QA Soap Making

Everyone needs a hobby. Some people take up building models of airplanes and vehicles. Some like to garden and so devote their time to developing a beautiful flower or vegetable garden. And then there are those that enjoy crafts. Finding the right craft for your particular needs or skill set can take time. Sometimes it is a trial of hit or miss on which crafts you enjoy the most. If you have not tried making your own soap then you are missing out on a very wonderful hobby that has a long history. Just about everyone uses soap in their daily lives. So how great would it be if you could make your own soap and give it out to friends and family as small gifts? Soap making is really not that complicated. This article will go through some of the history of making soap and how you can get started making your own. You will be a whiz in no time at all.

What is soap making?

Soap making, also known as saponification, is a relatively simple process of taking fats and mixing them with an alkaline solution that results in the creation of an anionic surfactant that is your bars of soap. Saponification may seem like a complicated process but in reality it is just a chemical reaction that yields a cleaning agent that you use for your dishes, body and clothing. Making soap has become a very popular hobby with some and even a full time occupation for others. Decorative soaps are always very popular as gifts. And as the organic movement has grown and people want more control over what they put on their body, saponification has become a way they can control what goes into the soaps that they use daily.

Is soap making hard?

Soap making can be as easy or as difficult as you make it. There are many kits you can now buy in craft stores that contain everything that you need to make your own soaps. You do not even have to deal with lye which can be dangerous to use. Most soap kits contain bars of glycerin that you melt either on the stove top or the microwave. You add in the fragrances and/or herbs that you wish to scent your soap with and then you pour it into molds. You can still use lye to create your own soaps but this does make it a little bit harder because you have to have special gloves and equipment to handle this caustic chemical. And lye can cause very serious burns and injuries if you are not careful. But overall you can easily find soap making recipes that fit your particular needs.

What ingredients can I add to my soaps to make them special?

The only limit on adding ingredients to your soap is your own imagination. Granted there are going to be some items that you do not want to add in such as shells and that is simply because as the soap melts away from use, you could wind up injuring yourself on the hard edge. If you are going to make a purely decorative soap then adding in hard textures is not an issue. If you intend to use the soaps then you can add in finely crushed walnut shells to help exfoliate your skin. You can also add in dried flowers and essential oils. Just make sure that the oils you use are safe for your skin. The fragrant oils used to diffuse your home with their wonderful scents do not work on your skin because of the potency.

Are there books or classes on soap making I can use to help me perfect this craft?

If you visit a craft store such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby you will definitely find books and even classes on soap making. Check the bulletin board of the stores to see if they have a class coming up. If you feel that you cannot wait for a class you can always buy a kit that will contain all the ingredients you need to make soap. You can also go online and find websites that give easy to follow recipes for making your favorite types of soaps.

Related topics about soap making
A General Approach For How To Make Soap
If you're learning to make soap with a recipe that requires melting solid ingredients first, then prepare a clean area near the stove, with access to water. Choose a pot that will either allow you to use indirect heat, like a double boiler or even a crock pot, or heat the soap carefully on low heat in a regular pot. Have your soap molds ready for pouring the mixture into.

Make Soap And Be Safe
For this reason, when you make soap, it might even be best if you isolate yourself so you're not distracted by a pet or by any kids in the house. Have all ingredients nearby before you start, so you don't have to leave the workspace unexpectedly, and perhaps lay down protective coverings on counters where you'll be working. Keep all your soap making resources, like pots, utensils, and especially the lye, well labeled and separated from normal kitchen supplies.

Making Natural Soap
The essential process for making natural soap, or for making any soap for that matter, is to combine a fatty acid with a base, which results in the soap itself. The base is usually soap lye, while the fatty acids are either animal or vegetable oils. For some people, animal fats raise questions about ethics and how the animals are treated, so using oils derived from vegetables, or even grains or nuts is usually preferable and feels more natural.