How to make soap

1 minute read

You will need:

100g NaOH (please handle very carefully and keep out of reach of children)
300 ml water.
600 g organic coconut oil
A few drops of any essential oil. This is optional.
A big glass or metal container
A big wooden or metal spoon for stirring the mix (a ladle from the kitchen will do)
Few plastic trays (like you get from takeaways)
Gloves and protective glasses (NaOH can burn you - please work very carefully and make sure small children are away).

Steps

Add NaOH to water slowly. Gently stir and go away from the mix for a few minutes. Never add water to NaOH!
After a few minutes, stir some more to make sure all NaOH has dissolved.
Add the coconut oil. Keep stirring for at least half an hour. You can take a few breaks in between. The mix comes together into a more viscous state.
Add aromatic oils if you’d like. Just make sure they are natural oils.
Pour the mix into the mould very carefully.
Leave the soap to set outdoors for a day or two, if possible. Otherwise, for at least a few hours.
Rinse the container and the spatula carefully, not to get splashes on your arms. Clean with detergent.
Leave the soap to cure for at least 2 months before using.

Keep the equipment you use for making soap separate.
Do this outdoors.
Soap making can be an art. What I have shared is just the basic chemistry. This will give you a good soap. You can experiment with different oils, but you will need different proportions of NaOH and water. This recipe is a good starting point for the soap-making enthusiasts. It is also a good end point for those who just want a reliable recipe for a non-toxic soap.