Sanitation and Cleanliness for a Healthy Environment 15
Recipe
1. Add lye to water – never the other way around.
The mixture will heat up. Let it cool to body
temperature. Do not put fingers in the solution or it
will burn. To test the temperature, feel the outside
of the container.
2. Melt any solid fat in the oil/fat mixture.
3. Pour the lye water slowly into the oil/fat mixture, stirring it constantly in one
direction. Then add perfume or essential oil. The mixture must be stirred for at
least half an hour after all the lye has been added. The mixture should become
thicker. When the spoon causes lines to appear on top of the thick solution, it is
ready to pour in the molds.
4. Pour the mixture into lined molds and leave to set
undisturbed for 2 days. If it has not set or if it has grease
on top, leave it longer.
5. When the soap has set, remove it from the molds and
cut it into bars using a knife or a wire.
6. Stack the bars on trays and let them sit for 4 to 6 weeks.
Do not use the soap too soon – it still burns!
7. When the soap is finished, you can shave it from
the bar in curls. Touch the soap to the tip of
your tongue to check its quality. If it has a
slight bite or burn, it is good. Cover the soap
so it does not lose moisture.
Problems?
If it is very sharp and burns, there is too much lye. If it has no bite, there is not
enough lye. If the soap you made was not successful, it may have been because:
• The fat or oil was rancid or dirty and not cleaned enough.
• The lye water was too hot or too cold when it was poured
into the oil/fat mixture.
• The mixture was stirred too fast or not long enough.
If the soap is not good, try again:
• Cut the soap into bits. Put it in a pot with 12 cups (2.8 liters)
of water. Use gloves to touch the soap.
• Bring it slowly to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring at times.
• If the soap had too little lye (no bite at all), add a small amount of lye. If the
soap had too much lye (sharp bite), add some pre-boiled, strained and cooled
fat. Stir until the spoon causes lines to appear on top of the thick solution.
• Pour into molds. Let stand 48 hours. Cut into bars, stack the bars on trays and
let them sit for 4 to 6 weeks.