Your grandmother probably had one of these by the sink for doing the dishes.  A soap shaker (also known as a soap saver or suds maker or soap cage) is the old-fashioned way of using a bar of soap for the washing up.  It can also be used to dissolve soap for hand-washing in the laundry or putting some bubbles in your bath. 

Like so many things now, we are realising that our grandmothers had some good ideas.  Soap shakers are the perfect way to reduce plastic in the kitchen - no more bottles of dishwashing liquid, just use bars of soap.  And no need to wonder why the dishwashing liquid is that funny green or yellow colour and why it smells so strong, you can now use natural handmade soap in a soap shaker instead.    

This soap shaker is larger than the antique variety and fits a full-size bar of soap (the cage is a generous 8cm x 12cm).  For best results, (which is made specifically for cleaning rather than bathing, and with tallow so that it lasts for a long time) or you can use up all the leftover small bits of soap from the bathroom.

The soap shaker will work best for those with soft water (particularly rainwater tanks).  If you have hard water, you will find that it forms scum and the bubbles don't last as long (that is just the soap reacting with the calcium in the water).

For best results - rinse dishes first, use hot water, run the water over the soap shaker and/or swish the soap shaker until the desired amount of bubbles appear.  Store the soap shaker where it can drain.

The soap shaker is made in a factory in China from stainless steel. Its measurements are approximately 12cm x 8xm x 4cm cage with a 17cm handle. 

(If you would like so use an Australian made soap shaker, )