How to Make Soap( the old fashioned way)

By Donna Nickel

one 4-to-6 cup mixing container made of lye-resistant material (Elaine used a stainless steel mixing bowl)

one heatproof container that holds at least 2 cups(may use a Pyrex measuring cup)

stainless steel, plastic, wooden spoon or a rubber spatula

two thermometers made of glass or stainless steel(candy and meat thermometers work well)

eye protection (wear sunglasses if you have to!)

rubber gloves (optional)

accurate scale to weight the fats and lye

soap molds (any flexible plastic container works well)

a clock with a second hand or other type timer

wire whisk (optional)

pot holders or oven mitts

measuring spoons

The Equipment List:

1) Heat the fat.2) Put on eye protection and rubber gloves.3) Use a heat-proof container to measure the amount of cold water (70 to 75 degrees F) specified in the recipe. 4) When both the fat and the lye/water reach the temperature specified in the recipe, add the lye/water to the fat 5) Stir the soap until it "traces." 6) After the soap traces, add up to one tablespoon essential oil (if desired) and stir a few minutes longer to incorporate the oil 7) Pour the soap into molds and wait for it to harden. The recipes states this length of time as 'time in mold.'8) Un mold the soap. 9) Wait the time specified in a recipe for the soap to"age" (usually 3 weeks). 10) Step 10 is *enjoy your soap!*

See the web site http://hometown.aol.com/oelaineo/directions.html for full instructions.

Have an adult help you with heating, pouring, measuring lye, and mixing hot or caustic substances.

The Ten-Step Procedure

A traditional and blender soap combination. The fats are expensive, but milk allows for about 12 bars, vs. only 6 bars of the same recipe without milk.

8 oz weight cocoa butter5 oz weight palm oil3 oz weight castor oil2.2 oz weight lye (sodium hydroxide)1 cup cold milk ( Elaine used 2% right from the fridge)1 cup water1 tablespoon essential oil (Elaine added 2 chamomile tea bags and 2 jasmine tea bags, dry) Fats: 100 degree rangeLye/water/milk combination: 125 degree range

Dissolve the lye in the water. Add all ingredients to the blender. Process about 30 seconds, or until the mixture looks smooth and a uniform color. It will not trace. Pour it into the molds.

Have an adult help you with heating, pouring, measuring lye, and mixing hot or caustic substances.

Blender Soap

Works Cited

Elaine C. White

http://hometown.aol.com/oelaineo/directions.html