Making Liquid Soap

August 18, 2004

Here are the basics of how I make my liquid soap. I don' think I left

anything out ...

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

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1. Put together your recipe. Make sure it has been run through a lye

calculator. Assemble all utensils, ingredients, safety equipment, etc

....

2. Combine your oils (by weight) in your soap making pot. I personally

do not over alkalize it (add excess lye). I will simply have it at zero

superfat, or maybe 1% superfat.

3. Weigh your distilled water (very important to use distilled or soft

water when making liquid soap) in a lye safe bucket.

4. Weigh your Potassium hydroxide (the form of lye you want to use for

liquid soap making) in a lye safe container.

5. Combine lye and water* in a well ventilated area (like outside) and

be sure to not breathe in any of the fumes or let the fumes touch your

skin. Be sure the lye is fully dissolved in the water. I personally use

a very deep bucket so I can gently swirl the water around without using

a spoon or worry about sloshing any out of the bucket. Put in a safe

place where people or animals won't get into the bucket and let cool.

*REMEMBER: ALWAYS pour the lye INTO the water, not the other way around.

You want that violent chemical reaction that occurs to happen in the

water, not in the air. You could get VERY hurt if you pour water over

lye.

6. Heat your oils until just melted. Let cool.

7. When your oils and lye water have cooled to about the same

temperature (a bit warmer than room temperature, about the temp of a

warm bath) slowly pour the lye water into your oils. Gently stir with a

spoon until it looks combined.

8. Pull out your handy dandy stick blender and blend (without splashing,

so keep that blender deep in the pot) for about 5 minutes.

9. Leave the " soap to be " sit for about 10 - 15 minutes or so. When you

go back to it you'll noticed it has separated into what looks a bit like

curds and oily water. Stick blend again for about 5 minutes.

10. Repeat processed 8 & 9 several times until the " soap to be " does not

separate after leaving alone for 10 - 15 minutes.

11. Place soap pot in the oven, covered, on low heat (around 200F).

Check soap about every half hour or so, giving it a quick stir with a

spoon. If it separates, give it a stir with the stick blender until it

is combined again. You'll notice eventually that the soap gets thicker

and begins to gel.

12. When it is fully in gel stage give it one more stir and leave it

cook for a couple of hours. Your finished product should have a

consistency similar to stirred Vaseline and be kind of translucent.

13. At this point you can do your preferred " zap " test - use pH testers,

some soapers do the tongue test, etc .. If you find the soap still has

zap, and you didn't over alkalize it, it needs to cook longer. If you

did over alkalize it you'll have to use a neutralizer such as borax or

citric acid to preference when diluting it.

14. Soap paste can be stored long term. So folks like to refrigerate it.

Some folks also like to let it sit for a week or two before diluting it,

others use it right away. that is your preference.

Note: When diluting your liquid soap, if you notice a " white film " that

floats to the top and won't incorporate, simply use a siphon or

container with a bottom tap to decant the clear soap and put the film

aside to use for housecleaning (I find the film to be low sudsing and

great for that application)

August 19, 2004

Do you use this liquid soap as a shampoo , body wash base etc.? Where do you

purchase this form of lye? I feel another addiction coming on.

Thanks,

Melissa

-

Christine Ziegler

Wednesday, August 18, 2004 2:39 PM