Soap Instructions

Detailed Soap Making Instructions

The following are detailed soap making instructions - if you have any suggestions or ideas, please contact In Ancient Footsteps.

Detailed Soap Making Instructions

Read carefully - if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

Lye information and how to use safely
What you need
The Procedure
How to make Herbal soap
What is Superfatting soap?

Thousands of people safely make soap all the time - so fear not - you can too!

There are safety precautions that you need to take - just as with anything else. After all - you wouldn't go motorcycle riding without a helmet would you? Oh...you're one of those ... well, read on.

You'll find lye usually where drain cleaners are sold. Just remember - buy only 100% lye (Red Devil is one brand). No, liquid drain cleaners or Draino (it contains metal) WON'T work. If you can't find pure 100% lye, or aren't sure what you have is 100%, then order from a soapmaking or chemical supplier. Or you can always post your need on our In Ancient Footsteps yahoogroup - there is a great group of soapers on there!

Other precautions for lye are: it can react with aluminum, zinc, and tin. So safe containers should be used and include heatproof stoneware, glass, enamel, stainless steel and plastic.

Lye can also remove paint. So be careful if it splatters and wipe it off immediately with water and detergent. If it splatters on your skin, vinegar will take the sting out immediately. Just pour a little vinegar on the area and then wash with water.

One of the items that GOOD soapmakers use are goggles - or sunglasses. Don't take the chance that it might splatter, be smart, wear the goggles. So you don't look too cool ... you'll save your eyes if a mishap does happen!

And since lye can be fatal if swallowed ALWAYS make sure that you keep lye in a locked cabinet - or a place where your children and pets ... and ... your husband .. can't get to it!!  If by some chance, someone does ingest  lye/water, do not induce vomiting - immediately take them to the emergency room.

Another good idea is to keep a window open when mixing the lye to the water, or do that part of the recipe outside. The fumes can be irritating and some people are sensitive to the fumes.

Another thing I highly recommend is buying an accurate digital scale! One of the most important items in soapmaking is a good scale!


The equipment list ... next page