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video Simple Shortening Soap
I AM IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE IF YOU INJURE YOURSELF IN ANY WAY BY FOLLOWING THE ACTIONS IN THE TUTORIAL. YOUR RECOGNIZE BY WATCHING (OR READING) IT THAT YOU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND THAT I AM IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS.
This is my "Rebatch Soap Base." If you hurt yourself making this, it is not my fault... don't get me wrong; I do love you, but please follow the instructions very carefully. Why use Shortening? Because it's CHEAP and it provides a good medium for learning the process of soap-making.
This tutorial was designed to teach the soap-making process. It is also used for a 'Rebatching Base.' You'll see it used as a "Rebatch Base" in my other tutorials: Sexy Cinnamon Soap, and Orange Zest Soap.
Equipment:
Goggles
Rubber Gloves
Funnel
Glass Scientific Vessel (or Jar)
Stick Blender
Mold(s)
Oven Safe Pan
Candy Thermometer
Materials:
3/4 cup of Lye
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
3 pounds of Shortening
BIG TIME NOTE OF POTENTIAL DANGER, PAIN, DISFIGUREMENT, AILMENT, IMPAIRMENT, and/or TERRIBLE-NESS:
Lye is extremely CAUSTIC! It can cause severe chemical burns. If this is your first time using Lye, treat it as if it is radioactive... be respectful of this substance. ALWAYS keep a jug of Vinegar handy, as it chemically deactivates Lye. Use an expeditious amount of Vinegar if ever the "Lye Water" spills on the floor, you, or a kid...
ATTENTION!: If splashed with a LARGE amount of "Lye Water," pour water (a lot of running water) over the area, then apply Vinegar.
ATTENTION!: When splashed by a tiny amount of "Lye Water," it starts as a subtle itch; if your hands, arms, or face start itching; dowse immediately in Vinegar. If "Lye Water" is spilled on the floor Do Not Mop It Up Or Dilute It With Water. First... DEACTIVATE it with Vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes; this converts the Lye and Vinegar into harmless salt water, then mop it up.
If you have a scale, measure the Lye by weight (220 G). If not; VERY CAREFULLY measure out 3/4 cup and triple check it. Using your funnel, pour 3/4 cup of Crystallized Lye into your vessel, or jar. Use Gloves.They're Neat. Measure out 1 1/2 (330 Grams) cups of water (it's best to use distilled water, but purified or filtered water will do) and pour into your vessel.
Using a funnel, pour the Lye into the water vessel. Again, lye is Caustic. Don't allow Lye any opportunities to burn you.
During the initial chemical reaction between the Lye and water there will be fumes. I find these fumes disconcerting.. Don't let the fumes near your eyes (wear GOGGLES), nor allow yourself to inhale them. Place the "Lye Water" under the ventilation fan of your stove for a few minutes, when the water turns clear, it will stop 'fuming.' You will need to either agitate the water or stir it to keep chunks of lye from adhering to the base of the vessel.
Melt the Shortening (with glee swimming in your heart) at a Medium-High heat, and add 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil. The Olive Oil hardens the final soap product, it's very important; without it you will have a soft soap that will disintegrate quickly in water. When the Shortening is 3/4 melted; turn the heat off and remove from the burner. Check the Shortening for temperature with your candy thermometer, it should be close to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check the "Lye Water" for temp, it should be around 175 degrees Fahrenheit. We will need to cool it down. Plug your sink and turn on the cold water, toss in a couple trays of ice cubes, then gently place the vessel of "Lye Water" in the ice bath. Make sure the level of ice water is on the same level as the "Lye Water."
When both "Lye Water" and melted Shortening are 97-100 degrees Fahrenheit, mix frabjously with a Stick Blender. "Shortening Soap" traces quickly. When it reaches "Trace" it becomes a somewhat thick pudding substance.
After "Trace" place the magical sludge into whatsoever mold you desire (Note: this does not include ANYTHING made of Aluminum or Cast Iron). This soap will "Set Up" quickly; you can usually cut it into bars within 3-4 hours. After cutting into bars, you must allow the soap to cure for 1-3 weeks before using.
This is my "Rebatch Soap Base." If you hurt yourself making this, it is not my fault... don't get me wrong; I do love you, but please follow the instructions very carefully. Why use Shortening? Because it's CHEAP and it provides a good medium for learning the process of soap-making.
This tutorial was designed to teach the soap-making process. It is also used for a 'Rebatching Base.' You'll see it used as a "Rebatch Base" in my other tutorials: Sexy Cinnamon Soap, and Orange Zest Soap.
Equipment:
Goggles
Rubber Gloves
Funnel
Glass Scientific Vessel (or Jar)
Stick Blender
Mold(s)
Oven Safe Pan
Candy Thermometer
Materials:
3/4 cup of Lye
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
3 pounds of Shortening
BIG TIME NOTE OF POTENTIAL DANGER, PAIN, DISFIGUREMENT, AILMENT, IMPAIRMENT, and/or TERRIBLE-NESS:
Lye is extremely CAUSTIC! It can cause severe chemical burns. If this is your first time using Lye, treat it as if it is radioactive... be respectful of this substance. ALWAYS keep a jug of Vinegar handy, as it chemically deactivates Lye. Use an expeditious amount of Vinegar if ever the "Lye Water" spills on the floor, you, or a kid...
ATTENTION!: If splashed with a LARGE amount of "Lye Water," pour water (a lot of running water) over the area, then apply Vinegar.
ATTENTION!: When splashed by a tiny amount of "Lye Water," it starts as a subtle itch; if your hands, arms, or face start itching; dowse immediately in Vinegar. If "Lye Water" is spilled on the floor Do Not Mop It Up Or Dilute It With Water. First... DEACTIVATE it with Vinegar, let it sit for a few minutes; this converts the Lye and Vinegar into harmless salt water, then mop it up.
If you have a scale, measure the Lye by weight (220 G). If not; VERY CAREFULLY measure out 3/4 cup and triple check it. Using your funnel, pour 3/4 cup of Crystallized Lye into your vessel, or jar. Use Gloves.They're Neat. Measure out 1 1/2 (330 Grams) cups of water (it's best to use distilled water, but purified or filtered water will do) and pour into your vessel.
Using a funnel, pour the Lye into the water vessel. Again, lye is Caustic. Don't allow Lye any opportunities to burn you.
During the initial chemical reaction between the Lye and water there will be fumes. I find these fumes disconcerting.. Don't let the fumes near your eyes (wear GOGGLES), nor allow yourself to inhale them. Place the "Lye Water" under the ventilation fan of your stove for a few minutes, when the water turns clear, it will stop 'fuming.' You will need to either agitate the water or stir it to keep chunks of lye from adhering to the base of the vessel.
Melt the Shortening (with glee swimming in your heart) at a Medium-High heat, and add 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil. The Olive Oil hardens the final soap product, it's very important; without it you will have a soft soap that will disintegrate quickly in water. When the Shortening is 3/4 melted; turn the heat off and remove from the burner. Check the Shortening for temperature with your candy thermometer, it should be close to 100-120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check the "Lye Water" for temp, it should be around 175 degrees Fahrenheit. We will need to cool it down. Plug your sink and turn on the cold water, toss in a couple trays of ice cubes, then gently place the vessel of "Lye Water" in the ice bath. Make sure the level of ice water is on the same level as the "Lye Water."
When both "Lye Water" and melted Shortening are 97-100 degrees Fahrenheit, mix frabjously with a Stick Blender. "Shortening Soap" traces quickly. When it reaches "Trace" it becomes a somewhat thick pudding substance.
After "Trace" place the magical sludge into whatsoever mold you desire (Note: this does not include ANYTHING made of Aluminum or Cast Iron). This soap will "Set Up" quickly; you can usually cut it into bars within 3-4 hours. After cutting into bars, you must allow the soap to cure for 1-3 weeks before using.
Most people don't know it's best to learn using inexpensive ingredients, then, once you have a good 'working knowledge,' move on to more expensive and luxuriant products. Nothing wrong with making amazing soap.
However, my mixture never really became "pudding-like." The store only had 3lb "butter-flavored" shortening. Thinking about it for a minute, I thought it might be okay since you can make soap out of either shortening or butter, but maybe it had too much oil in it. My other problem was that I don't actually have a stick blender, so I used a hand-mixer. Does that make the difference in consistency? I gave it almost 15 min of blending.
Also, the mixture was a tan, "butterscotch" color throughout the process. When I melted the shortening, it was very "butter-yellow" (shocking!). So, I think the color is a result of the butter shortening, but I want to be sure it isn't the brown lye separation you wrote about. When you say soap is a "bad batch," do you mean that it is dangerous to use? You pretty much put the fear of God in me about the lye, so I'm interested to know when the lye is no longer dangerous in this process. You mean we make something we wash our hands with from something that we should never touch? The world never ceases to amaze me...
Thank you!
I've made soap successfully with "Butter Flavored Shortening" it gives it a nice color when you're done, no harm there. I commend you sir on your find choice.
I recommend using a Stick Blender, you technically can use any blender, but they are not as effective and they take much longer to get the same results.
"When you say soap is a "bad batch," do you mean that it is dangerous to use?" Yes, it can be used for 'dangerous' or just disgusting looking, either way you can usually use different rebatch methods to save it.
You have to let the soap sit for at LEAST a week before using, usually after a week it is safe to use. If you notice your skin itching severely or turning red... your lye mix is wrong and it's a 'hot' batch.
That's okay, you can use it for laundry, I'm going to be posting an instructable soon on how to make laundry soap.
"You mean we make something we wash our hands with from something that we should never touch?" Yea Verily we do. But the interesting thing about "Lye vs Fat" is when the process is done the lye has destroyed itself and there is almost no oil left... the chemical process has created: SOAP!
From the International Program on Chemical Safety
cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0360.html
You will find these instructions on every Safety Data Sheet.
Please change your video to reflect the correct procedures in using this chemical; Goggles, protective clothing and gloves, not to use glass or aluminium in preparing this hazardous solution and to POUR THE LYE INTO THE WATER.
This is not an option.
1. My soap turned purply-brown when I added the lye.
2. After cooling for several hours my "soap" was completely soft in places (like cream cheese) with large hard nuggets of white solid soap within it.
After I discovered the nuggets I tried to reheat the soap and then remold it, only when I tried to reheat it, it separated. There was a brownish liquid (the lye?) that sweated out of the soap. I couldn't incorporate it back in, no matter how much I mixed, so I just put the whole mass in the trash.
Any idea what I did that screwed this up so bad?
I'd advise not rebatching any problem soap until it has cured for a week. If the soap remains 'solid' (even if portions are soft) with no lye leakage, you can likely rebatch with no problems. Please see my other instructable "Preparing Soap For Rebatching." http://www.instructables.com/id/Prepairing/
You must VERY carefully measure out all thing ingredients Lye vs. Water vs. Fat. If they are not balanced correctly (too much Lye) the Lye can seperate.
If you don't have a Candy Thermometer, Please Go Get One. I didn't use one for the longest time and made so many mistakes... it really is a life saver. It sounds like you added a very Hot lye water mixture to a rather Cool oil. Don't use re-used fats (used Crisco, used Canola Oil), just use new Shortening & Olive Oil.
Don't over, or under mix your raw soap mixture, too much... and it separates, too little and you don't get soap... and it still may separate.
Anytime you get a brownish liquid that separates, this is Lye, and the batch may very well be bad. Most 'Soapers' throw this type of batch out, I know a few tricks to save batches like this; let me know if you're interested. Hope this info helped.
I tried the recipe again, paying very close attention to the temp of the oil and lye. I think that in the last batch while I gave the lye it's ice bath the oil got too cool and I didn't bother to check it again after the initial melt.
The new batch is sitting in the mold and so far it looks to be setting just fine. The old batch went down the disposal along with the separated lye.
One thing is still odd, it's all purply-brown again as soon as I add the lye. I don't mind the color (it looks kinda cool) but I am concerned that it might be an indicator of having done something wrong. Has this ever happened to you?
The only discoloration I've had is directly due to something I've added, just straight Lye Water vs Shortening has never made an odd colour for me.
Thank you for all the encouragement and input. I certainly feel awesome and giddy with accomplishment.
It is the container the shortening came in! The brand I started with came in a paper/foil lined can and my secondary shortening has in a plastic container. The veg-oil must leech some of the aluminum from it's long stay in the container. This explains why it seems to magically change color when the lye is added.
So my difficulty with my first batch was 2-fold.
1. The "Crisco" was contaminated by aluminum
2. I didn't pay close enough attention to the temperature of my lye water and oil.
Here are a couple pictures from the batches this morning to illustrate the difference.
Thank you again for your feed back and for providing such a awesome set of Instructables. I have successfully rebatched all the soap I made into different "flavors" for Christmas gifts. I made the Citrus and Cinnamon soaps but I also improvised with some Oatmeal Vanilla, Coffee, and Jasmine. I have over 50 bars of luscious soap now so I think I will have plenty left over for myself!
Castor oil - More Suds
Honey - More Lather, Moisturizing
Almond Oil - Creamy Lather, Smooth texture on skin.
What are its uses? Is it antibacterial? If not, how do you make antibacterial soap?
Sincerely,
A: Any bacteria is doesn't kill, gets stronger and then resilient to the "anti-bacteria."
B: The term "Anti-Bacterial" is kitsch, and overused and not understood.
C: I like bacteria the way it is, fighting it with normal wholesome soap will not mutate it.
D: Pie.
E: Caramel Piglets eating magical papaya.
F: Monkeys... not the flying variety, but the vicious ones that have red glowing eyes in the night and swing from branches.
Raw Honey
Goldenseal Root Powder
Tea Tree Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
I guess this makes me a hippy.... or at least a hipster. YAY!