How to Make Soap

How to Make Soap

Making your own soap can be fun. Here are some basics of the process to help you get started.

Pulling Together your Ingredients and Tools

You will need powdered lye, a sturdy plastic or glass bowl that will hold a couple of gallons, a large stainless steel pot, and any scenting agents that you may want to add to the soap, such as flowers or perfumes. You also will need several oils for this recipe. Make sure you have olive oil, coconut oil, and vegetable shortening. Finally, you will need a soap mold so that you can prepare the individual bars of soap. If you plan to make the soap inside, work near a fan or an open window. Your best bet is to make the soap in the open air.

Combining the Lye and the Water

The most important thing to remember is that you do not dump the two main ingredients together. Instead, gradually pour about twelve ounces of the powdered lye into thirty-two ounces of warm water. Continually stir as you pour in the lye. The idea is to keep the mixture smooth, with not clumps or cakes as you work in the lye. Once you have the lye and warm water combined, set the bowl aside and allow the lye and water to cool to room temperature.

Combining the Oils And Shortening

Using the stainless steel pot, melt about thirty-eight ounces of vegetable shortening, adding in twenty-four ounces of coconut oil. Once the mixture is completely mixed and melted, add in twenty-five ounces of olive oil. Once the olive oil is blended into the mix, add any perfumes or scents that you have for the soap. After all the oils, shortening and scents have blended, allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.

Mixing the Two Liquids Together

Once both mixtures have cooled, it is time to combine them into the stainless steel pot. Stir in the lye and water mixture into the oils, making sure the combined mix is free of any lumps. If you come across any bubbles as you combine the ingredients, keep stirring. The mix will not be ready to use until there are no bubbles appearing on the surface.

To make sure the mix is ready for any more additives or for pouring into the mold, take the spoon and drizzle a little of the mixture back into the pot. If it settles on top for a moment before sinking, then the soap is coming along fine. Now, you can add any coloring, flowers or grains and work them into the mix.

The Final Stages

Pour the soap into the molds, which you should have previously greased with some vegetable shortening. Wrap the molds in clean towels and set them aside for eighteen hours. Make sure the molds are out of direct sunlight, and kept at room temperature. During the eighteen hours, the mixture will alternately heat up and cool down, as the lye interacts with the oils to solidify the mixture. At the end of the eighteen hours, open one end of the towel and check the texture of one of the bars. If it is solid, then the soap is ready. If not, replace the towel cover and let it set for another six to eight hours.

When the bars of soap are firm, remove them from the mold and wrap them in butcher paper until you are ready to use them.