Sunday, August 21, 2011

SOAP RECIPE


Cold Method



Recipe:
Olive oil 1000 gr
NaoH 120 gr
Water 133 gr




1. We prepare the water*-sodium NaOH caustic soda mixture.

We have taken all the safety measures (gloves, long shirt, mask and don't breathe the vapours!). We measure exactly the quantities. We put the distilled water in a plastic basin that can withstand high heat and add the sodium hydroxide, little by little, stirring with a plastic or wooden spoon. Never pour water into the caustic potash and never use hot water!!! As you stir, the temperature of the water will rise and the water will become clear. Allow the solution to cool and come to room temperature.

*In case our recipe uses juice or any other liquid, replace the water with the other liquid. The procedure with a liquid other than water is different (read each recipe carefully) and is not used by beginners.

*If we use water, we should use distilled water which is very soft and has no metals. Mineral or tap water is excluded.

*If we want our soap to be harder we can add a little salt to the mixture of water and sodium hydroxide after mixing them, not before. Say 2 to 4 tablespoons in my recipes. The salt will not only make the soap harder, but it will save us from extra beating with the hand blender.

*The water and caustic soda mixture can be made in the evening and left overnight, so I believe the soap will be better.

2. Prepare the oil mixture.

In a large pot, add the oils and place it over very low heat so that the oils mix perfectly.

3. We control the temperature of oil mixture and water-NaOH mixture.

It is important that the two mixtures are at the same temperature between 28 and 43 degrees Celsius. We usually prefer 28 degrees Celsius to avoid losing the oil's components from the high temperature. We put a thermometer on each mixture and depending on whether the temperature needs to go up or down, we put it in a basin of hot water or cold water.  This way we will eventually get the temperature to be the same in both mixtures to mix them.

4. Combine the oils with the water-NaOH (gloves and mask are worn until the end of the process).

Slowly add the water-NaOH to the oils (without splashing) and stir gently with a ladle. Stir constantly. We can continue stirring for about an hour or so. But if we get a hand blender we will mix for about 10 minutes. We will stop mixing when the mixture starts to thicken and change color and when we take a little bit with the ladle and pour it over the mixture a line should form which will be slow to erase, this means that our soap is leaving traces. At this step the mixture is 80% soaped.

5. Pour the additives

When we see that the soap leaves "traces", we can add the additives and mix well with a ladle and not with a blender because the mixture will quickly thicken and we won't be able to put it in the molds. Additives are herbs, scrapings, oats, essential oils and others that are sensitive to high temperatures and are always added at the end.

6. Ρίχνουμε το μίγμα στα καλούπια

The moulds should be filled with petroleum jelly beforehand (so that the soap comes out easily when it is ready). We put it into moulds with a deep ladle. Be careful it's still caustic!!! (If you use pvc tubes on the bottom put rap and tie some rubber bands).

7. Cover the soap and leave it for 24-48 hours.

When the moulds are filled, I wrap them very well with lots of warm cloth. And I don't shake them again for 24 to 48 hours until the soap is done.

8. Take the soap out of the moulds.

After 24 or 48 hours the soap will still be warm. Try taking it out of the mould if it doesn't come out, leave it in the freezer for a while.

9. Leave the soap to mature for 1 to 2 months.

Leave the soap pieces in the air to harden. As time passes, it becomes whiter and a white powder forms on it. The longer it stands the better it gets.

No comments:

Post a Comment