Homemade Soap

[Shadowgirlau]

Hi BJ, Just read your reply over on the gardening Gardening, you really should have a go at making your own soap. DD was working out the cost of the soap we are going to make this week as we bought all the oils yesterday.
Calculating all the requirements the soap will come out at $1.05 a bar (regular sized one) and we will make 10 bars to a batch.

This cost would be cheaper if we had bought the oils in bulk but we didn't, instead we have bought smaller amounts of the oils which is not really the way to do it for cheapness. Even so we will know what is in our soap. I also bought the ingredients needed to make laundry soap and this will work out to be 18cents a wash which suits me fine. I usually get 16 washes from my usual 2litre bottle of laundry liquid and this normally costs me 37c a wash. This same soap has decreased in size to 1.5 litre for the same cost as 2 litre which will increase the cost of each wash. I could be wrong but I think it will increase my washing cost to $1.66 a wash. This is the cheapest washing soap I can buy (which I find also cleans well) although I admit from time to time I have to soak all my whites in Sard to stop them going that grey colour the whites go when the soap isn't giving a good enough clean. I used to make lip balm, moisturizer, shampoo and hand creams as well so according to my DD they are also going back on the agenda. Looks like I am going to become very busy for awhile. Thank goodness she is wanting me to teach her how to do it as this means she can help out or take over the deed.

Kathleen

[childoftheearth]

Hi Kathleen & BJ

I have just started to use my first batch of soap which I made about 8 weeks ago. It seems a bit "gritty" and barely lathers, but it seems to move dirt and grease (I'm using a bar in the kitchen for hand washing).

I was loathe to spend too much money until I knew if it would work so I made the first two batches with a block of "Frytol" each, probably not ideal! I turned one batch into bars (which I am now using) and the other into a (1 litre milk carton) block to grate and make into laundry mix. I haven't done that yet.

If you have any tips or recipes I would be very keen to hear them.

BJ you should definitely have a go, it was really easy and I think with the proper ingredients the outcome would be excellent.

Regards
Elaine

[BJTJ]

I definitely will - just when. We are leaving on a trip around Australia for 12 weeks in 4 weeks time so so many things are on hold until we get back. Our housesitters can't wait to get to my vege garden and orchard!! I will have time to read the soapmaking book and be "full bottle" when I get back and make it. BJ

[Shadowgirlau]

Well done Elaine, I remember my first batch and how pleased I was with it. One soon gets hooked

What would you like to know?

What ingredients did you use and which process? I use cold process when making mine, never did like the hot process so am not going to be a lot of help on the latter.

Kathleen

[childoftheearth]

HI Kathleen,

As with so many things in my life, I just jumped in and had a go, I have no idea what the process is called!

I just melted a block of "Frytol" (which is labeled "blended animal fats") and dissolved the appropriate amount of caustic soda, heated/cooled them to the same temperature and then stirred them together until it "traced".

That being the case, anything you care to pass on will be of value to me, titles of good books on soapmaking, recipes, techniques, hints etc.

At this stage I am mainly interested in making basic, economical soap, laundry powder/liquid, and maybe a liquid body wash. My emphasis is definitely on cheap rather than fancy.

Bye for now,
Elaine

[Shadowgirlau]

Okay, I have a basic soap making recipe, it is the first recipe I ever used. Like you I just hopped right in and got on with it (after reading quite a bit about it on the internet)
If you can get to a library go in and see what books they have. Otherwise do a search on google and you will doubtless come across several soapmaking tutourials. I have several soap books myself but at this time couldn't tell you what they are called, would remember if i had it from a picture though

I also have a good soap recipe for laundry, it works well and is the one I always (used to use) and which I really must start making again as buying it is becoming expensive again. The laundry soap is actually a gel more than a liquid which was a surprise to me at first. now it is just normal.

Unfortunately I am on my sisterinlaws computer at the moment but as soon as I am on my own again I shall be happy to pass on the recipes. As for what I used for making the soap, well I preferred a combination of oils and used mainly this - olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil and a little castor oil.
While the other oils do lather adding castor oil was found to give the soap a silkiness and nicer lather. (my opinion only) I have used animal fats such as you mention but on the whole stick to vegetable based ones as I found the animal fat ones to be "grainy" Saying this they do make a great "mechanics" soap and my hubby loves the one that I make for him to clean his hands with after he has been working outside.

Cheers
Kathleen

[BJTJ]

wow never realised soap could be made out of vegetable oils - WILL have to do some research. I would be most interested in your recipe. Haven't had a chance to read the book I have, but I suppose it would have similiar to what you are talking about. The more and more info you find out about what goes into your body, or what you don't know what goes into your body, the more I want to know exactly what I am using. Does that make sense?? BJ