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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