Frugal soap making for the beginner

I've always wanted to make soap but it seemed so hard, complicated, and expensive. I thought that Lye would be hard to get, I would have to buy all kinds of expensive soap making supplies, etc.  Boy was I wrong!  I wanted to show you how YOU (yes, you) can make your own soap at home with things you probably already have around the house. 

Here is a list of supplies you will need to get started:

Microwave
Scale
3 bowls, 1 needs a lid (You can get a set of 4 bowls with lids at Wal-mart for about $4.00, that's what I used but I got lucky and found mine at the thrift store for $1.00)
Soap mold (you can use pretty much anything for this.  I've used a pan and a wooden box)
Parchment paper or Saran wrap
2 Stirring Spoons
Immersion Blender
Thermometer
Rubber Gloves
Goggles
Vinegar
I have a tendency to not use gloves or goggles, I know, it's unsafe, but I keep the vinegar around in case the lye solution gets on my skin.  The vinegar neutralized the lye and stops it from burning the skin.


Here are the ingredients we need:

Water
Lye
Coconut oil
Lard

 

Alright, lets get started!

 

First, let's mix our lye solution.  Let's measure our lye solution.  We need 13.9 oz of lye.

 

 

Now, let's measure our water.  We need 31.7 oz of water. 

 

 

Okay, now we're going to add our Lye to our Water.  This is where you'll need your mask, goggles, and gloves.  DON'T breathe in the lye solution.  Turn on your fan over your stove or open some windows if the weather will allow. 

 

 

Your lye solution will heat up quickly.  Do not breathe the gas.  Mix the solution up until all of the lye is dissolved.

 

 

Now let's start on the Oils, in our case the lard and coconut oil.  Add the oils in your largest mixing bowl that will fit in your microwave. 

 

 

 

Microwave the oils for a few minutes at a time, mixing in between. 

Keep microwaving and mixing until all of your oils are melted.

Now we need to wait until both the oils and the lye solution reach between 100 - 125 degrees.

Now that your oils have reached the correct temperature, we're going to add the lye solution to the oils. 

Okay, now get out your immersion blender.  Mix your solution for about 3 - 5 minutes until it reaches "trace." 

Alright, your soap is now at trace! 

 

Now we're going to add our soap mixture to our prepared mold.

 

 

After you've poured your soap in the mold cover with plastic wrap and a towel (mine is an old cloth diaper with is now used as cleaning rag - that's why it looks so rough :-)  Your soap will heat up a lot, it's pretty amazing!

 

 

Okay, now our soap has set for 12 - 24 hours.  Let's get it out and unwrap it. 

 

 

Cut your soap into bars.  You choose the size you like.  I like mine bigger.  It made 24 huge (like 2 bars of store bought soap put together) bars of soap.  It could easily make 48 bars. 

 

 

Now, let your soap cure (sit in a cool, dark area - I put mine under my bed) for 4 - 6 weeks. 

 

 

Enjoy your soap!

 

**I am in no way a photographer or a professional soap maker but I hope this helps you make your own soap.  Ignore the mess in the background!!!!