Soap Making 101

[me&thegals]

Good ideas on packaging!

You're not going to believe this, but I burned out a submersion blender the first time making soap!!! I used a single-bar recipe (and single oil) for canola and then it started smoking when I got to the 2nd bar--corn oil. Unbelievable. It was an Oster, about $20, and it didn't even make it through the first day.

What brands have you all found to be long-term reliable?

 

[punkin]

Sorry about your blender.

I've never used a blender recipe. I use a stick mixer. It usually takes 5-8 minutes for trace with it. I've gotten it hot a few times, but so far, so good.

 

[me&thegals]

I think stick mixer is what I mean--The kind you hold in your hand and plunge down into the lye-oil mixture. It was fast and great for the first batch, then took forever for the second until it got so hot I had to hold it with a washrag, then started smoking, then died. What?!?!

Any suggestions on brands? This one was an Oster. I want to make soap so badly that I'm thinking about doing it in my Kitchenaid instead!

Also, exactly how dangerous is the lye? I accidentally got a whiff while stirring the lye and water and was reminded to not breathe over it. I also got some on my hands, but I sprayed it right away with vinegar. Exactly how careful must I be. What happens to clothing, countertops and dishes if the lye is not washed off right away?

 

[freemotion]

I use rubber gloves when I stir. It will corrode certain things (like skin!) rather quickly, so get splashed cleaned up fast. I've never spashed, actually. I do my pouring and stuff right in the sink. It is a drain opener, so I figure that is the best place to work!

I've read instructions somewhere in the past that I follow, which is to use the stick blender for a minute or two, then stir with a spoon for a minute or two, and alternate until trace. It still only takes a few minutes. But your Oster shouldn't have burned out. I'd contact the company for a replacement.

 

[me&thegals]

I'm bringing it right back to the store. I figure it should be easier to blend water, lye and oil than, for example, thick ice cream for a malt. Yikes!

So, I never got my 2nd batch to trace, but it was late so I dumped the probably-almost-to-trace batch in a small custard glass dish. It is still soft this morning. Would this be dangerously unsaponified? Would it be useful as a soft soap? Should I dump it down the drain as a drain cleaner?

What brands of stick mixers do you all use? What price range would probably get me one that would last after a LOT of wear and tear (at least I anticipate a lot)?

Thanks! You guys are great!

 

[punkin]

I agree with FF - take it back to the store. I've used mine for about 20 ish different batches with no problems. I threw the box away, so I don't remember which brand it is. I do know that I bought it a Walmart.

I use rubber gloves when measuring the lye. Not so much for adding to water or stirring (probably should though).

I add it very slowly to the water and also slowly when I add the lye water to the oils. I haven't really splashed yet.

 

[me&thegals]

So, I never got my 2nd batch to trace, but it was late so I dumped the probably-almost-to-trace batch in a small custard glass dish. It is still soft this morning. Would this be dangerously unsaponified? Would it be useful as a soft soap? Should I dump it down the drain as a drain cleaner?

How about this question? Thanks

 

[Farmfresh]

I would probably just wrap the gooey soap in a good container and put it in the trash. Sounds like you had your lye to oil ratio off somewhere.

I burnt out my first el'cheapo stick blender and got a replacement from the store. I usually just blend a while and then stir with a spoon a while to let the blender cool and then blend awhile .... etc. The bonus to this method is that it is FAR easier to see when the soap traces while stirring with the spoon.

 

[Bettacreek]

If you still have EVERYTHING that you put into the molds, then you can possibly try remelting and remixing. Just be careful with this method to make sure that your original recipe wasn't off.

 

[me&thegals]

I've made 5 bars of soap now--1-bar recipes with canola, olive, lard, sunflower and corn oil. I popped out the canola and lard bars and really like them!

So, my latest questions

1. How can I tell when it is "safe" to use my bars. If I jump the gun on the recommended cure time, will my skin burn after using them?

2. How do I go about substituting oils in recipes?

I have a really cool "EIEIO" farmer soap recipe, but I don't have lanolin and would really still like to make it. the lanolin is about 2 oz out of about a 5-lb recipe. I checked out soap calculators but couldn't figure out how substitutions would be worked out.

3. Can I add "extras" to soap like I would to muffins?

For example, I could take a basic muffin recipe and toss in just about any nuts, dried fruit, shredded fruit/veggie without changing the core recipe. For soap, as long as the "extras" are not something that saponifies, can I add them? Like dried herbs, cornmeal, seeds, tapicoa or oatmeal?