The one most important item in home made soap is lye. There is no way around it you must have lye to make soap.  If you prefer to not use lye but still wish to dabble in soap making melt and pour is a much safer and easier route to go. Unfortunatly it just isnt nearly the same as truely homemade soap, it lacks certain qualities but it definatly is fun to work with! Ive played with it and rather enjoy it! But if you are looking to make soap from scratch lye is the only way to go. Finding lye can be a bit of a challange these days since it can be used to manufacture illegal drugs. Ive purchased lye from several places my most recent favorite supplier is www.organic-creations.com and www.thesoapdish.com Ive had excellent experiences with purchasing from both of these suppliers. There are a few safety rules about working with lye. If you dont know already this is a very dangerous substance that will burn unprotected skin. Its nasty stuff, so you need to be extreemly careful handling it! Gloves, the higher the better, and goggles are absolutly required. Also having lots of paper towels handy is a good thing along with some vinegar. Vinegar is supposed to neutralize the reaction of the lye if it hits skin. Personally I wash with water first and then splash on some vinegar and then wash again. If the area is slippery you still have lye on you! wash wash wash! Keep washing! If you get it in your eye start rinsing immediatly and get to a doctor immediatly.

If you have children or pets keep them away, out of the room, out of the house is even better. I have two small boys, ages 2 and 3. I never make soap when I am home alone with them. My husband watches them and I put a baby gate up at the end of the hallway so they cant get into the kitchen at all. They know now that they cant come into the kitchen when mommy is soaping but I still take all the precautions I can. Little curious fingers can turn into painful burns all over their body.

When measuring and mixing lye, water, or whatever liquid you chose to use (milk, coconut milk, goatsmilk, tea are all popular choices) you have to be sure to use the correct types of vessels. For measuring lye I use a stainless steel mixing bowl. One tip for pouring the lye crystals to be measured- rub down your bowl with a fabric softener sheet. Lye is staticy and can go flying all over, the rub down of the fabric softener seems to keep everything in the bowl. Some people prefer to use pyrex measureing cups to measure their liquid out but all I can think about is shattered glass everywhere mixed in with lye water. I use a rubbermaid pitcher- this one to be exact and I always mix my water and lye in a sink. ALWAYS pour your lye into the liquid, otherwise you can have a volcanic like explosion of lye and water. On my pitcher I have in black marker “LYE INTO WATER” just to remind me, just in case. I use hard plastic spoons to stir the mixture, keep clear from aluminum and any metal that isnt stainless steel.  I even have a few wooden spoons Ill use in a pinch. Stay upwind of your lye solution when you are combining them! The fumes will knock you on your butt! Open a window near your work space, turn on an exhaust fan or something. Ive read about people who mix their lye water outside then bring it inside….ah thats just too much movement for me! I prefer my caustic liquids to not be moved about my house!

Clean up- lots and lots of water. I do most of my work right in the sink and let the water run as I use utensils and my rubbermaid pitcher. Once Ive got my soap to bed I go back over my work space with water and vinegar and then soap and water to make sure I didnt miss a speck of lye or lye water somewhere.

Lye is a pretty dangerous substance and its not to be taken lightly, a little healthy respect for it can keep you injury free and enjoying soap making!

Posted by Shelley in Uncategorized, Soap Making on March 6th, 2007 |