This article was originally written for and published by the Internal Resource Library at AndrewNeyer.com

Soap finish is a simple wood finish; easy to apply, does not affect the wood’s color, and arguably the cleanest available. Though other wood finishes such as polyurethane, wax, and oil are most common and can be found at any hardware store, they have their short falls. These popular finishes tend to discolor the wood and most often times contain toxic additives that require a mask and a pair of gloves during application. Soap finish is making a come back as more and more woodworkers uncover it’s beautiful simplicity.

Though not as common to find on the Big Box shelf, you will be pleased to know that soap finish can be made in your kitchen with only two ingredients: pure soap flakes and boiling water. The ratio of water to soap simply depends on how exactly you want to apply the finish. I will explain the two common mixtures, the slurry and the wax, and just how to apply them to get the results you desire.

The slurry is best when covering large surface areas because it is easy to spread and can really get into those tight corners. The recipe for this mixture is 1 part pure soap flakes and 4 parts boiling water. Let the mixture rest overnight. The resulting consistency very much reminds me of mayonnaise (although I don’t like mayonnaise that much). Apply the slurry by using a rag to cover the entire surface of the project. Let it sit for around 10 minutes and buff off the excess with a clean rag. You will end up with a light sheen similar to a finishing wax. Depending on the desired hardiness and glossiness, soap finish can be applied as many times as you really would like, although 4 to 5 coats are the consensus for good protection.

Another form of soap finish is similar to a bar of soap and only requires 1 part soap flakes and 1 part boiling water, again let it rest overnight. You’ll find a waxy solid in the morning. This result of a soap finish is perfect for small projects or touching up the larger ones. I keep my “soap wax” in a plastic bag snuggly available in my junk drawer.

To show the effects of soap finish on different wood species, I tested on pine, cedar, ash, oak, and walnut. The images may seem underwhelming as there’s no significant difference between the raw and finished woods. But that is exactly what draws me to this finish; you protect the wood without compromising its natural look.

In the next few months, I will revise and follow up with my thoughts on the wear-and-tear of the soap finish.

Written by Brennen Waldron, furniture builder and designer of OHUSA