You know what question Kate and I get a lot? “How do you girls do it it all??” Our schedules are full, just as many of yours are, and it comes with the constant struggle of balancing Mom-life with work-life. And like most other Mothers out there, when it comes down to it and one has to take priority, the Mom gig wins- no contest. If something has to fall through the cracks it’s not Mom thing; it’s usually the doing-laundry, cleaning-bathrooms, or showering-before-noon thing. So to answer the question, how do we do it all? Ha! We don’t! Those of you joining us at TOFW get to hear all about how we don’t do it all. In fact, most times sometimes we barely keep it together! The past few weeks have felt like that for me. I’ve been traveling a lot, and working on some huge projects (we finished our book!), so when I got home the other day after spending the weekend in PA (SO much fun- thank you East Coasters for a great time!) the last thing I wanted to do was pull out my big camera and cook. And then edit photos. And then write a big recipe post for today. What I did want to do? Play with my kids. Be goofy, be silly, be loud and crazy and do whatever they wanted to do. I asked them what they wanted to do, and lucky for me (and you) they picked something that I thought would actually be fun to share with you! So ironically, my intentions of turning off my blog brain back-fired, but it worked out in the end. I got to play with my kids, and you get a fun kitchen craft. Or something to entertain friends at the office when you’re tired of working. Since I had no intentions of making a big ol’ photography project out of this fun little activity, I just snapped some quick photos on my Phone and edited them right on my phone too, with the Thumba app. Come next Monday I’ll have my brain fully functioning again and I’ll bust out my big camera have an amazing recipe for you! Until then, let’s just play 🙂 This is sort of awesome.
We call these “Soap Clouds.” Where are all of our chemical engineers? I need to know why every awesome science project involving soap, hinges on the use of Ivory soap. Thoughts? Are there magical ingredients in there? I’ve always wondered that. I bet whoever came up with the original recipe never expected that so many science experiments would ensue with its use! I think the same thing about Elmer’s glue. Anyway, grab a bar of Ivory soap-yes, only Ivory! It’s cheap, but don’t worry, you can even use it as soap when we’re done here so we’re not being wasteful. So you don’t need to write us lengthy emails about being earth-hating-soap-haters.
Place a piece of waxed paper, parchment, plastic wrap, or paper towel in your microwave. Just don’t use foil, or we’ll have issues on our hands that are much bigger than your next burrito tasting slightly like a fresh mountain spring. This really doesn’t make a mess, so don’t be scared.
Start your microwave for a couple of minutes on high power. You don’t need to let it run that whole length of time, but you can just stop it when you need to. Want to see what happens?? It’s a little hard to see through my microwave door, but check it out (and ignore me when I say you need to turn your microwave turntable off, that’s for if you’re trying to video this experience:))
Ten bonus points for anyone who can reference my children’s ramblings about “the great devourer.”
I don’t know how it does it- but it starts growing! Sometimes the “clouds” are seriously HUGE, and other times they are sort of wimpy. I’ve noticed generally, the fresher the soap (as in the more recent I have purchased it) the bigger the result. We’ve done this a million times and my kids still get a kick out of it.
It looks like it should be foamy and wet, but it’s not. You can actually pick up the whole big chunk.
If you smash it, it will break into pieces and you’ll end up with soap dust everywhere, so be careful with little hands who like to smash things 🙂
It’s the weirdest looking thing. I love how it’s different every time.
Now. You have a giant blob of dried soap fluff and your kids were entertained for a total of 3.5 minutes. That’s a start! Sometimes I let my kids just take the whole darn thing in the bath tub and have at it. It’s one way to make sure they actually get cleaned in there. Or sometimes I hold it up over them in the tub and let it “snow” by smashing it and letting it sprinkle down like little snow flakes. Or, you can let them make their own little soaps. First, put the fluff in a bowl and let them do what they’ve probably been trying to do already- smash it to smithereens. It just kind of falls apart, so it’s actually kind of fun. And if it gets all over your counter, take my advice and sweep or vacuum it up first, then wipe it down. Otherwise you’ll end up with a big soapy mess.
Then, either in a bowl with a spoon, or with an electric beater, or in a food processor, like I’m using, add warm water, just until it comes together. Just like pie crust, folks! This is why I love kitchen crafts. To test it, grab some with your hands and hold it in your fist. If it holds together in a ball, it’s ready.
Take the mold-able mixture and let kids press it into cookie cutters. Make sure kids are old enough to know it’s not food, or they are likely to attempt to eat it!
These photos below are from a batch I made a while back, (and photographed with my regular camera) and I let my kids add just a couple of drops of food coloring to make colored soaps. After the soaps are molded, but still wet, you can gently push them out of the molds. Let them sit in a cool, dry place for a few days and soon you will have little soaps to wash (or play!) with. I would only use a small amount of food coloring as to not stain anything!
Funny how my kids are always very interested in getting extra clean when it’s with soap they’ve made themselves.
Now go have some fun with your own kiddos today! Or, just grab some soap and have fun in your office break room at lunch. C’mon- you know you want to.
Reminder: Once again, only use IVORY soap. Lots of people asking this in the comments, or commenting they have a burned mess in their microwave because they didn’t read it earlier in the post! Ivory!
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Questions & Reviews
What makes Ivory soap different is that it started as a scam. They blow air into the soap as it’s forming. That’s why it floats. But it also means that there’s a lot less soap in a bar of Ivory than there is in a bar of regular soap. Which made the company a ton of money.
When you nuke it, the little air bubbles throughout the bar heat and expand, which is what makes the soap do what it does.
In case you wanted to know.
I loved the information thanks for sharing it really answered many of my questions about why.
When my son was young we put Marshmallows in the microwave because he wanted them warm-they too grow to amazing proportions! Just be careful to not leave them in for more than 10-20 seconds at a time…
IVORY soap was a total mistake made by a new employee in the blending process. He forgot to turn off the machine and when he realized his mistake after an extended period he kept it to himself and they processed, packaged it and sent it out. Not long after people wrote the company praising them for inventing soap that floats. Previously all the soaps mostly lye sank to the bottom of the tubs or whatever making the person dig for it. Well they investigated and the employee fessed up to his mistake and the most famous soap in history was born.
We like this process as you can mold it into little ghosts… lol
I absolutely love this idea! Question: does the food coloring stain your hands once it’s reused as soap?
No, I just use a tiny bit, but if you’re concerned you can always use coloring specifically designed for soap making (available at craft stores)
The great devourer i believe is a refrence to the slime in the microwave in ghostbusters:D
I am trying this during art this week with my preschoolers for sure! Our coordinator is also so fascinated that she is joining us. We will then display our “art work” at our big fundraiser this weekend. Other teacher friends of mine have done these at church…now I will try them in the public school setting.
Love the idea, live in Australia, shall look for Ivory soap,if none, will have to experiment, fun idea for my grandchildren, Ta
This is the best website I have ever come across! I love all your ideas and am very excited to try these things! Thank you!
“the great devourer” = Ghost Busters!
Has anyone discovered any other versions of this with other soap brands available in Australia? As we would love to try it but we don’t get Ivory soap over here.
What a great idea for kids craft. Creative and inexpensive. Exciting for the kids to do.
My two grandsons just finished with this project and they had a ball. No problem getting them to hop in the tub with this trick!!:-)
I’m in Australia is there a similar soap that anyone can recommend
well, we of course had to try another soap, before i read your note… 🙂 haha!! I’m just like the kids ;0
…WOW – Dove for Sensitive Skin started to go, but then burned and left a TOXIC FUME! in our kitchen! 🙂
What fun! I do in home developmental therapy and we are doing clouds nexxt week (Eric Carle’s Little Cloud, It Looked Like Spilt Milk, etc) – can’t WAIT to show the families this one! Thanks for the wonderful idea!!
This looks like such a perfect project for kids, but the trouble is that at some point they might try to do this when they are unsupervised long enough to stick a bar fo soap in the microwave. I have grandsons that would DEFINITELY try this on their own if grammy & papa or mom & dad weren’t looking for 5 minutes. With that being said, I have granddaughters who would be likewise inclined to do something like this if mom was reading and not paying close enough attention. Has anyone had this experience? I ask because I want to know how it turned out and did the kids turn the kitchen into a carmelized soap factory? If the answer is at all positive, I may try this at home.
The Great Devourer – must be Ninjago!!
Awesome. Gonna do it with my little one!
Doesn’t the food coloring make your kids turn colors when they use the soap?
I am a nanny to a 7 year old girl who loves science, I can’t wait to do this with her tomorrow! Thanks
OMG. I am 60 and my 40 year old daughters are coming for a visit. I can’t wait to do this. Looks like FUN!
The reason most soap projects specifically state Ivory is because it is actually one of a few widely avaialable soaps — most others (Safeguard, Coast, Iris Spring, Dial, etc) are actually detergents! If you read the labels none of them actually say they are soap. They will not behave the same way in a lot of projects.
I write technical documentation as part of my job & I just want to compliment you on the incredible instructions on making soap clouds. They were easy to understand. Didn’t say things like do this but do this first. The pictures were fantastuc. Both my husband & I want to run to the store & buy a bar of Ivory right now.
we liked this project!And the great devour is from Ninjago its a giant snake that grows when it eats.
Hi i am from Australia. Is there a soap in Australia i can use as i have never heard of ivory soap.
Donna, you should be able to any bar that actually says it’s soap. In the U.S. most bars that people consider soap are actually detergent bars. Ivory is one of few actual soap bars. Good Luck!
Huge Success! My kids loved it. I had to hush their cries of excitement because daddy is asleep!
This is awesome. I have never seen this done in a microwave. I don’t have any grandchildren but next time I have some little ones over I will take them to the Dollar General and let them pick out their own cookie cutters and surprise them with this project. It will differently keep them entertained and we can make a surprise gift for their mom’s. Thank you for taking the time to share this info; pictures and all. Love it…and your an awesome mom!
“great devourer” is Ninjago, and it looks really cool! I want to try it some time.
For those of us who use Ivory to make laundry detergent doing this would be easier than grating the bar with a grater. Thanks for the tip
is ivory a brand? i havnt heard of it-but i was at a science fair recently and the organiser said any cheapo soap would work,have yet to try it though
Danx, Ivory is a brand of soap. Most other bars in the U.S. are actually detergent and may behave differently in your project. Fels Naptha is another brand of soap that should work.
The great devour!,,, the great devour is unleashed. Ninja go I assume 🙂