subject: The Guide To Make Soap By The Cold Process Of Soap Making [print this page] Interested in soap making? You need to know that this is just a simple process to do. The cold process of soap making is very easy. Especially for beginners, they find this as an easy way to make handmade soaps. It is very important to have all the ingredients ready before starting. Materials that you may need include the lye, fats, oils, colorants, fragrances, herbs, cutters, molds and even your protective clothing. Having these ready will ensure that this activity will go on smoothly.
The first thing that you need to do is wear protective equipment as lye is a very dangerous substance. It can corrode the skin when it comes in contact with it, and it fumes can also cause damage to the lungs when inhaled. Wearing gloves, goggles and face masks are a must when handling lye.
When you are ready, you can start by adding lye into water while continually mixing the mixture until all of the lye is dissolved. Be careful as this can heat up significantly even without fire so use a container that will be able to withstand large changes in temperature. Generally, lye is added to water in a 1:3 ratio.
Oil is then added to the mixture to complete the process of saponification. This is the part when the mixture becomes soap. Always note the right ratio to use for the soap base. Too much oil will soften the soap so it will not cure and harden. Too little oil added will not react with all the lye so the soap will become too basic.
Upon the completion of the saponification process, it is time to add into the mixture the rest of the ingredients. These may be the fragrances, dyes and other additives which would enhance the properties of the soap that you are making.
The mixture can now be poured into wooden molds or other shapes of molds that you can think of. Be creative in thinking of ways to design your soap. Afterwards, you can still use your soap cutters to carve and create additional designs on your soap.
Curing the soap may take a long time. You need to cover the molds with towels for 18 to 36 hours. This will insulate the molds preventing heat from escaping. After the curing time, the soap must solidify. But you have to expose the soap to air for 8 weeks at the most before it completely hardens and be used.
Handmade soaps are not that difficult to do. Even in your home, you can now start doing them. Start experimenting on the different types of soap that you can make. With constant practice, you will eventually enjoy the art of soap making.
