Soap Making Instructions
Step by step guide to making soap at home
Soap making instructions for homemade soap. The two most common methods for making soap at home are the Melt and Pour method and the Cold Process method.
Here we provide instructions for making handmade soap using the simpler Melt and Pour method.
Go to the Cold Process Soap Recipe if you prefer to make homemade soap from scratch using this method.
Basic Melt and Pour Soap Making Instructions.
Have these ingredients and equipment ready:
Block of base soap, fragrance or essential oils, colorant, rubbing alcohol in spray bottle, double boiler or bowl and microwave, scale, plastic wrap,
plastic or silicone spoon for stirring, soap mold or container, large knife or soap cutter.
Follow these step by step soap making instrutions:
- Melt the base block of soap. You can do this either in a double boiler or the microwave. Cut the soap
base into small blocks and place them in a pyrex or heat resistant glass bowl if you are using the microwave. Weigh and use the correct amount for your mold or container.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap to stop the excess moisture from evaporating out. Simply melt the base soap on a medium to high setting one minute at a time.
Keep stirring any unmelted pieces into the mixture. Repeat the heating process until all the blocks are melted. The melted soap will be very hot so be careful when handling it.
- Using a double boiler. The soap base can be melted in a double boiler if you prefer. Simply bring
the water to the boil, add your soap base to the top pan and melt it.
- Add the fragrance oil. Once the soap base is fully melted you can add your fragrance or essential oils. An
approximate measurement of how much fragrance to use is 2 to 3 percent of the soap weight. Go up or down from this depending on the strength of
the fragrance oil. Slowly add the fragrance to the melted soap base and gently stir until the fragrance is full incorporated and the base doesn't look
cloudy.
- Add colorant. Important soap making instructions include the use of only soap-safe dyes, natural colorants or mica as colorants. It is better to use liquid colorants with this method as they mix in better. Add a few drops of the colorant to the melted soap base. Stir it in gently but well.
Avoid stirring too hard as this creates bubbles in the soap. To get rid of any bubbles spray the soap mixture lightly with rubbing alcohol.
- Pour into the mold or container. Slowly pour the melted soap mixture into the mold you are using.
If bubbles form lightly spray rubbing alcohol on the top of the soap. Leave the soap for a couple of hours. Cover with plastic wrap if necessary.
- Release the soap from the mold. After a few hours the soap should be hard enough to unmold.
You should be able to just pop the soap out of the mold. Tapping the mold firmly with a large spoon can help to release the soap. It is advisable to let the
soap sit for 24 hours for the fragrance oils to settle before cutting the soap. Trim any rough edges with a paring knife.
Tips for soap making instructions
- Melt and pour soap bases can be purchased from online soap making suppliers or craft stores. These are pre-made blocks of uncolored, unscented soap. The important
thing is to find a high quality melt and pour soap base.
- You can use containers that you have in the home for your mold such as plastic ice cream containers, jelly molds, food containers. Just cut the soap into the right size blocks once it has hardened and is unmolded. If you want to purchase soap molds
you can find them online or at craft shops. Many discount stores sell plastic containers that make great molds for your homemade soap. Plastic is the
best option as you can reuse it and the soap releases more easily from a plastic mold than a glass mold.
- Mica is a pearly translucent powder that has high relective qualities. For this reason it works best in
products where it can get a lot of light such as transparent soap.
- Natural colorants come from plant materials, spices and herbs such as beta carotene (orange),
beet root (pink to red), cocoa (brown), cucumber (bright green) etc. If using a powder colorant dissolve the particles in
a little of the base before returning it to the mixing pot. This ensures easier incorporation of the color.
Go here to view some interesting
Soap Making Ideas
These soap making instructions show you how simple making soap at home can be. Making homemade soap can be a rewarding and profitable way of making extra money from home.
Turn a fun and creative hobby making soap at home into a successful home business.
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