If you would like to start a new hobby and save money as well, then making your own home made soaps might be for you. Even though the ingredients to make the soap might be a little expensive at first, buying in bulk will help you in the long run. Buying the ingredients and getting the supplies you need can be quite challenging just don’t get discouraged. The ending project is well worth it.
The recipe I’m using will make 40 four ounce bars of soap. Once you get better at your own soap making you can learn how to cut it in half. However I would not recommend anyone playing around with the ingredients until you know exactly what you are doing.
There are numerous supplies you will need to gather before we get started. First thing you’ll need to determine is a work station. An area where you will make your soaps. Make sure you have all of your supplies before getting started.
First things first. Begin by purchasing scales, goggles, gloves, thermometers, a soap making pan and a large glass bowl as well as a pan to line with wax paper to pour your actual soap residue into to create and dry your soap. This can be a bought pan or you may want to construct yourself one out of wood. You will need wax paper as well as several measuring cups. Last get a large glass container like a bowl or ceramic dish. Buying several extra rubber or plastic spatulas will come in handy as well.
Once you have your soap area set up it’s time to set aside all of the ingredients you’ll need. First thing is 473 grams of sodium hydroxide then four pounds of olive oil,3 pounds cold distilled water, two pounds and eight ounces of coconut oil, 1 pound 8 ounces of palm oil and then 30 grams grapefruit seed extract. One cup of finely grounded oatmeal as well as 4 tablespoons of honey that has been slightly warmed.
Now you are ready to get started. I can’t express to you the joy you will have once you have accomplished this hobby. The money you will save is unimaginable as well as the gift ideas are never ending. Let’s now begin on the process of making the soap.
Start out by measuring out all of your essential oils and setting them aside in plastic bowls. Next you’ll need to line your pans with wax paper and make sure you leave about an inch at the top. If you need to try taping the wax paper to the pan so to prevent sliding around.
Next step is to put on your goggles and safety thick gloves. I like wearing the yellow dish washing gloves for my soap making. Next thing to do is weight out your hydroxide and set it aside away from your area. Set a 2 quart glass container on the scale and weigh out your water.
Carefully pour your measured hydroxide into the distilled measured water. Start stirring fast until it has dissolved. next place the pan you’ll be using to make soap in on the scale. I use a 12 quart pan. Now you’ll add your soap making liquid essentials and oils.
Stir all of these together in the quart pot and when you get your own desired amount of smell add your honey and oatmeal. Stir this all together until smooth and no lumps. Slowly stir in your hydroxide and water mixture and stir briskly.
Once you see all the oils are even in the quart pan slowly pour over into your metal or wood framed pan. Do not scrape the sides of the residue in the pan into the pan your pouring the soap into. This will mess up your soap. Once you have poured it into the pans you now need to cover your soap with a piece of plywood then several towels and a blanket.
Leave it alone and don’t bother it for 24 hours and once the time has passed you can take a knife and cut through the wax and slice it into evenly bars. Once you’ve cut it carefully slide the soap off the wax paper. Taking your knife you’ll want to shave off the powder stuff on the soap before using. Make sure you lay the soap bars on a brown garbage bag or a piece of wicker.
You want to make sure this next final step is done right. You need to place these soap bars in an area where they will not be touched. You need to turn over after two weeks and let them sit there for four to six weeks until completely hard and set.
Now is the time to decide how you are going to wrap your beautiful soaps you’ve created. Use your imagination and get creative. I make mine all year long and then at Christmas I place a slice of fresh spruce or rose petals or holly on top of the paper and use a tweed piece of cord to wrap around the top.
You can later experiment and add different oils to get different scents if you would like.
