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Popular Soap Bark Recipes Information
Top Soap Bark Recipes Resources On The Web
7/5/2009 6:57:54 AM
Soap Bark Recipes Articles
How do you make soap?
Caution: soap making is addictive. Thousands of people choose homemade soap for its nourishing properties and the feeling of satisfaction from creating something useful out of raw materials. As a consumer, you are no longer restricted to the cleansing bars available in stores because when you know how to make soap, you can make any type you desire. So, how do you make soap? There are several methods. The right method for you depends on your work space, resources and comfort level working with chemicals. That's right, chemicals. There is a science to making soap, but if you so desire you can buy the science from someone else.
How safe is the soap making process?
That all depends on how safe you are. Lye is a chemical that requires an alert user who pays attention to directions and works safely. If you lack the confidence or resources to work with lye simply buy the base from a wholesaler. Once lye is out of the picture, soap making is extremely safe. But, don't let me scare you away from making soap from scratch. If done property it a safe, rewarding process that is done by thousands of people!
How safe is homemade soap?
Not only is homemade soap safe, but it is better quality than "body bars" available in stores. Homemade soap is extremely safe and nourishing provided you:
Use a lye calculator to insure correct lye amounts. Remember, each oil/lard requires a different amount of lye. The lye calculators listed in this book will help you with calculations.
Follow the recipe and measure precisely.
Avoid hazardous combinations of herbs.
Resources in this book will assist you in checking recipes.
Test pH levels
Don't be intimidated by the process of testing soap
It is quite easy. Use pH strips (available at soap supply Web sites and craft store) to insure soap won't irritate the skin. The ideal pH level for soap is between seven and nine (many soap makers use a range of 6-10.) A number lower than seven means the recipe was deficient in lye and a number higher than 10 means the recipe had excess lye and not enough oil and water to turn it into soap, creating excess "base" . Using a bar with a high pH can burn and irritate the skin.
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