GENERAL SOAP MAKING INSTRUCTIONS

by GV Swaim 

When making soap we first must go through some safety measures before we start the soap making process.

• Make sure the area you will be working in is well ventilated and is equipped with good lighting.
• Soap making is time consuming; please allow yourself at least an hour or so of time for completion of your soap.

Safety equipment:

• Safety Glasses- to protect your eyes from fumes and splashes.
• Gloves - to protect your hands from accidental spillage.
• Vinegar for spills

Equipment for soap making:

Your soap making equipment should only be used for soap making, nothing else.

• Measuring cups - To measure your oils and fragrances.

• Scale- for first time users I think a regular kitchen scale from any discount (Wal-mart or K-Mart) store will work just fine.

• Stainless Steel Pot - lye will corrode other types of pots, enamel can be used but make sure it is not chipped; this pot should hold at least 8 qts. for proper stirring. I purchased mine at Dollar General.

• One Plastic 2 qt container- Make sure this container is dishwasher safe so that it can take the extreme temperature change when mixing lye. I do not like to use glass, for one it can be slippery and unless canning jars are used it may not be able to withstand temperature changes.

• Two Kitchen thermometers - One for the lye mixture, the other for your fats and oils.

• Two Long Handle Spoons - they can either be wooden or plastic if plastic is being used, remember to make certain that they are dishwasher safe.

• Stick Blender - also known as a hand blender. I purchased mine at Walgreens it is also available at K-Mart and Walmart.

• Plastic container with lid - this will be your mold. Try to purchase one that has a flat bottom so the ridges do not imprint themselves on the soap and one that is large enough to accommodate your soap.
• An old blanket or towel - this will be used to insulate your soap. One point to remember- you do not have to insulate soap that is made with goat milk.

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