DIY Homemade soap
Sept 1, 2014 14:17:51 GMT 10
overlord, You Must Enter A Name, and 1 more like this
Post by believer on Sept 1, 2014 14:17:51 GMT 10
I've been making this soap for a couple years now and thought I would share the recipe:
Homemade Soap
PLEASE NOTE: WARNING This mixture will cause extreme burns if it comes in contact with skin or eyes!!!!
Before making soap it is important to understand that it requires a chemical reaction to occur which produces fumes and heat. Please do this outside or in a well aired place.
If it comes in contact with skin or eyes it will burn as it is highly alkaline. It is important to use protective clothing and equipment such as rubber gloves and protective glasses. It is also necessary to have vinegar at close hand to neutralise any burns immediately should they occur.
All plasic/rubber equipment should be used for the sole purpose of soap making.
All measurements must be EXACT otherwise soap may remain alkaline and cause skin burning
Ingredients:
Equipment:
Prepare by putting on your rubber gloves and safety glasses. Fill jug with some detergent, vinegar and water.
Carefully measure quantity of water. Put into the large deep stainless steel pot.
Measure lye in a small glass bowl.
Measure olive oil in another jug or bowl.
Place pot on a heat resistant surface because it will get to boiling temperatures.
Pour lye into the pot and stir with stainless steel spoon until dissolved. Do not put head over pot as it will produce nasty fumes at this time!
Add olive oil. Blend with stick blender being extremely careful that it doesn't splash. Blend until it reaches "Trace".
Trace is when it has started to thicken to the point that when you (turn off the stick blender) drip some of the mixture off the blender onto the surface of the soap it remains visible. You will get little "trails" by doing this. This is because "saponification" has occurred. Place stick blender into the jug with the detergent and vinegar.
Pour mixture into plastic mold using spatula. Place spatula into the jug with the detergent and vinegar.
Gently tap mold on bench to remove any air bubbles in the soap. Cover with a large board and blankets and leave in a place to set.
Slice the soap into bars the following day remembering to still wear your rubber gloves.
Leave soap for at least 2 weeks to "cure". I always test my batches of soap on myself though I'm sure there is a safer way to do it. I get a bottle of vinegar handy and rub a bar of on my fore arm. If any burning feeling occurs (which has never happened so far) I can wash it with vinegar to neutralise the alkaline.
This soap is best left for about three months and makes approximately 16 bars of soap.
Comments:
Initially it seemed a bit expensive to set up but I found some short cuts. I bought a new kitty litter tray for my mold. This makes functional blocks of soap rather than pretty ones.
I use a large chopping board to cover the plastic mold.
I did purchase a new stick blender for soap making. This cost approx $20 and seemed like a huge amount of money initially but has been very worth it. Definitely worth saving for!
I make a double batch (reduces chance of splashing) so end up with huge blocks of soap. I could get another litter tray...something to save for.
The Lye is sodium hydroxide. I buy Mechanix Caustic Soda from the supermarket. Not all caustic sodas are the same and may be mixed with other chemicals.
I wrap the soap in baking paper to store it.
I make a double batch resulting in very large blocks
I use a knife and cut and shave the blocks into more presentable blocks of soap. All the shavings and pieces cut off are kept. When I have enough I grate them and remold them into special soaps with things like lavender flowers and oil, oatmeal, vanilla or rose oil etc in them.
Homemade Soap
PLEASE NOTE: WARNING This mixture will cause extreme burns if it comes in contact with skin or eyes!!!!
Before making soap it is important to understand that it requires a chemical reaction to occur which produces fumes and heat. Please do this outside or in a well aired place.
If it comes in contact with skin or eyes it will burn as it is highly alkaline. It is important to use protective clothing and equipment such as rubber gloves and protective glasses. It is also necessary to have vinegar at close hand to neutralise any burns immediately should they occur.
All plasic/rubber equipment should be used for the sole purpose of soap making.
All measurements must be EXACT otherwise soap may remain alkaline and cause skin burning
Ingredients:
- 1.5kg olive oil
- 454g distilled water
- 199g lye
Equipment:
- Rubber gloves
- Large deep stainless steel pot
- large stainless steel spoon
- small glass bowl
- Hand stick blender
- Plastic mold for soap
- Spatula
- large board to cover mold
- blankets
- Digital scales
- Jug to place utensils in
- Vinegar
Prepare by putting on your rubber gloves and safety glasses. Fill jug with some detergent, vinegar and water.
Carefully measure quantity of water. Put into the large deep stainless steel pot.
Measure lye in a small glass bowl.
Measure olive oil in another jug or bowl.
Place pot on a heat resistant surface because it will get to boiling temperatures.
Pour lye into the pot and stir with stainless steel spoon until dissolved. Do not put head over pot as it will produce nasty fumes at this time!
Add olive oil. Blend with stick blender being extremely careful that it doesn't splash. Blend until it reaches "Trace".
Trace is when it has started to thicken to the point that when you (turn off the stick blender) drip some of the mixture off the blender onto the surface of the soap it remains visible. You will get little "trails" by doing this. This is because "saponification" has occurred. Place stick blender into the jug with the detergent and vinegar.
Pour mixture into plastic mold using spatula. Place spatula into the jug with the detergent and vinegar.
Gently tap mold on bench to remove any air bubbles in the soap. Cover with a large board and blankets and leave in a place to set.
Slice the soap into bars the following day remembering to still wear your rubber gloves.
Leave soap for at least 2 weeks to "cure". I always test my batches of soap on myself though I'm sure there is a safer way to do it. I get a bottle of vinegar handy and rub a bar of on my fore arm. If any burning feeling occurs (which has never happened so far) I can wash it with vinegar to neutralise the alkaline.
This soap is best left for about three months and makes approximately 16 bars of soap.
Comments:
Initially it seemed a bit expensive to set up but I found some short cuts. I bought a new kitty litter tray for my mold. This makes functional blocks of soap rather than pretty ones.
I use a large chopping board to cover the plastic mold.
I did purchase a new stick blender for soap making. This cost approx $20 and seemed like a huge amount of money initially but has been very worth it. Definitely worth saving for!
I make a double batch (reduces chance of splashing) so end up with huge blocks of soap. I could get another litter tray...something to save for.
The Lye is sodium hydroxide. I buy Mechanix Caustic Soda from the supermarket. Not all caustic sodas are the same and may be mixed with other chemicals.
I wrap the soap in baking paper to store it.
I make a double batch resulting in very large blocks
I use a knife and cut and shave the blocks into more presentable blocks of soap. All the shavings and pieces cut off are kept. When I have enough I grate them and remold them into special soaps with things like lavender flowers and oil, oatmeal, vanilla or rose oil etc in them.
