Homemade Soaps

An interesting homemade soap recipe for recycling soap to save you time, money and effort. Everyone can gain something from this.

2008-06-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

Recycling is a very hot topic right now, as it should be. This is great not only because of an increased global consciousness of environmental problems, but also because it opens new opportunities for fun projects with your homemade soap. Yes, you heard right. Soap is sadly one of the things we tend to take for granted, and we often don't even notice how we throw away pieces of soap which could actually still be used. This little homemade soap project is not only fun and practical, but could help you realise just how much the world is wasting.

Your main ingredient will be homemade soap pieces that you save up until you have enough to fill up some cups. For your first try you could use some of the homemade soap you have just completed making. Select a bucket, tin or other storage device in which you can keep the bits and pieces of soap that you would normally throw away and put them in your selected recycling bin until the day that you wish to try out this marvellous homemade soap making project.

What you need:

A few cups of soap pieces.
A blender.
Scented oils (optional).
Coloring (optional).
A tin, bucket or other storage device (an empty hand soap dispenser works very well if you wish to keep it in your bathroom).

What you need to do:

1.Throw all your soap bits into a blender with a little bit of water.
2.Slowly chop all the soap bits in the blender, adding a bit of water and short intervals until the mix turns into a pudding type substance.
3.If you choose to add some colorant or scented oils then now would be a could time to add it. Only use a little bit and mix well.
4.Pour your liquid into a bucket that has a sealable lid or into a hand soap dispenser.
5.Enjoy!

Really simple isn't it? Just remember to keep the soap tightly sealed or your soap will dry out. You could use the soap as regular bath soap, or dilute it in a bucket of hot water which will make it usable for a world of other things. The soap will be scented to suit your specific special taste. There simply is no way that is more fun and practical for you to be crafty and creative while saving money and doing your bit for the environment thanks to this simple homemade soap recipe.

Homemade Lye Soap: Safety Tips

2008-06-18T04:41:00.000-07:00

Before I go in too deeply into the magnificent world of making your very own homemade lye soap, we first need to have a look at the safety procedures that you need to follow. Lye is one of the main ingredients used to make soap. Also known as Caustic Soda and Sodium Hydroxide it is often used in drain cleaners for its caustic properties. It is a dangerous chemical and needs to be respected and treated as such. Therefore I present to you some basic safety tips that you can use to help prevent any accidents while you are enjoying this stunning hobby.

I know that using lye might seem a bit daunting at first, but keep in mind that thousands of people just like you use it on a daily basis without any mishaps. The important thing here is to always follow the safety instructions when it comes to using lye. Take the time to read any manufacturer's notes on all of the ingredients that you will be using. Do a bit of research, if you have any questions feel free to ask any professional or health care practitioner. If you work carefully, take your time and think ahead, then you can have all the fun in the world making your soap.

Safety First:

* If any Lye comes into contact with your skin you should immediately rinse it with vinegar and then with cold water.
* Always make sure that the room is adequately ventilated.
* Always wear eye protection goggles (The goggles should preferrably seal eyes in the same manner as swimming goggles would).
* Always use chemical-resistant gloves.
* DO NOT SWALLOW. Lye can be fatal if swallowed. If ingested do not induce vomiting. Go to the emergency room immediately!
* Keep Lye and any essential oils out of reach of children. Keep it in a locked cabinet and NEVER leave it unattended for one second once you start using it.
* Lye has very strong fumes, so ALWAYS wear a safety mask that covers your mouth and nose.
* Wear an chemical resistant or rubber apron when working with Lye to protect your skin and your clothes.
* If Lye spills on your counter tops you should immediately wash it off, because it can remove paint and varnishes.
* ALWAYS KEEP AWAY FROM PETS, CHILDREN and anyone else NOT COMPETENT to work with Lye.

Containers:
* Always keep your Lye in an air tight container.
* Use safe containers like glass, enamel, plastic and stainless steel.

When using Lye always make sure that you are well versed in the safety precautions. Take the time to prepare before you start your new soap making project. Place everything you might need in case of emergency somewhere that is easily reachable and that you will know to look for. If anything happens you need to act quickly! I would also suggest that you speak to any local medical professionals as they might be able to give you some advice or medical tips. Take care, be safe and take your time. Soap making is not a race, it is a craft to be enjoyed. Follow these basic steps and you could have hours of fun creating your very own Homemade Lye Soap.

The wonderful world of homemade soaps.

2008-06-09T05:08:00.000-07:00

A very popular theme in the modern age is that of home made. Home grown vegetables, creams, DIY projects, drinks, clothing, food and so much more. The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to creating your very own 'whatever catches your fancy' as the homes of the future proves to be more and more self sufficient and independent.

It is the new culture brought to life as a result of a world consciousness about the plight of the environment, a rising trend concerning the global life costs and the very human nature that drives us to search for that something new. It is that feeling of being able to create what you dub to be a work of art, that ability to do something you never truly believed you could and to do it well. Now you have the opportunity to do so, to do enjoy that divine sense of achievement while creating something that is useful, something that you can truly be proud of.

Right now however we wish to focus on one of these modern day wonders as we delve deeper into the world of making your very own soap right at home. Home made soaps can save you money, can be customised to suit your needs specifically and has that special touch.

Before going to in depth into the wonderful world of home made soaps, here is an easy guide that you can use to make your very first bar of soap. It is really easy do to and one of my personal favourites because it smells great, does not dry out your hands and is an excellent way of introducing yourself in some of the basics of making your own soap.

The soap is also customisable to suit your personal needs and tastes. It is not the advanced soap making method and is purely a little introduction project, yet the results will be absolutely fantastic. It is called Vanilla and Almond soap, although the vanilla part is up to you. Once you understand the principle of making this soap you could turn it into lavender soap, lemon, or whatever else you would prefer. The Almonds used in this gives it a beautiful texture.

Ingredients:
* 1/3 cup of whole almonds

* ¼ ounce bar of Castile soap

* ¼ cup of distilled water

* 1 tablespoon almond oil

* 1/8 teaspoon vanilla fragrance oil

Steps:
1. Grind the almonds to a fine powder and set aside. You can use a food processor or coffee grinder to do this.

2. Shred your Castile soap and set aside.

3. In a heavy sauce pan, bring your water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer.

4. Add the soap and allow for it to dissolve into the water.

5. Remove the pot from the heat and add the almond powder, the almond oil and the vanilla fragrance oil. Stir gently until all the ingredients mix.

6. Pour your mixture into the mold of your choice and leave to cool for five hours.
You know the soap is ready once it is hardened.

It is as simple as that. Of course the best would be to create more than one soap bar at a time which is more than possible as this soap has a shelf life of about three months. Feel free to experiment with different fragrance oils to find the one that fits you perfectly. The ingredients listed above is the quantities you require to make one bar of soap, so simply multiply it to fit the quantity of the bars you would like to make. At this point it becomes very important that you stir well to make sure the ingredients is evenly spread. Your molds is also very important and one of my personal favourite areas of making your own soap. You can customise your soaps look by using the mold which you think is most appropriate for the soap you are making.

The advanced soap making techniques is a little more intricate and will teach you how to create your very own soap from scratch. You can customise these soaps to suit you perfectly. It is great fun, it is super useful and effective and not to mention the possibilities of what you can do with your soap is all but endless. Crafters who would like some extra cash will find that home made soaps are extremely lucrative and takes very little time, especially when compared to other crafts. If you would like to learn more about the amazing possibilities of home made soap then simply visit this homemade soap website to find out more.