| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SusieK |
Posted - Oct 06 2010 : 6:54:48 PM
I am looking for some good soap recipes and some advice on making soap please help me anyone.
Be Safe & Be Blessed |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Shi-anne |
Posted - May 14 2011 : 10:16:45 AM
Susie, I made my first batch of soap two weeks ago. It turned out great.
Suzanne at Chickens In the Road has recipes and step by step directions. She does a great job of explaining every detail and she uses a lot of pictures, so you *see* exactly what she is talking about.
Here's a link to her site: (But you will have to do a search for the soap making posts.)
http://chickensintheroad.com/
http://theprairiemaid.blogspot.com/
Farmgirls don't have hot flashes ~ They have power surges! |
| OneHippieChick |
Posted - May 11 2011 : 07:43:29 AM
I've used soap calc and it works great, but I also use the Libre office spreadsheet program with soapsheets.xlt which also works great!
http://www.millersoap.com/worksheet.html
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Susan ~ Farmgirl Sister #1978
Fiber artist, spins, knits, crochets, sews, weaves, quilts, soap maker, as well as various beauty products and some natural cosmetics
Working on getting my Etsy website and blog up and running - stay tuned!
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| urban chickie |
Posted - Feb 18 2011 : 7:02:50 PM
I like using SoapCalc, the online soap formula lye calculator, to judge formulations. It will tell you how hard the soap is and other qualities as well. Personally, I cannot use a soap high in coconut as it will create an eczema type reaction, so I need to have the cleansing high enough to be effective but low enough to not irritate. But playing on that calculator will help you understand the different oils and how they translate to the finished soap, as well. I highly recommend playing with SoapCalc until you know the oil properties better.
Also, I have yet to try this but someone who has made soap decades longer than myself told me she now makes her laundry soap with 100% coconut. High cleansing but she said she has no problem with it being too sudsy, which is what I would have expected. I make my laundry soap dry, an mix equal amounts with Borax and washing soda. So next batch I will try the coconut. So far I have been using lard, just because so many have. But I have also learned that just because something is tradition, doesn't make it the best! Most of the tradition probably results from the excess of the fat on the farm....
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
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| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Feb 18 2011 : 11:26:07 AM
I have been making soap since the early 80's & I have found that if you use all beef fat you will have a harder br, whereas sheep & pig fat will give you a softer bar....the lard you buy in the store is usually 100 % porkfat...I use the beef fat soap for my laundry cause it grates well once dry & is easy to use in the washer...I prefer dry soap to liquid in my washer.....anyway this may help you it may not but thought I would throw it out there for you....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| peafarm |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 10:57:45 PM
I use homecrafted soap in my homemade laundry soap. (I prefer the liquid to the powder when it comes to laundry soap). I am using a 100% Lard soap with 0% superfat. Next batch will be adding some coconut oil for hopefully a little more cleaning umph. The one thing I'm noticing is grease spots left on clothes where us old people misjudge the placement the fork-to-mouth. It must be a special skill. (My clothes are much brighter and am pleased with how soft they are with just a vinegar rinse.) Your oils, processing type (cold process vs. hot process) and cure time (the longer the harder the bar) can affect how hard or soft a bar is. Coconut oil can add some additional hardness to a bar. Other oils higher on the list for hardness would be cocoa butter, palm oil and Walmart's Great Value Shortening (it's not all vegetable).
For scales, I'd say definitely digital and I would measure in grams not oz. Especially true for smaller batches. I feel that I get a more consistent product because my measurements are more accurate.
You might be interested in this site for help making your soap. It's got pictures!
http://goatsinthegarden.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-make-soap-at-home.html
Penny
www.peafarm.weebly.com |
| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 07:24:53 AM
If I make homemade soap can I use it to make my homemade laundry soap in place of Fels Naptha? I have used really soft soap that gets super soft in the shower and I have used hard bars of soap that last as long as "store bought" soap. What would make the difference of a soft bar vs a hard bar? I would like to make a hard bar of soap because they seem to last twice as long as a soft bar does of the same size. Also, what kind of scale works best for measuring out lye? Digital or traditional? or is it personal preference? Thanks!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
| theoldecrone |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 06:56:33 AM
Penny, you aren't kidding about salt bars. I love the creamy lather, and I love the exfoliated feeling from the salt mixing with the water. They are awesome.
Amy Kalinchuk
Author, Making Soap in Your Own Kitchen
http://www.crafte-revolution.com |
| peafarm |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 08:58:18 AM
I like this spot for recipes too. Not just soap.
http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/recipe/
One thing I do before I make a recipe is run it thru the lye calculator at www.soapcalc.net. Not just to check my lye amounts but also to look at what the numbers for hardness, conditioning and lathering are. It helps me understand what to expect from the soap.
Spa salt soap isn't the easiest recipe to start with as it can set up fast on you and you have to cut it while it is soft, but it can be one that has "wow" power as the sea salt exfoliates skin for unbelievably soft and most are high in coconut oil for unbelievable lather.
Penny
www.peafarm.weebly.com |
| theoldecrone |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 07:41:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by LindaCal
I found this and I hope it helps you. I haven't ordered her book yet. I like a hard backed book better... But she has recipes that you can use.
http://www.soapcrone.com/ebook.php
That's me! That's my book!  Thanks, Linda!
Countrymommy85, it depends both on the oils used and the superfat percentage of the soap, regarding cleansing. Your instincts are correct, however--coconut oil is a "cleansing" oil, when turned into soap. It has big, fluffy lather and makes the soap hard. I don't do classes, so I can't help you there, but I can be your soap mentor, if you like. It's really not that hard to do. The first time is the most difficult, but at the end of that first session, you will stand there and say, "Huh. That wasn't THAT hard." And then the addiction comes... ;)
Amy Kalinchuk
Author, Making Soap in Your Own Kitchen
http://www.crafte-revolution.com |
| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Feb 05 2011 : 6:25:31 PM
I noticed the soaps made with coconut oil or animals fats tend to get the grease off hands better than just "oils"... So far I have been really wanting to make soap but I haven't found a decent recipe. I am feeling a little overwhelmed in the search for lye and recipes... My sister used to make soap but she is out of state and I wish I could have someone here to show/teach me! I want to make soap for my family and not to sell. There are sooo many people around my area making and selling soaps it wouldn't really pay to make it to sell so I just want to make it for my family to be self sufficient. Since I don't have a soap mentor, does anyone know of any good dvd's to watch? I haven't tried youtube yet since I never know what to believe on that thing.
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
| SuzieQ |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 11:55:18 AM
I just got the Soap Companion from Amazon and it was only 10.00. It has lots of recipes and lots of great information. |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Feb 04 2011 : 01:45:58 AM
are you doing old fashioned lye soap using animal fat or the newer way with oils? i make it the old fashioned way but add dried herbs to mine instead of the oils since I am allergic to most smells. :)
The Old Batz Farm |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Oct 24 2010 : 3:04:57 PM
This site has more soap recipes than you will ever use. Plus great information and instructions!
http://www.millersoap.com/
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many, Herbalist, Master Energy Intuitive
http://herbalmommasda.blogspot.com/
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| melody |
Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 2:00:36 PM
You can't make soap without lye! Lye is highly caustic and can cause extreme burns. It should be handled with extreme care...
Melody
Farmgirl #525
www.lemonverbenasoap.etsy.com
www.bythebayhandcraftedsoap.blogspot.com |
| LindaCal |
Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 10:10:28 AM
Is using Lye essential to all soap making? It just seems really dangerous to use. Thanks!
Linda C
from Middle Tennessee! |
| LindaCal |
Posted - Oct 21 2010 : 10:03:31 AM
I found this and I hope it helps you. I haven't ordered her book yet. I like a hard backed book better... But she has recipes that you can use.
http://www.soapcrone.com/ebook.php |
