Introduction: Easy Homemade Soap!

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You may be thinking; why make soap when I can just buy it from the store? Well, here's why. When you buy soap from the store, there are TONS of mystery ingredients that you've probably never heard of before. With homemade soap, there are only a few healthy ingredients!

Not only is this a fun craft, but it's super easy to make!



Supplies

  • Soap mold of your choice
  • Metal thermometer
  • 2/3 cup of coconut oil
  • 2/3 cup of olive oil
  • 2/3 cup of almond oil (sunflower oil, safflower oil, or vegetable will also work)
  • 1/4 cup of lye
  • 3/4 cup of cool water (purified or distilled works best)
  • Essential oil or smell of your choice
  • Rubber gloves/safety goggles (when dealing with lye)
  • Metal spoon
  • Jar or Cup
  • Container/bowl/pitcher
  • Food dye (optional)

Prep time: 15 min

Work time: 45 min

Cooling time: 1 day

Total time: 1 day 1 hour

 

Step 1: Get Prepared

For the first step, get your working area ready Next, put on your gloves and safety goggles. Get out all of your supplies and place them on the newspaper.

 


Step 2: Using Lye

SAFETY FIRST: Remember, although in the soap the lye will not do any harm in the completed soap product, you do not want to touch it because it could cause skin irritation.

So, the first thing you need to do is take your water and pour it into a cup. Then Measure your lye out, making sure to do exactly 1/4 cup. Slowly pour your lye into the cup of water. Stir as you pour, but stand back as you do this, so you can avoid the lye fumes.

Step 3: Heating Process

Take your three oils and mix them together in a microwave safe cup. Then microwave your oils for about a minute in the microwave. After doing that, with your thermometer, check the temperature of the oils. It should be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the temperature of the lye water mixture. It should be around 95 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This is very important for soap making. If your temperature is too low, your soap will become crumbly. 


Step 4: Mixing

So once your oil mixture and your lye are at the right temperatures, put the oil mixture into your container. I used a pitcher as shown so when I poured this mixture in to my soap mold, it didn't spill. Slowly add your lye mixture in. You will need stir by hand for about 5 minutes. You will notice that the soap mixture will become thicker and lighten in color. When its finished, it will be at a pudding-like consistency. 

 


Step 5: Dyes and Scents

At this point, add the scent and color of your choice. Although this is optional, it will make your soap look and smell so much better!

Step 6: Mold

Now, take your mixture and carefully pour it into the mold you have. Cover it with plastic wrap so dust will not get into your soap. Let it sit for at least 24 hours, or until it is cold and hard. Finally, let your soap cure from 2-4 weeks before use.

Step 7: Finish Your Soap!

Once it has cured, you can either use it or give it away as nice gifts!