SoapMaking 101 - How to Make Soap from Lye and Lard

In this soapmaking 101 video Arthur teaches the Denver Urban Homesteading group how to make soap using lye, lard and coconut oil with some essential oil scents and turmeric spice for color.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• soapmaking
• make soap
• making soap
• homesteading
• homestead

[columbopaul]

Hello there

I can't understand why you used Coconut oil if you already used Lard (fat) for the saponification into soap.

[simplelivingskills]

Different fats have different properties. Lard should be combined with vegetable oils such as coconut or palm to compensate for the lard's shortcomings. Without other oils it can tend to be soft and not work very well in cold water. Coconut oil makes soaps lather beautifully but can be drying when it makes up a large portion of your soap's fats.

[hiddenmaverick]

When I taught this class, I made two mistakes.

First, I did not wear goggles when making the soap. While it may be easy to rinse off a lye spill on skin with water and acid, it is very dangerous to get lye or raw soap in eyes. Extreme pain and even blindness can result.

Second, the wooden spoon that I used introduced some impurities into the lye solution. While the soap should still be fine, it is generally better to introduce as few impurities as possible when making soap.

[simplelivingskills]

I think you did a fantastic job teaching this class. Everyone forgets things when they're speaking on camera and too a room full of people, especially if it's their first time doing so.

Thanks again for taking the time to teach this soapmaking 101 class.

[ibislee]

I think you're suppose to add the lye/water solution to oils when they are the same temperature but I see that he didn't even use a thermometre.

[peepla7]

Hey...look over this way...the camera is over here! Great vid otherwise.

[kyriacos40]

Nice healthy living

[mvembathegriot]

After endless searching, finally!...A comprehensive, complete and thorough vid on the cold press process. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!

[zabulun]

Where did you get your pvc pipes ?

[1brannewa]

very nice video thanks

[SoaperLady]

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Goggles and gloves (ESPECIALLY Goggles!!! :-)

[1971emily]

@Velkoze1 Soap is soap. :) So long as it is all natural, you can usie it for any need. to use it for laundry, simply grate some, put it in a quart jar of warm water and gently shake until it dissolves. Then use as any other laundry soap.