Homemade gifts and homesteading have made it popular to make ones own products, often for a much lower price. There is also the drive to "go green" and make products yourself so you can be sure what is in it and that there is no waste or preservatives. Coconut oil soaps meets all these needs. Though there are several recipes and several methods for making it, they are all similar.
To make good soap, you have to have a highly fatty combination. Lye, fats, and scents are the main ingredients. The different types of soap depends on the amount of each ingredient, and the type of fats used. Almost any fat can be used. The higher the superfat the better the conditioning. Coconut is considered the best, and it has 20% superfat. Anything used is best the closer to that percentage it gets.
There are some safety concerns with this process. Hot oils are used, so burns are possible. There are certain procedures that should be followed as there are some dangers in pouring hot oils and pouring hot oil into the lye. A good thermometer to get temperatures exact and a special scale for accurately weighing the oils are important.
To make clean up easier, and to enjoy the art of soap making, it is recommended that the materials and equipment be reserved for that chore alone. It is safe to reuse the tools if they are washed up well, but it is difficult to have to do that. Since most materials can be found cheaply at thrift or yard sales, it is better to just buy a set for you use. It is easier to just grab your stuff up and put it in the crock pot or bowl and store them until the next time.
The required tools and equipment are very few. You need a stainless steel pot or a crock pot, which is preferable. A digital scale weighs ingredients accurately. This ensures the soap won't be too oily or harsh. For dividing the oils and heating them, and for pouring you need glass or plastic cups and bowls. You need a stick blender for mixing. Metal or wooden spoons and a rubber spatula are needed. And, finally, you will need an assortment of molds, either silicon professional ones or waxed cardboard boxes of the proper size. The silicon molds are beautiful, but not necessary.
In order to practice safety, gloves and safety eyewear are essential. The lye is very caustic and accidents do happen. In addition, a large bottle of white vinegar is important to wash the lye off the person or anything that gets splashed. Due to the safety hazards, this is not a hobby suited to children, unless you wish to supervise them closely.
Colors and scents make your soap uniquely yours. Essential oils can be added for scent as well. Pale colors are best because you don't want to have to add a large amount of dye because it may change the consistency of the soap. The same is true for scents. In addition, a strong scent can be irritating to the skin, and strong scents may be offensive to some.
As the way hobbies go, soap making is not only very enjoyable, but also relatively inexpensive and doesn't require much in the way of tools and equipment. All the tools are reusable, and the oils are very inexpensive. The amount of colors and scents do not require much, so cost is minimal. The silicon molds are the most expensive, and they can be added one at a time as desired. Boxes and cartons do well until you can afford molds.
To make good soap, you have to have a highly fatty combination. Lye, fats, and scents are the main ingredients. The different types of soap depends on the amount of each ingredient, and the type of fats used. Almost any fat can be used. The higher the superfat the better the conditioning. Coconut is considered the best, and it has 20% superfat. Anything used is best the closer to that percentage it gets.
There are some safety concerns with this process. Hot oils are used, so burns are possible. There are certain procedures that should be followed as there are some dangers in pouring hot oils and pouring hot oil into the lye. A good thermometer to get temperatures exact and a special scale for accurately weighing the oils are important.
To make clean up easier, and to enjoy the art of soap making, it is recommended that the materials and equipment be reserved for that chore alone. It is safe to reuse the tools if they are washed up well, but it is difficult to have to do that. Since most materials can be found cheaply at thrift or yard sales, it is better to just buy a set for you use. It is easier to just grab your stuff up and put it in the crock pot or bowl and store them until the next time.
The required tools and equipment are very few. You need a stainless steel pot or a crock pot, which is preferable. A digital scale weighs ingredients accurately. This ensures the soap won't be too oily or harsh. For dividing the oils and heating them, and for pouring you need glass or plastic cups and bowls. You need a stick blender for mixing. Metal or wooden spoons and a rubber spatula are needed. And, finally, you will need an assortment of molds, either silicon professional ones or waxed cardboard boxes of the proper size. The silicon molds are beautiful, but not necessary.
In order to practice safety, gloves and safety eyewear are essential. The lye is very caustic and accidents do happen. In addition, a large bottle of white vinegar is important to wash the lye off the person or anything that gets splashed. Due to the safety hazards, this is not a hobby suited to children, unless you wish to supervise them closely.
Colors and scents make your soap uniquely yours. Essential oils can be added for scent as well. Pale colors are best because you don't want to have to add a large amount of dye because it may change the consistency of the soap. The same is true for scents. In addition, a strong scent can be irritating to the skin, and strong scents may be offensive to some.
As the way hobbies go, soap making is not only very enjoyable, but also relatively inexpensive and doesn't require much in the way of tools and equipment. All the tools are reusable, and the oils are very inexpensive. The amount of colors and scents do not require much, so cost is minimal. The silicon molds are the most expensive, and they can be added one at a time as desired. Boxes and cartons do well until you can afford molds.
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Get an overview of the things to consider when purchasing soap and view our selection of coconut oil soaps at http://www.ascsoapworks.com/blog/coconut-oil-in-soaps now.
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