of soap still gets some air circulation. Store similarly scented soaps together in a box with a lid. Remember that scents mix, so save scents that you want to smell together.

in a cardboard box with a lid. Remember that scents mix, so save scents that you want to smell together. Rotate your homemade soap the same way you do pantry foods to ensure older ones are used first.

homemade soap, just like you would use pantry groceries, making sure older ones are used first. Just as you label the dates of homemade canned or frozen foods, you should also label your soap with the date you made the soap.

from homemade canned or frozen foods, make sure you also label your soap with the date you made the soap. If you’re concerned about dust, you can try draping a piece of sheer cloth or cheesecloth loosely over the tops of the storage boxes. Just try to make sure the fabric doesn’t touch the soap.

Credit: Kristina Balić / Unsplash

wrap soap

If you’re planning on giving away or selling soap, it’s best to wrap it just before you sell it to allow as much air circulation as possible. Here are some common methods of packaging cold or hot process soap:

wax paper (sealed with a sticker)

Tissue paper (avoid touching colored or patterned tissue paper on soap as the colors will transfer)

Cigar Bands (or Belly Bands)

Cloth

cloth pouch or bag

coffee filter

How to store bar soap long-term: melt and pour

Melt and pour bars are a different beast than soaps that are made using the cold or hot process. Melt and pour soaps should be packaged after they are fully cured to prevent “sweating”.

Many melt and pour soap bases are high in glycerin, which is a natural humectant. Humectants work by absorbing or attracting moisture in the air. What appears on many melt and pour soaps are tiny beads of moisture that some people refer to as soap sweat.

What should you melt and pour soap into? An airtight box.

If you’d like, you can individually wrap each bar in plastic wrap and shrink with a heat gun. But we know there are many people who disapprove of plastic…

Stephenson Personal Care (a supplier of soap and cosmetic ingredients) has a few tips to keep melted and poured soap from sweating:

Place silica beads in an airtight plastic container along with soap. The silica beads help draw out excess moisture. Leave the soap in the container for up to 2 hours, checking every half hour. Don’t leave the silica beads in there any longer or you risk drying out your soap. Store the MP soap in an airtight plastic container.

in an airtight plastic container along with soap. The silica beads help draw out excess moisture. Leave the soap in the container for up to 2 hours, checking every half hour. Don’t leave the silica beads in there any longer or you risk drying out your soap. Run a fan over unshaped soap.

Use a dehumidifier in high humidity areas.

Shelf life of homemade soap

As previously mentioned, the way soap is stored and the ingredients used in the soap greatly affect its longevity. There’s no hard and fast rule for homemade soap’s shelf life, but here are some general guidelines:

Soaps made with short-shelf life oils (think grapeseed or hemp seed oil): Use within 3-6 months. These types of oils spoil quickly, and soap can go rancid.

(think grape seed or hemp seed oil): Use within 3-6 months. These types of oils spoil quickly, and soap can go rancid. Scented Soaps: Many essential oil scented soaps can lose their aroma within 3-6 months, but the soap should still be usable.

Many soaps scented with essential oils can lose their aroma within 3-6 months, but the soap should still be usable. Average bar of homemade soap: Many natural homemade soaps should last up to 3 years.

Many natural homemade soaps should last up to 3 years. Old-fashioned soap made with just lye and lard: These simple bars of soap can last 5 years or more.

How can you tell if homemade soap has gone bad?

A common occurrence on homemade soap bars are those dreaded orange stains. Luckily, DOS doesn’t affect the usability of your soap, only the looks.

You can either cut off the orange pieces or use them as is. However, if the DOS is accompanied by a rancid smell or a sticky film, it’s time to throw it away!

Read here what causes the dreaded orange spots.

How to store soap after use

Now that you know how to store bar soap long-term, how do you store soap after each use in the shower or just to wash your hands?

If you have a soap dish, use it! A drained soap dish in particular is best as it prevents water from making your soap slushy.

is best as it prevents water from making your soap mushy. Use a washcloth to wipe off excess moisture if it’s very wet after a shower.

If possible, allow your soap bar to dry completely between uses.

If your bar of soap gets too small, don’t throw it away! Store soap chips in a small cloth pouch and use as a DIY loofah.

related questions

Is it okay to use expired bar soap?

Some store-bought soaps may have a manufacture date on the package. According to Dove, you should store their soap products at room temperature and use them within 3 years from the date of manufacture.

Older soaps should still be safe to use; However, they may not lather as well or may have lost their scent. Older soaps can also be more crumbly.

There really is no expiration date on natural homemade soap. Just trust your common sense and throw out anything that smells rancid or has developed a sticky film.

Is bar soap less hygienic than liquid soap?

Both bar soap and liquid soap have been found to reduce microbial levels on our skin equally (as long as you scrub for at least 20 seconds). Both contain surfactants that help loosen oil, dirt, and microbes on the skin’s surface.

Many people prefer to use liquid soap over bar soap for fear of spreading germs. Studies show that little or no germs are transferred from a bar of soap to hands when washing. Whatever you decide to use, scrub it away!

Check out our DIY antibacterial liquid soap recipe here.

If bar soap is more your style, check out 3 ways to make kitchen soap.

References: