Soap can never be missing in any home, since it is essential to maintain good hygiene and eliminate bacteria. In general, they are obtained in any store specialized in personal hygiene products. However, they can be made at home in a simple way, you just need certain ingredients and patience. Learn how to make handmade soap in 6 simple steps, so you can have fun making it and also save some money.
What is a handmade soap?
A handmade soap is one that is used with the purpose of cleaning the body and keeping bacteria as far away as possible. As its name indicates, handmade soaps are made at home, so it has its advantages. In addition, its cost can be much lower than that of conventional soaps.
Nowadays it is quite common to find handmade soaps in almost any house, one of the reasons is that they are natural. That is, the vast majority of the ingredients used do not usually contain chemical agents. For this reason, they are ideal for protecting the environment and, above all, the health of everyone at home.
As if that were not enough, its production process is really fun, so you will not only learn how to make handmade soaps. Also, it is an activity that can even be considered a craft. However, it is important to take certain precautions before starting to make handmade soap.
Also, the shapes, aromas, colors and uses of handmade soaps are really diverse. Therefore, it is recommended to try several colors and aromatic essences until you are satisfied with the results. The forms that the handmade soaps have will depend on the type of mold that is used.
Artisanal soaps benefits
Learning how to make handmade soaps is very beneficial for health and the environment. Some of the most important benefits of natural handmade soaps are the following:
- Handmade soaps are made with natural ingredients, leaving aside any chemical component that can be harmful to health.
- This type of soap is usually more beneficial for skin care, since its ingredients include plants and natural essences.
- Making handmade soaps is more affordable than buying conventional soap. Since a single preparation it is possible to obtain several bars or pills.
- The manufacturing process of these soaps does not harm the environment, on the contrary, it helps to protect it.
- Learning how to make handmade soaps at home is easier than it seems.
- Homemade soaps retain their main characteristics for longer than conventional ones.
How to make handmade soaps?
If you have never made a soap at home, you do not have to worry, since learning how to make handmade soaps does not have to be complicated. As long as you have the necessary materials and the security measures are followed, nothing should go wrong. Before knowing the steps on how to make handmade soaps, certain materials will first be necessary.
What materials do you need to make handmade soap?
Having the ingredients and utensils at hand to start making handmade soaps is essential. In this sense, the following will be necessary:
- Vegetable oil, if possible olive.
- Distilled or soft water.
- Caustic soda.
- Coloring and essential oils, these are optional.
- Hand blender.
- molds.
- containers.
- Weighing machine.
In addition to the ingredients to start the process of how to make handmade soaps, some security measures will also be necessary. Therefore, certain elements are required to protect the body and avoid damage to it. Especially when handling caustic soda and mixing it with the rest of the ingredients.
- Safety glasses.
- Rubber gloves.
- T-shirt or apron.
- Face mask.
Learn how to make handmade soaps in 6 steps
Once you have all the ingredients, utensils, and proper safety gear, now is the time to get started. These are the 6 steps to learn how to make handmade soaps in a simple and uncomplicated way.
1- Place the water in a container and add the caustic soda
Inside the container, the water must be poured first and then the caustic soda is added. It is very important that the soda is added slowly to avoid splashes and skin burns. Similarly, do everything possible to avoid inhaling the gases generated by the reaction of soda in contact with water.
Something very important, you should never add the soda first and then the water, it is essential that the order is as mentioned above. Since the soda is dangerous and when the order is altered, an unwanted reaction can occur. This is the reason why the use of safety clothing is important, caustic soda should never be handled without it.
2- Pour the oil into a separate container
After mixing the water with the soda, it is important to let it cool down. Since caustic soda can raise its temperature after combining with water. While the soda rests, it’s time to add the oil in a separate container, making sure the temperature is at least 40 degrees. That is to say, the same one that the soda mixture should have once the rest is finished.
How to know the amount of caustic soda, water and oil to use?
As mentioned above, handling caustic soda is dangerous, so it should be used in moderate amounts. To make handmade soap it is important to mix the right portions so that the final result is as expected.
In the case of olive oil, it is important to keep in mind its saponification index before making glycerin or other handmade soaps. Olive oil has 0.136 SAP NaOH and, in addition, a minimum of 3% overfatting must be taken into consideration. With regard to water, it is advisable to maintain a balance of 70 parts of water for every 30 of caustic soda. If more water is poured, it will take longer for the soap to complete solidification.
In this way, for every 600 grams of olive oil, 76 grams of caustic soda and 178 grams of water will be needed. This is the recommended formula to prevent skin damage and ensure that the soap-making process is successful.
3- Mix the soda with the oil
When the soda has already rested, it will acquire a lighter shade, at which point, it must be added to the container with the oil. During this step, the oil may change its color and texture, however this is completely normal. To properly mix the soda with the oil, it is time to use the blender.
The idea is to stir the soda, water and oil until the mixture acquires a homogeneous texture. That is, make it thick, but keep a little liquid, as if it were a puree or something similar.
4- Add essential oils and coloring
These should be added immediately after finishing mixing the soda, water and oil with the hand mixer. Essential oils are normally used, because they are more natural and therefore benefit skin care. In some cases, two or more essences can be mixed to increase the benefits. The same happens with the dyes, once the one to be used has been chosen, it must be added to the mixture and stirred a little.
5- Pour everything into a mold
In general, molds of different sizes and shapes are used to make personalized handmade soaps. After pouring the mixture into the moulds, it should be left to rest for approximately 24 hours, then unmold. The idea of unmolding the soap after this period of time is that it is not yet completely hard, so it can be easily cut and manipulated.
6- Wait for it to dry
In order for the soap to solidify completely, it will need to rest for at least a month. This occurs especially in glycerin and other handmade soaps, since once dry, the pH stabilizes and all the natural components are activated.
How to customize your handmade soaps?
Lastly, homemade soaps can be customized however you like, with completely unique shapes, colors and scents. To get personalized shapes, it is best to buy silicone molds in specialized stores. There are so many shapes that these molds have, that making soaps can become quite a fun activity.
Natural fragrances are very important in a soap and by making them at home you can choose the aromas you want. These can be combined to achieve a unique aroma that can perfume the body and even anywhere in the house.
To increase the benefits, exfoliating elements can be added, the most common are oats and the seeds of some plants. This will help exfoliate the skin to leave it clean and healthy looking.
Sources:
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