Making Coconut Oil Soaps As A Hobby
The urge to "go green" and to give handmade gifts has brought a heightened interest in handmade items. Coconut oil soaps is one of these items. Those who want to make things themselves so that they know what is in it and that there is no unnecessary waste are big proponents of making their own soaps. There are several recipes and methods for making soap, but all are pretty similar.
To make good soap, you have to have a highly fatty combination. Lye, fats, and scents are the main ingredients. The different types of soap depends on the amount of each ingredient, and the type of fats used. Almost any fat can be used. The higher the superfat the better the conditioning. Coconut is considered the best, and it has 20% superfat. Anything used is best the closer to that percentage it gets.
There are some dangers when making soaps. They are a combination of lye, oils, scents, and colors. Each are heated to a certain temperature, then cooled to another temperature. Due to this, there is danger of burns and spills. Lye is very caustic to the skin. Therefore, gloves are a good idea, though not entirely necessary. A good thermometer and an accurate scale are necessary for good results as well.
It is recommended that you use dedicated materials and equipment for your soap making. The main reason is that it is more convenient to keep it all together and to not have to do a thorough washing like you would have to do to reuse these tools for something else. You can usually find the tools, even the suggested crock pot, at yard sales and thrift stores. Items should be glass, stainless steel, or crockery.
There is not much in the way of tools required. Keeping them handy makes the job more enjoyable. You can just toss all the things in the large bowl or crock pot and store them together, handy for the next time. Glass or plastic jars and bowls are required. A thermometer ensures proper temperatures. A stick blender is needed for mixing safely. A metal or wooden spoon, and a rubber spatula are also required. Soap molds or waxed cartons are need to mold the soap. Though they are more expensive, silicone molds that are decorative are great to have, but not required at first.
In order to practice safety, gloves and safety eyewear are essential. The lye is very caustic and accidents do happen. In addition, a large bottle of white vinegar is important to wash the lye off the person or anything that gets splashed. Due to the safety hazards, this is not a hobby suited to children, unless you wish to supervise them closely.
Colors and scents make your soap uniquely yours. Essential oils can be added for scent as well. Pale colors are best because you don't want to have to add a large amount of dye because it may change the consistency of the soap. The same is true for scents. In addition, a strong scent can be irritating to the skin, and strong scents may be offensive to some.
Soap making is a very enjoyable hobby which is inexpensive and doesn't require much to pursue it in the way of tools and equipment. The oils, also, are very inexpensive. All tools and equipment are reusable and the colors and scents are a negligible amount. Even the silicon molds are relatively inexpensive, and can be added one at a time as funds become available.
To make good soap, you have to have a highly fatty combination. Lye, fats, and scents are the main ingredients. The different types of soap depends on the amount of each ingredient, and the type of fats used. Almost any fat can be used. The higher the superfat the better the conditioning. Coconut is considered the best, and it has 20% superfat. Anything used is best the closer to that percentage it gets.
There are some dangers when making soaps. They are a combination of lye, oils, scents, and colors. Each are heated to a certain temperature, then cooled to another temperature. Due to this, there is danger of burns and spills. Lye is very caustic to the skin. Therefore, gloves are a good idea, though not entirely necessary. A good thermometer and an accurate scale are necessary for good results as well.
It is recommended that you use dedicated materials and equipment for your soap making. The main reason is that it is more convenient to keep it all together and to not have to do a thorough washing like you would have to do to reuse these tools for something else. You can usually find the tools, even the suggested crock pot, at yard sales and thrift stores. Items should be glass, stainless steel, or crockery.
There is not much in the way of tools required. Keeping them handy makes the job more enjoyable. You can just toss all the things in the large bowl or crock pot and store them together, handy for the next time. Glass or plastic jars and bowls are required. A thermometer ensures proper temperatures. A stick blender is needed for mixing safely. A metal or wooden spoon, and a rubber spatula are also required. Soap molds or waxed cartons are need to mold the soap. Though they are more expensive, silicone molds that are decorative are great to have, but not required at first.
In order to practice safety, gloves and safety eyewear are essential. The lye is very caustic and accidents do happen. In addition, a large bottle of white vinegar is important to wash the lye off the person or anything that gets splashed. Due to the safety hazards, this is not a hobby suited to children, unless you wish to supervise them closely.
Colors and scents make your soap uniquely yours. Essential oils can be added for scent as well. Pale colors are best because you don't want to have to add a large amount of dye because it may change the consistency of the soap. The same is true for scents. In addition, a strong scent can be irritating to the skin, and strong scents may be offensive to some.
Soap making is a very enjoyable hobby which is inexpensive and doesn't require much to pursue it in the way of tools and equipment. The oils, also, are very inexpensive. All tools and equipment are reusable and the colors and scents are a negligible amount. Even the silicon molds are relatively inexpensive, and can be added one at a time as funds become available.
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Get an overview of the things to consider when purchasing soap and view our selection of coconut oil soaps at http://www.ascsoapworks.com/blog/coconut-oil-in-soaps now.
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