Jiggles like gelatin, but washes like soap! DIY jelly soap is a great project for kids! Use any kind of liquid hand soap for endless scent options!
If your kids like making simple projects like this, they'll love our homemade noise (fart) putty!, gelatin birdseed feeders, or DIY popsicle stick fans!
My girls love making homemade soap. We branched off from our easy glycerin soap for kids that we usually make and made jelly soap. It's jiggly, smells great, and suds up while washing with it! The best part was that we already had all of the ingredients.
Why I Like This Project
- Simple supplies. Chances are, you already have everything you need in your pantry and cleaning closet for making your own jelly soap. If not, a quick trip to the store won't set you back more than a few dollars.
- Easy for kids to make. This is a great project for kids ages 8+ to make. If your kids like making slime, they'll have fun making jelly soap---which is virtually mess-free.
- Fun to use. This gummy soap suds up just like bars of soap, but it's way more fun. It's squishy, can be colored in any hue, and scented however you'd like. As with all soap: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN unless being supervised by an adult.
What Others Are Saying
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I may have enjoyed it more than the girls! We used bath/ shower gel, and it turned out great! ---Kelly
This was so easy, and the outcome was fun and perfect. ---Jenni (Pinterest comment)
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Tips and Tricks
- Use 2 packets of unflavored gelatin. We've found that by adding an extra packet of unflavored gelatin, the soap is a bit more sturdy. You can make it with one envelope, if that's all you have, but if you have two, go ahead and use both! Here is our adaptation.
- How to remove jelly soap from molds. Silicone molds are the easiest molds to work with when making soap, but you can use plastic molds, too. To loosen, run a butter knife around the edge and gently push from the back to loosen the soap from the mold.
- Store gummy soaps in the refrigerator. You can keep the one that you are using out on the counter or in a dish, but keep any other soaps in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- Do not eat. I feel like this doesn't need to be said, but I'll say it. These are not edible. Do not eat the jelly soap.
- How to use jelly soap: The soap feels like gelatin jigglers and smells amazing! Use jelly soap the same way that you'd use liquid soap (wash hands, in the shower, etc). Jelly soap doesn't last as long as bar soap and dissolves quickly. If placed in a bathtub with water, it will dissolve after a minute or two and turn into a bubble bath. The soaps will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator before drying out.
Supplies and Ingredients
- Unflavored gelatin: Gelatin is what helps the soap set up a bit and gives it the jelly texture.
- Liquid hand soap: You can use hand soap, dish soap or body wash.
- Soap coloring: This is optional, and purely for aesthetic purposes. If your liquid soap is already tinted, the color will show up when it turns into jelly soap. The soap coloring just makes it brighter.
- Soap mold: I used a plastic mold, but silicone molds are often easier to work with.
See the how-to card at the end of the post for full information on supplies and quantities.
How To Make DIY Jelly Soap
Step 1: In a small pan, bring water to a boil. Add salt and give it a stir. Empty the packets of unflavored gelatin into a small bowl. Add salt water and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
Step 2: Stir in liquid soap. Pour mixture into a measuring cup with a spout. Spoon off any froth/bubbles.
Step 3: Place the soap mold onto a baking sheet.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into soap molds. Refrigerate 2 hours.
Step 5: To loosen from a plastic mold, simply run a butter knife around the edge of each soap mold and gently pull the jelly soap out. If you use a silicone mold, gently push from behind and pull the jelly out.
Jelly Soap FAQs
Like gelatin, jelly soap needs to set up in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Jelly soap is not edible. DO NOT eat.
Jelly (or gummy) soap is fun to use while washing your hands. You can also use it in the shower! You can use jelly soap the same way you'd use liquid soap.
More Soaps To Make
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DIY JELLY SOAP
Equipment
- stove
- baking sheet
- bowl
- whisk
- measuring cups/spoons
Materials
- 2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup boiling water
- ½ cup liquid hand soap
- soap coloring
- soap mold silicone works best
Instructions
- In a small pan, bring water to a boil. Add salt and give it a stir.
- Empty the packets of unflavored gelatin into a small bowl. Add salt water and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
- Stir in soap.
- Add extra coloring (if desired).
- Pour mixture into a measuring cup with a spout. Spoon off any froth/bubbles.Place soap mold onto a baking sheet.
- Pour mixture into soap molds.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- To loosen from a plastic mold simply run a butter knife around the edge of each soap mold and gently pull the jelly soap out. If you use a silicone mold, gently push from behind and pull the jelly out.
Brandy says
We've made this soap a few times, and it's always a good time. They don't last long but are fun to use.
Andrena says
I tried making this recipe twice. Once followed my the recipe as written and it never set up after 3 hours of refrigeration. The second time I added twice the gelatin and refrigerated for 12 hours, still it didn't set. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I live in Florida in high humidity and I chose worm molds to making gummy worm soap. Would that make any difference?
Brandy says
Hi Andrena! I’m honestly stumped! Especially since you used twice the amount of gelatin and they still didn’t set up. :/
DavetteB says
How much gelatin would equal a packet? I have a large tub of bulk gelatin.
Brandy says
1 Tbsp.
Alexandra says
Can you use glycerin soap with coloring instead of store bought soap? Im wanting to make home-made soap for kids and jellies would be a cute idea.
Brandy says
Hi Alexandra! I haven't tried that before so I'm not sure! Sorry I'm not more help!
Tracy T. says
HI!
How many soaps does this recipe make? I'm sure it depends on mold size etc. But a rough estimate at how many can be made with the ingredients you have listed? This is so cute! 🙂
Brandy says
You're right, it depends on the mold size, but for those animal ones in the video I believe it made 5, and for the flower ones in the post (they were a smaller mold) it probably made 6-8. Hope that helps!