Why You Need To Make Homemade Soap – How To Make Bar Soap
If you’ve never read anything about making soap before, it may seem like an unsurmountable task. Don’t be discouraged, though – once you learn the basics, you will see how easy it all is. There are many benefits to learning how to make bar soap and this article will give you an overview of the process.
To make it all very simple, soap is formed in a chemical process (it’s called saponification, if you want to know). A chemical caustic is combined with oils or fats, and that’s it – soap is the result. The caustic used for soap making is lye – also known as sodium hydroxide.
We say you combine a soap base with oil – however, not all oils are suitable for soap making. Olive oil is one of the most common ingredients used in soap recipes. But this is not to say that there is limited choice. On the contrary – there are so many choices that you won’t ever run out.
If you want to make a soap which is very moisturizing, normally you would use something like hemp oil, coconut butter or shea. You would mix this in with other oils in your soap recipe. Another option is to make a soap with a lot of lather – coconut oil is great for this.
There is no denying that there is an initial learning curve when you’re just starting out. Namely, the soap base is a very caustic chemical. Spilling lye on your skin can cause chemical burns. It’s very important that you feel comfortable using lye in your soap making.
To protect your hands, you should be wearing full sleeves and rubber gloves. In addition, you need to wear plastic goggles to protect your eyes. Other precautions include keeping vinegar handy since this neutralizes the lye if you spill it. Make sure you mark any lye containers with very visible marking saying danger”.
Of course, this is not all – make sure you take the time to familiarize yourself with lye. Know all the things you need to know about it. We cannot overstress this enough – take adequate measures so this way nothing can stop you from having fun with your hobby.
This is where the exploration begins. A naturally made soap can be extremely refreshing and invigorating. Caution – it’s easy to get addicted to making soap as it’s simply so fun, and they are very healthy for your skin!
After you’ve gotten all the basic information about making soap, you need to start practicing for yourself. To find out how I very fast learned my first steps using a video, then go to this site: How to Make Bar Soap.
