How to Make Luffa Soap [Easy]
Updated: Aug 22
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Luffa soap is one of my favorite things to make! It’s so incredibly easy! Luffa soap is excellent for exfoliation, and I have found it’s specifically useful for scrubbing when you’re especially dirty! If I’ve done yard work or a hike in sandals, regular cloth just doesn’t quite do the job of getting my feet clean. Luffa soap is perfect!
A bit about luffas
Luffas are actually gourds and can be grown in your backyard garden. They prefer high temperatures, so zone 7 or higher. Many people find it difficult to grow luffas, but I’ve found them actually very easy to grow here in West TN. I simply planted them directly in my garden in April, after the threat of frost had passed, and harvested literal bucket-loads later in September! Luffas can actually be left on the vine until later than that, as they will dry out. I was cleaning out my garden for the fall planting season, so I harvested mine early and simply left them outside to continue drying. See my post here for 10 things to plant in the fall. After they are thoroughly dried, they are ready to be peeled and used. You will know a luffa is dried and ready to be peeled once it turns from green to brown.
I like to use luffas primarily for sponges. I use them in the shower and for washing dishes. Luffas make excellent sponges as they can be composted when it’s time for a new sponge. Luffa soap makes an excellent gift!
How to make homemade luffa soap:
Supplies:
Luffas Can’t grow your own sponges? Not to worry, they can be purchased online. Here’s a good option.
Silicone molds OR a muffin pan
Essential oils (optional)
A double boiler or a pot and bowl that will fit inside the pot
Twine (optional)
Instructions:
1. Cut down your luffas into inch-thick slices. If there are still seeds inside, remove the seeds. This can be tedious, but I found that tweezers and/or needle nose pliers help with this.
2. Place the luffa slices into either the soap mold or the muffin tin.
Note: if using a muffin tin, I would recommend that you tie a string around a part of the luffa. This makes removing them from the tin much easier. A string can also be tied if you prefer your soap to be on a string.
3. Using the double boiler, melt down your soap base. Do not let the soap base come to a boil.
Note: Cutting up the soap base before melting it will speed up the process.
Note: If you don’t have a double boiler, simply fill a pot with water, and place a large bowl in your pot, so that it's sitting in the water.
4. Once your soap base is melted, remove it from the heat, and mix in your choice of essential oils. A little goes a long way here.
5. Pour the soap base into the molds, submerging the luffas.
6. Allow several hours for the soap to harden. This process can be sped up by placing the mold in the freezer or refrigerator but is not necessary. Once the soap is hardened, remove them from the molds, and enjoy!
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Luffa soap makes an excellent Christmas gift! I like to pair it with homemade bath salts or some homemade jam! See my recipe here for elderberry jam! Have you tried to make luffa soap? What’s been your experience? Let me know in the comments!
