Articles

The Ease of Learning How to Make Soap

by Jen Hopkins

Solid types of soap can be altered in many ways. One of the most obvious things that you can change about soap is its shape and color. This will only require using different molds and dyes for your soap. But the other properties of soap may be also altered such as its lathering properties and texture. By changing these properties, bath time can be a lot more fun or you can use different designs to use as decorations for your bathroom.

With all of the different properties of soap that you can manipulate, you would think that it is a very hard process to do. On the contrary, it is a fairly easy process that even small children can learn and take this up as a hobby, as long as the correct protective equipment is worn with adult supervision.

First thing that you will need are the ingredients and tools that you will use in making soap. You will need some oil, lye, dyes, fragrant oils, lotion and herbal leaf extracts, depending on what you want to put into your soap. You will also need molds, mixing tools, bowls, knives and protective equipment such as gloves and goggles to protect yourself from the caustic effects of lye.

Once you have prepared all of your materials and ingredients, you will still need to research on soap recipes that you can use. This way, you will know the exact amounts of each ingredient that you will need. You should also decide on what method you will use to make your soap, whether it will be the hot or cold method.

Once you have decided on what you will do and have done your research, you are now ready to start making your soap. First thing that you need to do is wear your protective equipment. Next, mix the lye with water until it is fully dissolved. Once this is done, you can now pour the oil so that the two ingredients may undergo saponification.

This needs to be continuously mixed until it becomes completely homogenous. You already start adding your other ingredients into the mixture such as dyes to give color to your soap. Once you are satisfied with your mixture, you can start pouring your mixture into molds so that they can harden and take shape.

Once the soap has hardened, you may now take it out from the molds and make some adjustments in order to produce the design that you want. The soap will still need to be aged, especially if you used the cold process so that it can fully harden before it will be ready for use. This usually takes about four weeks.

Once this is done, you may now put your soap in your bathroom to be used for showering, or just as a decoration for your bathroom. Other things that you can do with your soap are giving them away as gifts, or even selling them if you become really good in making these soaps.

Jen Hopkins has worked in the skin care industry for years. She maintains websites about melt and pour soap making, and soap recipe. If you want to contact her, you can use the contact form at one of her sites.

Published August 23rd, 2010

Filed in Hobby