Making soap - help. please

by Jaded Green 4th May 2010, 7:02 pm

Miss JG has just made some soap. She got the recipe off Kirsty Allsop's home made Christmas programme.

She has got as far as turning it out and storing it for 6 weeks to cure. But there are no instructions as to how to store it. Should she wrap it in something? Should it be in a cupboard - or an airing cupboard (not that we really have one of those)

any advice would be very welcome

by AngelinaJellyBeana 4th May 2010, 7:16 pm

I use a couple of old towels and old cake cooling rack. Lay half one towel on the rack, put the cut bars of soap on top and cover with the other half of the towel and then wrap the whole thing up in the other towel. Leave on a shelf somewhere warmish, I don't bother putting it in the airing cupboard (no room)
Leave it for 6 weeks and then check it.

Good books for soap making are:
The Handmade Soap Book by Melinda Cross
The Natural Soap Book by Susan Miller Cavitch
and The Soapmaker's Companion also by Susan Miller Cavitch

I'm sure I was supposed to be letting you know about those before know, so huge apologies for forgetting

I will see if I still have a copy of the information leaflet I did for A. N. Other Forum Wink

by Jaded Green 4th May 2010, 8:00 pm

Thanks JellyB - that is really useful. I'll try to get hold of the books. (It wasn't me you were going to tell about them, so stop blushing Very Happy

)

Would love to see the info leaflet if you can find it.

by Jaded Green 4th May 2010, 8:17 pm

Oh - I've found a soap making forum ( via A.N.Other forum)

slightly bothered. Miss JG used Trex as her solid vegetable oil The recipe said you could use any solid vegetable oil you get in the supermarket. There seems to be something about calculating ration of caustic soda to fat? Should it be all right if she has followed a recipe?

and it is currently in a couple of large slabs. should we chop it up? presumably if we do it will be all right after 6 weeks, and if we don't it will take longer?

by AngelinaJellyBeana 4th May 2010, 9:59 pm

I used Trex for my first experiments. If you've followed the recipe you should be fine. Slice up the soap now while it's still quite soft (wearing rubber gloves as it will still be caustic) then leave the bars of soap to cure otherwise it probably won't cure properly and will be harder to cut up.

by Jaded Green 4th May 2010, 10:14 pm

Thanks Jelly B. We'll cut it up tomorrow

by Lizbuff13 27th July 2010, 6:24 am

How did the soap turn out????? I have been buying some handcrafted soaps at our farmers market that are absolutely delightful. I have been thinking of trying some soap some year, but right now I have too many other current and unfinished projects that I don't dare start another one!

by Dandelion 27th July 2010, 11:09 am

I've bought one of the books on soap making which Pol recommended - that's as far as it's got (just have to paint the bedroom window frames, make jam, plant out stuff, paint wood work in bathroom and I should be there.....)

by polgara 27th July 2010, 11:25 am

It was JB who recommended the books, I just put them in an appropriate place.

by Dandelion 27th July 2010, 1:24 pm

Thank you both xx

by Jaded Green 27th July 2010, 7:07 pm

We bought one of the books too and it was really useful.

Miss JG's soap looks fine, but I am glad we read the bit about when your soap is not safe to use!

We should be trying it out shortly - I'll keep you posted.

by Compostwoman 27th July 2010, 11:33 pm

I must admit to using organic melt and pour soap at the moment, and add stuff to it...CG is still a bit... unpredictable? to be around me making soap from scratch, still...but when she is a bit older I can go back to "proper" soap making....IYKWIM...

by Dandelion 28th July 2010, 11:01 am

Where do you buy your supplies from?

by Zoe 28th July 2010, 11:12 am

Angelina, What do you use as the base fat for your soap? We can get solid palm oil and solid rape oil (don't know if they are pure though) for chip frying. Any guidance?

by AngelinaJellyBeana 28th July 2010, 1:32 pm

I've used just the solid vegetable fat from the supermarket, the soap turns out fine.

For better quality then you can order organic solid palm oil, coconut oil, shea butter etc online and mix that with the solid vegetable fat.

Have a look here

http://www.aromantic.co.uk/buy-natural-organic-vegetable-fats-waxes-skin-care-cosmetics-uk.htm

by Compostwoman 28th July 2010, 4:46 pm

Dandelion wrote:Where do you buy your supplies from?

Was that for cold pressed or melt and pour? I get my stuff from Aromantic

by Dandelion 28th July 2010, 11:15 pm

I'm interested in getting hold of some basic kit and would like to use glycerine melt and pour

by Compostwoman 29th July 2010, 12:44 am

Dandelion wrote:I'm interested in getting hold of some basic kit and would like to use glycerine melt and pour

I have some here and we could go through the process...give me a call or email and we can have a play with it!

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