How To Make Soap

Soaps have been in use since times immemorial. A bar of soap can be traced back to the pages of early Babylon history around 2800 BC. However, the traditional bar of soap has undergone several changes over the years. Soaps manufactured today are different not only by look, but also by their manufacturing process, from soaps manufactured earlier. Similarly, the processes of making soap in industries and homes are entirely different. Making your own soap can be not only fun, but also fruitful. A bar of soap made by you can be used at home or can also be gifted to your near and dear ones. However, you need to be very careful while making soap, because of the presence of alkaline substances around you. It is always advisable to keep children away from a place where soap is being made. In the following lines, we have provided the list of things that would be required and the steps that you need to cautiously follow to make soap at home.

Making Soap

Things Required

33 ounce Water
11 ounce Lye
3 lb Lard
1 lb Coconut Oil
1 lb Olive Oil
1 ounce Coloring Dye
1.5 ounce Fragrance
Plastic Container
Stainless Steel Pot
Stainless Steel Spoon
Rubber Gloves
Apron
Glasses /Goggles
Weighing Scale
Stick Blender
Plastic Mold
Thermometer

Instructions

Wear your rubber gloves and goggles.
Take the weighing scale and measure out 11 ounces of lye and 33 ounces of water.
Mix lye in water, adding the lye while continuously stirring the water. The mixture is made in the plastic container. Be very careful while mixing the lye in water. Lye dropped in water will cause fumes which are dangerous if breathed in. Make the mixture in an open space.
The mixture of lye and water is now left to cool at room temperature. The cooling process takes less than three hours.
Next mix lard with coconut oil and olive oil in the stainless steel container.
The mixture of oils and lard is to be heated on a stove until the fatty oils completely melt. The lard and oil should be well blended after heating.
Leave this mixture to cool too. It should attain the temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Now combine the lye and water mixture with the lard and oil mixture, using the stainless steel spoon. This mixture too should completely blend using a stick blender.
Note that while you are stirring the mixture, it will change its texture and become gradually thick and viscous. When the thickness reaches a particular stage, it is called liquid soap.
Now mix the fragrance and coloring dye to make the final soap mixture. Mix with the stick blender. Coloring dye is optional and one can choose from a variety of colors for the final soap.
Now pour the mixture into a mold of your choice and leave it to cool at room temperature. After 24 hours, your bar of soap should be ready for use.
In case the soap does not come out of the mold, put the mold into the freezer for around three hours. Remove the hardened soap from the mold using a blow dryer.

Soap making is indeed easy. What you have to keep in mind is to adopt safety measures during the process. Lemon juice or vinegar should be kept at hand in case of sudden burns.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Home & Living'