Post by benshelpmeet on Feb 8, 2012 14:44:08 GMT -5
Here is information on ( Making Lye Soap) I found on an old (2005) thread about making Laundry Detergent . Enjoy! 
Re: Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
« Reply #3 on Oct 28, 2005, 4:46pm »
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Lye Soap Recipe
18 cups of bacon grease or lard.
18 oz. lye
7 ½ cups water
(Lard and lye can be purchased at some grocery and general stores, or use your own if you have animals. You can also use your own lye from wood ashes, but I don't know how to do that yet.)
Melt the lard or grease. If using bacon grease drippings, then strain it using a fine strainer or cheesecloth to remove the bacon pieces. Pour the water into a large old pot or crock. Take the pot outside (because of fumes) and add the lye slowly (it will bubble). Then add the melted lard or grease to the large pot. Keep the pot outside or in a ventilated area inside (we used a garage with the door cracked open). Stir the mixture with a paint stirrer or an old broom handle until it thickens to a mashed potato consistency. This will take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Next, cut off the top 2/3 of a box and place wet scrap fabric in the box (bottom and sides) to line the box. Pour the soap mixture into this, and spread it flat with a wooden spoon or spatula. The next day, the soap will be harder and the boxes can be moved, if desired, to a shed, barn, or garage. There it should be cut into bars. Leave it for 3 weeks for curing, then remove the bars from the boxes and it is ready to use.
This is a good project for a group because people can take turns stirring. When we helped, all the people we were with had saved their bacon grease all year for this. There were about fifty people and they had about 10 pots being stirred at one time. Everyone brought food to share and we had a day of fellowship and stirring. We really enjoyed the day, and the soap!
Your sister in Christ,
Debbie H.
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Re: Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
« Reply #4 on Oct 28, 2005, 5:14pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies,
For my conscience sake I am going to jump in here and tell you something I have heard. I have a friend who makes all her own bath and body products, teaches classes on doing it, and is what some would call your basic, "crunchy granola eater". She told me that pregnant and nursing moms should not mess with the making of lye soap and should be very cautious about using it even after it has set. I guess it's toxic before it sets or something and she just fell that it's better safe then sorry and doesn't use it even after it sets. She uses other forms of homemade soap when she is pregnant or nursing which is all the time at this point in her life. You may already know this, but i didn't want to assume you all did and then have something bad happen that I could of helped to prevent. I however am neither pregnant nor nursing right now, so I may have to try my hand at some of these recipes.
Have a wonderful day ladies.
Blessings,
Heather
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Making Soap
« Reply #5 on Oct 29, 2005, 5:42am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heather,
That fact is very true about lye..as a long time soapmaker, over 15 years, it is one thing if YOU make it, you must be careful and follow basic safety rules.
Which are..#1 Wear protective eye wear, gloves, long sleeves and open the window.
The most dangerous part of lye is getting burned and the fumes..you can even go mix the lye water outside, it has to cool down before you use it in any event..
I have made soap while pregnant and not pregnant, I followed the rules always and even though I feel now I am a "seasoned" soaper, trust me I have had a lye splash come dangerously close to getting into my eye, which can do serious damage...I keep white vinegar closeby when I make soap and that counteracts the sting if I do get splashed on the hand, yes, not always do I wear gloves...it's not smart, but I am pretty cautious..
Another rule of thumb in soapmaking..."Snow on the Water" this means..NEVER EVER EVER pour the water into the lye..it is lye into water...as this can bubble up and cause the volcano effect
...a good website to view is www.the-sage.com they have a lye calculator, and you need to be careful to ensure your recipe is accurate, weighing the oils/fats is essential so you have the right amount of lye and water...
You can use soybean shortening, coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil, pretty easily found at the local walmart these days..or buy in bulk... I get my bulk oils from www.columbusfoods.com they are in Chicago, they have their "Soapers Choice" area that sells the oils you would need...
A very educational site to learn about different soaping methods, and trust me there are a few...CP=Cold Processed, HP=Hot Process, CPOP=Cold process, oven processed, it gets confusing..this site gives you pictorials and a lot of simple recipes for soap, body lotions, lip balms, and a lot of body care products...that is www.soapnuts.com
I don't want to scare off anyone who wants to make soap, it is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable crafts I love to do... just do it wisely and be careful
God bless you sisters,
Penny
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lye Fumes
« Reply #7 on Oct 29, 2005, 9:34am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sister Debbie,
If you make soap, it is just imperative that you either do it outside when you mix the lye and water combination or have a very well ventilated area..the fumes are harsh, to say the least..but mixing outside is an easy way to make the lye-water combination.
I use a stick blender to mix up the soap after I add the lye-water mixture..and the fumes are not strong at that point, and I do make that inside.
Hope this helps.
Penny
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Re: Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
« Reply #3 on Oct 28, 2005, 4:46pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lye Soap Recipe
18 cups of bacon grease or lard.
18 oz. lye
7 ½ cups water
(Lard and lye can be purchased at some grocery and general stores, or use your own if you have animals. You can also use your own lye from wood ashes, but I don't know how to do that yet.)
Melt the lard or grease. If using bacon grease drippings, then strain it using a fine strainer or cheesecloth to remove the bacon pieces. Pour the water into a large old pot or crock. Take the pot outside (because of fumes) and add the lye slowly (it will bubble). Then add the melted lard or grease to the large pot. Keep the pot outside or in a ventilated area inside (we used a garage with the door cracked open). Stir the mixture with a paint stirrer or an old broom handle until it thickens to a mashed potato consistency. This will take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Next, cut off the top 2/3 of a box and place wet scrap fabric in the box (bottom and sides) to line the box. Pour the soap mixture into this, and spread it flat with a wooden spoon or spatula. The next day, the soap will be harder and the boxes can be moved, if desired, to a shed, barn, or garage. There it should be cut into bars. Leave it for 3 weeks for curing, then remove the bars from the boxes and it is ready to use.
This is a good project for a group because people can take turns stirring. When we helped, all the people we were with had saved their bacon grease all year for this. There were about fifty people and they had about 10 pots being stirred at one time. Everyone brought food to share and we had a day of fellowship and stirring. We really enjoyed the day, and the soap!
Your sister in Christ,
Debbie H.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Re: Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
« Reply #4 on Oct 28, 2005, 5:14pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ladies,
For my conscience sake I am going to jump in here and tell you something I have heard. I have a friend who makes all her own bath and body products, teaches classes on doing it, and is what some would call your basic, "crunchy granola eater". She told me that pregnant and nursing moms should not mess with the making of lye soap and should be very cautious about using it even after it has set. I guess it's toxic before it sets or something and she just fell that it's better safe then sorry and doesn't use it even after it sets. She uses other forms of homemade soap when she is pregnant or nursing which is all the time at this point in her life. You may already know this, but i didn't want to assume you all did and then have something bad happen that I could of helped to prevent. I however am neither pregnant nor nursing right now, so I may have to try my hand at some of these recipes.
Have a wonderful day ladies.
Blessings,
Heather
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Making Soap
« Reply #5 on Oct 29, 2005, 5:42am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heather,
That fact is very true about lye..as a long time soapmaker, over 15 years, it is one thing if YOU make it, you must be careful and follow basic safety rules.
Which are..#1 Wear protective eye wear, gloves, long sleeves and open the window.
The most dangerous part of lye is getting burned and the fumes..you can even go mix the lye water outside, it has to cool down before you use it in any event..
I have made soap while pregnant and not pregnant, I followed the rules always and even though I feel now I am a "seasoned" soaper, trust me I have had a lye splash come dangerously close to getting into my eye, which can do serious damage...I keep white vinegar closeby when I make soap and that counteracts the sting if I do get splashed on the hand, yes, not always do I wear gloves...it's not smart, but I am pretty cautious..
Another rule of thumb in soapmaking..."Snow on the Water" this means..NEVER EVER EVER pour the water into the lye..it is lye into water...as this can bubble up and cause the volcano effect
...a good website to view is www.the-sage.com they have a lye calculator, and you need to be careful to ensure your recipe is accurate, weighing the oils/fats is essential so you have the right amount of lye and water...
You can use soybean shortening, coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil, pretty easily found at the local walmart these days..or buy in bulk... I get my bulk oils from www.columbusfoods.com they are in Chicago, they have their "Soapers Choice" area that sells the oils you would need...
A very educational site to learn about different soaping methods, and trust me there are a few...CP=Cold Processed, HP=Hot Process, CPOP=Cold process, oven processed, it gets confusing..this site gives you pictorials and a lot of simple recipes for soap, body lotions, lip balms, and a lot of body care products...that is www.soapnuts.com
I don't want to scare off anyone who wants to make soap, it is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable crafts I love to do... just do it wisely and be careful
God bless you sisters,
Penny
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lye Fumes
« Reply #7 on Oct 29, 2005, 9:34am »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sister Debbie,
If you make soap, it is just imperative that you either do it outside when you mix the lye and water combination or have a very well ventilated area..the fumes are harsh, to say the least..but mixing outside is an easy way to make the lye-water combination.
I use a stick blender to mix up the soap after I add the lye-water mixture..and the fumes are not strong at that point, and I do make that inside.
Hope this helps.
Penny
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>