First and foremost, soap is basically a substance that is used for cleansing. There are basically two types of soap. The first is the kind that you use for washing, such as dishwashing soap and laundry soap, and the second type of soap is the one that you use for your body, such as bath soaps.
Soap is basically made out of a chemical reaction that occurs between fat and lye or sodium hydroxide. The name of the soap was derived from Mount Sapo, which was a popular location for animal sacrifices during the Roman times. Rain mixed with the animal fat residue with the clay and burned wood and a chemical reaction soon occurred.
The women who lived on the banks of the Tiber River discovered that the clothes they washed with the substance were much cleaner and they also did it with little effort.
There are two popular soap making processes that are being used for making soap today. One is called the cold process and the other is the melt and pour soap making process.
For the cold process, you will basically need two main ingredients, which are the fat and lye. The fat are basically oils from vegetables or animals. Nowadays, animal fats from beef tallow are less used these days as it is considered to be less animal friendly. If you can't bear the idea of using animal fat for your soap, then you should go for vegetable or plant oils, which is obviously animal friendly.
The most common vegetable oils used for soap making are coconut, olive, cocoa, and palm oils. You can also use other oils, such as castor oil, avocado oil, and even almond oil. You just have to keep in mind that different oils have different properties. You need to learn about the properties of the oils you plan on using in order for you to create the perfect soap for your skin. For example, if you have sensitive skin, you can use avocado oil.
You will need lye or sodium hydroxide. Another name would be caustic soda. The lye you will use needs to be dissolved in water in order for it to actively react with the oil. You will also need water, particularly distilled or bottled spring water. Hard water contains minerals and salts, which can interfere with the chemical reaction. These are basically the ingredients you need for soap making using the cold process.
The first step is to make the lye solution. To do this, you have to add the lye gently to the distilled cold water while stirring. Never use hot water to begin with as lye heats up on its own when it reacts to cold water. Never add water to lye as this can cause explosion.
The next step is to melt the fats. Melt the oils you will use in stainless steel pot and after it is melted, add the olive oil while stirring.
The next step is to mix the lye solution with the fats. Before mixing the lye solution, make sure that both the lye solution and fats are in between 100 degree F to 110 degree F. When both the substances reach the desired temperature, you can start pouring the lye solution in to the oils. After that, you have to stir it until the substances are fully mixed together.
The fourth step is to add fragrances, colorants and herbs. Just follow the recipe and you have to remember that there is basically no exact amount of time on how long you have to stir the solution. The rule of thumb is to stir until you see only traces of the substance when you pick up the spoon you are stirring with and let the mixture drip from the spoon.
The fifth step is saponification. This is where you pour the mixture in a plastic wrap lined box. Cover the box and cover the entire thing with a blanket. Ever disturb the mixture until saponification is done.
This is the cold process of soap making. Another popular method is the melt and pour process.
This is popular among a lot of people as you will not need to use any caustic substances, which can potentially harm you and your surroundings. This is quicker than the cold process as you don't have to wait for the soap to cure.
All you need for this method are soap base, and a microwave oven or a double broiler. All you need to do is melt the soap base and add the color and scent that you desire. After that, you can easily pour the melted soap in to a mold. After one or two hours, the soap will be ready for use.
Whatever methods you choose, you can be sure that you will be able to have a lot of fun making soap. Just remember that you have to follow the safety precautions in the cold process of soap making as you will be handling caustic solutions, which can be harmful to you as well as your surroundings.
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