Posted on 08/09/2013 7:28:14 PM PDT by Kartographer
Some other good books are “The Everything Soapmaking Book” by Alice Grosso and “Smart Soapmaking” by Anne Watson.
I am old enough to remember my grandmother and mother made lye soap in the 1950’s. They did it in an large cast iron pot outdoors. In the process they used fireplace ash, cattle fat and some type of oil. I do not remember the details of the operation.
It was a really bad year in the drought of the 50’s. They were doing all they could to cut living costs to the bone. Barely had enough production to make the land payments.
if safeway somehow runs out of soap were probably doomed anyway..
That's why using "Easy Off" oven cleaner aerosol as a self defense weapon is so wickedly effective... whoever you spray will definetly PAY! For the rest of their lives!
Wasp spray is a bit more humane...
Wouldn’t consider making it!!
That was my job stirring the lye and grease durring WW2.
It’s too cheap to even consider it!!!!!
Now you know you have to post the process/recipe to go along with that picture-right?
Progress note, tho a few weeks old. Harvested the honey from my hives. I didn’t get a lot because I made the strategic decision of more bees, less honey. Still got about 35 pounds which is enough for us for the year and for gifts for family and friends.
If I had it to do over, I would have let more of the honey ripen (be fully capped) but I think the honey is OK. Tastes wonderful. I’d also have more empty jars on hand; I underestimated the number needed.
Your wish is my command! lol
I used the Oatmeal Honey Soap recipe from this page:
http://purelysoapin.com/soaprecipes.html
For the process itself, I just watched a few videos on YouTube on making hot process soap in a slow cooker.
I used hot process instead of cold process so the lye cooks off and we don’t have to wait several weeks to be able to use the soap. We were able to use it as soon as I cut it into bars.
Now that’s very interesting. Thanks a lot.
You don’t have to wait several weeks to use cold processed soap. It won’t be at its best but you can safely use it after a week of curing. You can even test a bar right after you have cut it. The 4 weeks of curing time are to allow more evaporation and for the soap to become milder.
One big advantage of hot process is that you can use less fragrance to scent the soap.
Bflr
My wife recently got a recipe for laundry soap. If it works, it’ll be about 1/3 the cost of All.
I already do it. It works. And you can’t beat the price. Key issue, though, is to make sure the bar soap you use doesn’t cause sensitivity issues for family members.
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/08/make-a-years-worth-of-laundry-soap.html
This is the recipe I have used for years. It works great. If you cook the fels naphtha in the microwave and let it cool it will break down into powder really easy if you put it in a.bag and use a rolling pin on it.
I have somehow accumulated a LOT of soap myself. I have Coast bars for my hubby, Fels Naptha for making laundry detergent, ivory, tons of little hotel-sized soaps. Oh, and several baggies full of soap bits - the little bit left over that is too small to use. I had plans to make liquid soap out of them.
I want to make soap myself someday. I have lots of ashes in the winter and a fire pit - I just need that black cauldron.
If they ever have a yard sale at 1600 Pennsylvania; you might be able to pick one up on the cheap... :-)
You might like this.
Thank you, my friend. Interesting thread.
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