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Basic Soap Recipe #2 |
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The following is a basic soap recipe, the preparation and methods are applicable to most soap recipes and to save space will not always be repeated, so please refer back to these methods when in doubt. For further information, follow the links.
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| 7.1ozs/200g Sodium Hydroxide |
| 19ozs/540g Distilled Water |
| 21ozs/600g
Olive Oil |
| 16ozs/454g
Coconut 76 Oil |
| 14ozs/400g
Palm Oil |
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Preparation
1. Set up your work area, ideally with stove and running water readily available, collect together necessary equipment, read instructions in
entirety before starting. Gloves, goggles and mask are
recommended when handling Lye (sodium Hydroxide).
2. Line a mold, a wooden tray or heavy cardboard box, with heavy duty waxed paper, keep the paper as flat and smooth as possible by mitering the corners to the outside, and secure the paper with masking tape or similar.
3. Measure out your oils and set them aside.
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Making the lye solution.
Lye (sodium hydroxide) needs to be treated with care, the crystals and solution will burn the bare skin if allowed to splash, the fumes also are noxious, so please take care. Always wear your gloves, goggles and mask, and ensure you have adequate ventilation.
4. Take a large glass bowl or jug and pour in the distilled water, carefully add the lye stirring briskly, but without splashing, hold your breath and keep your nose clear of the fumes. If you have to leave the room because of the fumes, return within 2 minutes to check that the sodium has
dissolved fully. do not wait longer as the sodium will 'block' and then will resist dissolving. The chemical reaction will heat the lye solution to about 160°F. Carefully cover bowl and move to a safe place to cool down to desired temperature (80-100°F).
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Mixing the Oils
5. Add the oils to a 3 quart saucepan, and warm on medium heat till oils are just melted, stirring occasionally, do not overheat, as this will burn the oils, remove from heat and allow to cool to desired temperature, (80-100°F).
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Making the Soap
6. Now you are ready to make soap, first insure both the oils and the lye solution are the same temperature, between 80 and 100°F.
7. Wearing goggles, gloves and mask drizzle the lye solution into the oils, stirring briskly. After all the lye solution is mixed into the oils, continue to stir briskly, a wire whisk is useful for this, keep the mixture moving, cleaning off the sides and stirring briskly. After about 5 minutes the mixture will start to thicken, from now
until the mixture is ready to be poured the stir should be vigorous, continuous and forceful, insure that the sides of the pan are
continuously cleaned and blended.
8. Once a small amount of soap drizzled across the solutions surface leaves a faint pattern (called tracing) before sinking back into the mixture, the soap is ready for pouring. This is the point you would add essential oils or fragrance oils or nutrients. Do not wait until the pattern remains on the surface, this will make pouring difficult and the soap could set before you get it into the mold.
9. Pour the mixture quickly into the prepared mold, the soap should be smooth and even, this is the test of how well you have stirred it, any watery or oily puddles indicate poor mixing, do not add these to your mold. If the mixture starts to set before pouring is complete, use a spatula to push into the corners, this can always be cut off later if necessary.
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Curing and Cutting
10. Cover the mold with a lid, thick cardboard or wood, do not allow to touch the top of the soap, and cover the whole with a blanket, leave for 18 to 24 hours.
11. Uncover and set away the soap in a warm draft free place for 1 to 7 days, or until the soap is firm enough to be cut into bars, don't leave until it is rock hard.
12. Mark and cut into bars using a ruler and knife, place bars onto plain, ink free, brown paper, and return to warm, draft free place.
13. Allow the soaps to cure for 3 - 4 weeks turning them over once, exposing fully the other side, Wrap, preferably in breathable material, and enjoy. |
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Ingredients