Everyone uses soap, but most people do not know that they can learn how to make soap themselves. Soap making is an enjoyable and time-consuming process that also functions as an excellent hobby. Soap makers can use their own soap when they are finished, or give the soap to friends and neighbors, or even sell it at craft fairs or online. With the popularity of handcrafted items rising, one can even turn their soap making hobby into a lucrative career.
Soap Making Methods
The three most popular ways to make soap are:
· Melt and Pour Process
· Hot Process
· Cold Process
Soap Ingredients
Cold Process is one of the best ways for the beginning soap maker to create soap. In order to create soap using this process, you will need:
· Goggles
· Gloves
· Long-sleeved shirt
· Fixed oils such as coconut, palm or canola
· Fragrant oils
· Lye
· Water
· Two pots
· Something to stir your soap mixture
· Soap molds
· Saran wrap
A note of caution – never create soap without first donning your goggles, gloves and long-sleeve shirt. Lye causes horrific burns and soap fumes can irritate the eyes. Also make sure to work in a ventilated room.
Soap Making Process
1. Add lye to water (adding water to lye will create a bad reaction) in a pot and stir constantly.
2. Remove the pot from heat once it has obtained 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Heat up the second pot with all of the oils, stirring constantly until it reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Add the lye/water solution to the oils and stir until the mixture is thoroughly mixed. It will form what is known as trace, which is the point where the oil and lye/water solution cannot return to their original form.
5. Pour the trace into soap molds. Leave in the molds for three to five days.
6. Take the soap out of the molds, wrap each piece in Saran wrap and let them sit for four to six weeks.
A month later the saponification process (the reaction that turns soap into soap) will be complete and you can give your handmade soap or dog soap to friends, family and your canine companions.