soap flakes

plural noun

1. small flakes or chips of soap commercially produced and packaged for washing laundry, dishes, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of soap flakes¹

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

A: I prefer soap flakes, but use liquid if you don’t have them.

From Seattle Times

Russell Shearman, one of the special effects artists working on “It’s a Wonderful Life,” solved that problem by creating a mixture of water, soap flakes, sugar and foamite, a material used in some fire extinguishers.

From Los Angeles Times

“I know where there’s a package of soap flakes in the woodshed. It has writing on it. I’ll bring you a piece of the package.”

From Literature

In the parking lot, they doused the records with a homemade napalm of Ivory soap flakes and gasoline — a recipe from a U.S. military handbook, Melville said.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Richardson eschews most detergents, which can leave a residue, and he makes and sells his own soap flakes, using just a meager tablespoon per load.

From Wall Street Journal