Making soap is a process that is easy and fun as well as making the creation of these products a wonderful gift for anybody at any time. It is also an experience that is unique and at the same time rewarding. The whole procedure of making soap rakes around 2 days with the inclusion mixing all the raw materials, letting the mixture cool and the molding of the mixture to obtain a finished product. Making the soap needs several ingredients and equipments. They are:
- Some sort of fat or lard
- Table salt/NaCl
- Alcohol – Ethanol
- Stirring rod or glass beaker
- Bunsen burner or any other source of heat
- Mold for the soap bars
It is important to collect all ingredients and equipments that are required to make the soap. Also collect all the safety gear that is needed. Wear the rubber gloves and the apron plus the goggles. These are to protect from lye, which can cause serious burns.
The soap making
- After collecting all the ingredients and necessary equipments, take the weighing scale and put a plastic container on top of the scale.
- Add water to this container and then carefully mix the lye in a ratio that is 1:3. For example, 10 ounces of lye put nearly 30 ounces of water. Water is added to lye and not the other way round.
- Due to the lye emitting a lot of heat as well as fumes when mixed with water, people should be careful. It is essential that the mixing be done outside.
- Allow the lye to cool down, around 2 to 3 hours. It is preferred that the lye preparation be done a day in advance.
- The lard and oils are then measured and poured in an enameled or stainless steel container.
- Place this container on the Bunsen burner or stove and heat slowly until the fat melts in a uniform mixture. Stir gently and check with a thermometer to obtain a temperature that is about 120oF to 130oF.
- Add the mixed lye to the fats slowly and carefully and mix with a spoon while pouring.
- The mixture should then be stirred well by using the spoon and alternating with a stick blender. In this manner, the texture of the mixture will change after some time, become thicker and opaque.
- The fragrance is then measured and added to the mixture and stirred once more. Coloring can also be added after this stage and mixed uniformly.
- Lastly, pour the mixture in plastic molds and let the mixture cool at room temperature for a day.
Soaps are long lasting if the preparation was well followed and can even be made of different shaped an d one can add scents to them or even color.
