Soap is made through a process called saponification where oils react with lye or sodium hydroxide to produce glycerol and salts of fatty acids known as soap. Soap works by using its hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups to remove dirt, oils and other non-water soluble compounds from surfaces and suspend them in water. Natural polymers include substances such as cellulose, starch and proteins that are made of repeating structural units and perform important functions in living things.