"Since social media doesn't earn me money, I'm going to make soap to sell." With these words, a Cuban known on TikTok as Normita demonstrated how she prepares homemade soap using basic ingredients, an initiative aimed at generating income amidst the economic hardships experienced on the island.
In a video shared on her TikTok account, the woman explains step by step how she makes soaps from her own home, using products that are readily available to her.
To prepare them, start by grating a commercial soap bar, which you then dissolve in a liter of boiled water. Next, add a tablespoon of salt, another of sugar, one of baking soda, and one of vinegar, until you have a mixture with which to make your homemade soaps.
According to the explanation, the resulting product can be used for hand washing clothes, scrubbing pots, and even for bathing, although these uses are based on personal experience rather than a safety assessment of the mixture.
"They turn out delicious, fragrant, and really good," he assures while showing the result. He also highlights the foam it produces: "It creates a tremendous lather, and that little soap gives a shine that looks like a mirror."
Normita's initiative comes in a context characterized by difficulties in obtaining hygiene and cleaning products in Cuba. In November 2025, it was reported on the distribution of soap in Las Tunas after more than eight months without cleaning products in the stores.
In addition to the scarcity, high prices make it difficult to access these items. A report published by Infobae captured the testimony of a 68-year-old Cuban who summarized his situation with one phrase: "If I buy soap, I don't eat." According to that testimony, a bar could cost up to 400 Cuban pesos.
On social media, there have also been other examples of Cubans seeking alternatives in light of the lack of basic products. In June, a young man demonstrated how he took advantage of rainwater to wash clothes with his grandmother, while another Cuban shared her way of storing products like soap and toothpaste to have reserves when they are scarce.
On her part, Normita hopes to turn her homemade soap making into a source of income. Her video has sparked the curiosity of numerous users interested in learning the process.
"Let me know in the comments if you want me to explain the recipe in detail," she comments at the end of the recording, inviting her followers to engage with her.
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