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Sunday, February 13, 2011

HOME BASED SOAP BUSINESS(FOR STAY AT HOME MOMS)


Soap Making
“Where the hard pastel-colored bars sold at the supermarkets are anonymous and indifferent, homemade soap has character. It charms…it smells good…feels good…is comforting in ways which manufactured soap can never be.” Ann Bramson

A bar of soap may cost 40 naira to make and can be sold from 150 to 400, and there is a growing market of natural ingredient buyers in this market. Many people are going back to basics and buying all-natural soaps. By adding special herbs, fragrances and colors, you can make gourmet and specialty soaps right in your own kitchen.
You can make colorful ones for special occasions, tailored ones for specific needs, and custom 
fragranced ones for a signature scent.
By carefully choosing a combination of quality oils, adding your favorite fragrance or essential oils, and swirling in a lively colorant, your soap suddenly takes on that charming “character” that commercially manufactured soap can’t even begin to compete with.

The Soap Process

Natural hand-made soap is not difficult to make, once you understand the basics. You can make a batch of soap in as little as one hour, depending on the formula.
The following is the basic formula for making all soap:

Fatty acid (oil) + Base (lye/Caustic soda) = “A Salt” (soap)




The oil or fat is heated gently. Lye and water are combined separately. When both ingredients reach the required temperature, they are combined. When the mixture becomes the desired consistency, it is poured into a mould. The bars are then removed from the mould after setting up (approximately 24 to 48 hours). They are restacked and allowed to “cure” or dry until hard. This can take anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks depending on the formula. 

There are 3 keys to successful soap making:



1.     Accurately weighed ingredients.
2.     A good formula.
3.     Proper technique.


Equipment Needed

  • One large stainless steel mixing bowl (the larger the better). This greatly reduces the amount of splatter leaving the bowl during the mixing process
  • One heat-resistant container that hold 2 cups (glass Pyrex works well) to mix Lye and water. Note: Using a large container may result in rapid heat loss and temperatures not reaching their goal
  • A container to heat oils. If using the stove, a stainless steel pot will do. If using the microwave, use a microwave-safe container
  • Meat thermometer made of glass and stainless steel (having two works best — one for the lye and one for the oil)
  • Protective wear: long sleeved shirt, pants, shoes (no bare feet), glasses and rubber gloves. Keep a bottle of vinegar nearby to neutralize lye spills
  • Soap moulds; plastic, cardboard, or wood (use wax paper to line, see “Soap Moulds”)
  • Measuring spoons, pot holders or oven mitts, and plastic spatulas(flat frying spoon)
  • Digital scale, accurate to at least two grams 

Soap Moulds

Generally, you can use just about any type of plastic, wood, or cardboard as a soap mould. Do not use tin, aluminum, or copper as they react with the lye. Candy and candle moulds may work well, too. If you want something simple, choose a square or rectangular container and cut the bars to size after your soap has set. Cardboard  juice containers work well as they are coated with wax.

To make round soaps try recycling a plastic bottle. Using an empty, clean, plastic  round shampoo bottle, carefully slice the sides of the bottle lengthwise. Tape sides using plastic packing tape to prevent leakage. Pour the soap mixture and let set for required amount of time. Peel tape back and release your soap, then cut the bars to a desired size. Set to cure as usual.

If you are having trouble getting your soap to release from the mould, try placing it in the freezer for two hours. This will cause the soap mixture to shrink from the sides and make removal easier.

To help with release, use vegetable shortening(vegetable oil) to grease your moulds.



Tip: Line your moulds with brown freezer or butcher’s paper. Apply some vegetable shortening to the inside surfaces of your mould, lay in some freezer paper, shiny side up, and trim to fit. After removal, simply peel off the paper from your soap block the next day.

Caution!

  • Soap making is not recommended for children because of the potential danger that lye poses.
  • caustic soda (sodium hydroxide)you can get in tie and dye shops.
  • Be sure to keep the lid tight on the bottle of lye. Moisture in the air will weaken its strength and cause it to form lumps.
  • Lye can be fatal if swallowed.
  • Always wear rubber gloves and protective clothing, such as a long sleeved shirt and shielding eyewear when working with lye.
  • Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. Vapours released from the lye when it is first mixed with water are quite noxious, and can greatly irritate the lungs.
  • Always have a bottle of vinegar close at hand. Vinegar will help neutralize the lye/water mixture if it happens to splatter on your skin.
  • Lye can remove paint, so be careful not to let it come in contact with any painted surfaces. If lye, lye/water or even freshly made soap splatters on any painted surface, wash the area quickly with water and detergent. Rinse with clear water and wipe dry.
  • Freshly made soap can burn and irritate the skin, therefore it’s best not to handle soap with bare hands for at least 48 hours. If your skin does come into contact with fresh soap, rinse your skin with vinegar immediately, then rinse with running water.
  • Do not use any containers made of tin, zinc or aluminum. Lye will react with them.
  • Recommended containers for mixing your soap include glass, plastic, stainless steel, enamel, and heat proof stoneware.
Homemade Soap Making Using Lye


 Here is a simple soap making recipe which you can try at home and make a stock of handmade soaps for your family and you to use. You can also sell them as gifts, by decorating them with ribbons and gift wrapping them in baskets.

Things you will need for this cold process of easy soap making recipe are -

  • Distilled water - 12 ounces
  • Vegetable shortening - 1 can
  • Lye - 6 ounces
  • Container - 8 × 8 inches
Step #1: Use a can of vegetable shortening like Crisco(or any vegetable oil). The first step to learn how to make your own soap is as follows. Take the vegetable shortening in an enamel pan and melt it on a stove and similarly in another pan, heat lye.
Step #2: In a glass bowl, take the cold distilled water and add the lye to the water slowly. Keep stirring continuously with a wooden spoon till the mix is almost clear.
Step #3: In another glass bowl take vegetable shortening and add the above mix of lye and distilled water to it. Do this slowly and keep stirring. Make sure that both the liquids are warm to touch.
Step #4: After the above solution starts to thicken, you can experiment with different additives and add scents, oils or herbs to the mix.
Step #5: The next step, is to pour the above solution into a container and set aside the mold for 24 hours in a warm insulated place.
Step #6: Cut the above big soap piece into little soap bars and store for 3 weeks in a dry place to cure. After 3 weeks your homemade soaps will be ready to use! 

Tip: Packaging is everything.

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