A friend of mine had to give up their job due to a medical condition and even though she was entitled to disability benefits she knew she needed something else to assist her financial situation. She wanted to do something that would bring in some extra income without affecting her social security checks and she wanted to do it legally. By studying the guidelines regarding “substantial gainful activity” she discovered a way to make enough money working at home. The answer lay in soap making supplies which she could use to make her own soap and sell on a colleague’s website.

This was a hobby she enjoyed previously so it was a natural step to take when she was thinking how to raise extra cash. Conveniently, she still had some of her old soap making supplies around the home that she could use up to make her first batch. Then when the initial batch was sold, she would use the proceeds to buy additional supplies to continue. This was ideal as she did not have to invest any money up front until she had started selling her merchandise.

While she had no initial plans to buy any supplies, she suspected she would have to do so soon as it had been a while since she last made her own decorative soaps and she knew there had been some changes to this craft in recent years. For example, the website she had used before to purchase all her equipment and ingredients was no longer available so one of her first tasks was to find a new supplier. Apart from all the raw materials involved, she was going to need molds, kits and cutters as well as getting some tips from fellow craftsman on new techniques, trends and consumer preferences. By getting on the internet and reading related message boards, she could also learn which essential oils and scents are most in demand at present.

With some past experience to go by, she knew what kind of supplier she wanted to do business with. She wanted one that was large enough to provide wholesale soap making supplies, with reasonable minimum order amounts, and most importantly they had to be reliable when it came to shipping the materials ordered. A diverse range of products from which to choose was also a priority along with equipment like melt and pour bases, organic ingredients and butters. If the website also sold other body care products, then this too would be a bonus as there would be the possibility of offering her products to this customer base at a later date.

While my friend is working on getting her business established, she is still a bit concerned about her financial security but seeing her old soap making supplies has given her hope and inspiration for the future. Being unable to hold down a regular job was a big worry for her but this way she knows she can at least bring in a small income in addition to the benefit checks she receive.

>> Click here to make your own soap

Many of us suffer from sensitive skin on a daily basis and find that many cleaners and lotion products contain ingredients that irritate so trying to find the right products can be both challenging and exhausting. Trial and error can be both costly and time consuming, as we buy different types of soap and try out new products in the hope that they wont result in an allergic reaction or cause a rash to break-out. Perhaps that’s why many of us are taking an innovative approach and trying out homemade soap recipes which can be found on line with easy to follow instructions.

You will also find that many of the ingredients required are already there in your home. The most common ingredients in all these recipes is lye which can be found in all regular shop-bought soaps. However, beware that children should be kept away from this substance as while it is safe in soap, you do not want it getting in the eyes or mouth of a youngster in its original form. Another must have ingredient when making your own soap is distilled water. Your cleansing product requires purity and this is the reason all homemade soap recipes involve using distilled water. If you don’t have any in the pantry, you will find it easily in most corner stores or supermarkets. The finished product also contains oils, with coconut and olive oils commonly used in many soap recipes. If you prefer to use a specific oil, then stick to recipes that indulge your preference but this is entirely down to the individual. It is best perhaps to keep your options open and try combinations of different oils to see what suits your skin type the best.

You do not need to have skin problems to explore the world of soap making and many women enjoy the art of creating their own unique formula to produce their homemade soap recipes. For them, fragrance is a key ingredient, and for those fortunate enough not to suffer from sensitive skin issues there are many options available for them to produce beautifully scented soaps. These have always been a popular gift and giving your own homemade versions makes it even more special and thoughtful. It is also a very trendy thing to do so why not try making your own soap as not only is it an enjoyable hobby but it will save you lots of money long term as well. With the right recipe, you can make solid bars of your favourite soap and have fun in the process.

>> Click here to make your own soap

If you have wanted to learn how to make soap at home, you will find a great hobby that is both enjoyable and rewarding.  When you have mastered the basics you can then experiment with different scents and learn differing techniques. However, it is important to get the hang of the basic steps first because soap making is a home craft that some complexities and hazards involved in the process but once you have made your own from scratch your creative efforts will be well worth your labours.

The basic materials required are lye and water with oil or fat based material like lard, which is how your grandma probably did it. Be careful how you handle the lye as it’s highly acidic so you don’t want it to touch your skin or get in your eyes.  You may consider using a respirator but wearing eye goggles to work in a well ventilated area will suffice. You will also require a few glass or plastic containers to heat the ingredients as well as a metal pot for the fat. Additionally you will need to pour your soap into a mold to cool and shape it.

If you have a cake tin lined with wax paper this will do but after it hardens you will need to cut it with a big knife that is very sharp or alternatively use some fishing line to make your own soap slicer. You may prefer not to cut your soap so you could use smaller soap bar molds like muffin tins or something similar instead. Cooking thermometers will be needed to get your lye and oils heated just right but you can buy one for very little. Lastly, you will need some wooden stirring implements and measuring cups though these should only be used for making soap not food.

While many recipes show you how to make soap at home, the basic concept is always the same and involves heating the lye with the water. This causes a chemical reaction that will make the mixture heat as the lye disperses. After this occurs, leave it to cool at 110 degrees while you heat your oil of choice, be it coconut, olive or even lard, till it reaches the same temperature. Then gradually pour your lye solution into the oil container and gently stir all your ingredients continuously.

To stay in control, pay close attention to your mixture as it begins to thicken. Remove your stirring implement and let some of the solution drizzle back into the pot as you lift it out. You will know your soap is ready if it keeps its shape as you do so. Be careful that you don’t wait to long though as some of your soap mixture may be difficult to remove from the container. If that happens, you may ruin your container for future use. Finally, pour the solidified soap into the mold with care then wrap it in a towel before setting it aside for 24 hours which is the appropriate time required for it to meld correctly. After this it should have set and you can cut it to size.  It then needs to be stored on brown paper in a cool area of your home, but you need to turn each bar two weeks after it has set before allowing it to set for another two to three weeks. As you can see, the process of how to make soap at home really is very simple and after one month you will have your own home made bars that are ready to use.

>> Click here to make your own soap

Like most of us, you may want to get away from the dangerous chemicals in commercial soap and are thinking about how to make organic soap. Those who master the art mostly will never return to the shop bought version, so it is worthwhile trying to learn how to make your own, a process you can do in the comfort of your own home.

If you leave out the additional ingredients normally included, like colouring and scent, you can do it yourself with a method that involves mixing various fats and oils with lye to make your own organic soap. This natural chemical, lye, is also known as sodium hydroxide and this cold process of soap making blends the materials used at a heat that is just above room temperature. The first step, when learning how to make organic soap, is to make the lye solution by mixing it with the right volume of water to start the chemical process, heating up the mixture then leaving it to cool at room temperature.

To begin with, the biggest expenditure you will face will be for equipment as you will need molds in which to set your liquid soap, a melting pot for your ingredients and also a pitcher to hold your lye solution. A candy thermometer will also be required to get the temperatures exactly right as will a stick blender to mix all the ingredients thoroughly and using this will get the consistency right – to trace state -  in minutes rather than hours if using a spoon.

When learning how to make organic soap you must never forget how hazardous the lye is as it is extremely caustic and if it comes into contact with your skin, will burn. It is necessary to learn how to handle this with caution, as this is one of the hardest parts of the process to master. Once you get the hang of it, you will soon gain the confidence to get on with it and can start looking around the home for ingredients to use. Then find a recipe that suits your purpose whether it combines different kinds and amounts of oils, contains little or a lot of moisturizer and the level of lather you require.  Do check the small print on the ingredients you plan to use to make sure that everything in your soap will be organic.

>> Click here to make your own soap

If you have decided that it is now time to decide to that it’s time to attempt making your own soap, then  there are many homemade soap making kits on offer to help you get started.  Whether you are young or old, there are an abundance of different kits out there, to suit both kids and adults alike.  These are extremely popular come Christmas time as they are both reasonably priced and bring endless hours of pleasure to those receiving them.

Check out your local craft store for starters as they are sure to have a good selection of kits.  They should have an assortment of high quality ones on offer as well as all the equipment you will need to begin.  This would be a perfect place to start if you want a kit for home use or want one that is specially designed for children to use. You will also find available many good ones for adults too and these can be found in Target stores too however it is recommended that you buy one of superior quality from a reputable craft shop. If you start out with the basics and get decent instructions to guide you, soap making can be quite simple although cheaper soap making kits will not guarantee the quality of the product you end up with.  That’s why craft stores are best because they will carry superior kits and the staff will have some knowledge about the products to assist you in choosing the right one for you.

There are a wide selection of kits available, from glycerin based ones to those designed for hot process soaps, with an assorted range from which to make your selection. For beginners, glycerin kits are nice and easy but if you prefer a challenge there should also be some for vegan or cream soaps and cold process too. Important points to check include ensuring a good set of instructions is provided with easy to follow recipes for beginners and all the necessary equipment required for safe soap making. After this initial learning stage you may want to enroll in a class so look out for any that may be held in your area.  This will increase your expertise and confidence as well as ensuring your advancement to a higher level. Additionally, this will also provide you with a good teacher to instruct you on your way. Craft stores may also offer basic classes, for a small charge or even for free, although a class with more structure is likely to cost extra.

Basic ingredients required for this process and commonly found in soap making kits include lye, scents, essential oils and also the fat needed for the process. A more expensive kit will even include tools to assist you in cutting your first batch as well as materials for packaging them so it is worth forking out more for one of this quality initially as this will save you buying the items separately.

However, remember that regardless of the cost or quality of the kit you purchase, the one thing that they should all contain is the relevant safety equipment. This would include a pair of safety gloves and a set of safety goggles, particularly for any soap making kits that will involve using lye. Mothers and children can create soap together so these kits are a marvelous gift for a child or an adult as the whole family can get involved in the project.

>> Click here to make your own soap

Most of the molds available for soap making recipes today are made from either silicone or plastic materials.  Silicone is favoured because it is durable but also for its flexibility which ensures the soap can be removed with ease and will not stick. Using something as basic as a cardboard box with a lining of food wrap is possible although this restricts you to basic rectangle or square shapes. When the soap is made it is necessary to purify it which entails boiling the crude curds in water before re-precipating the soap by using salt.

This cleansing process ensures the removal of glycerol and Sodium Hydroxide and gets rid of other impurities too. After that the water should be removed by a vacuum or spray dryer although it is possible to make chill roll which is the preferred method chosen by traditionalist soap making experts. However, amateurs can simply leave the soap on a rack to dry instead. When the “dry soap” is ready, it can be squeezed into shape starting as pellets and then transformed into the desired design be it blocks, bars or any other special shape.

Other soap making recipes may include adding minute pieces of metals like nickel, aluminum, titanium or silver and there are a few reasons for doing this whether it is to alter the colour of the soap or to give it anti-bacterial properties.  If these metals come into contact with bacteria they will have an acute effect as they strip the electrons from the bacteria’s surface, gradually killing it. This works by preventing the bacteria from working as it needs to and after a large amount of electrons have been lost, it ceases to function. Bad smells can result from bacteria too and with some of the metal from the soap remaining on the skin and in the pores, preventing bacteria from growing and helping the hands to smell fresh. The same effect will fight any bacteria that could cause contamination on the skins.

For a less gentle product, perhaps for scouring or cleaning purposes, the addition of sand or pumice will accomplish this. Similar to exfoliating, which most will have hard of, these particles will assist in removing any dead skin cells from the area on which it is used. However, on the down side these pumice particles are not all the same size and rougher pieces may be too harsh for use anywhere other than the hands. There are more modern products on the market that are gentle enough to be used on more delicate parts of the body.

Smaller bits of soap can also be used at this stage when blended with a mix of scented oils and other ingredients used in soap making recipes.  After it is milled and refined, using a vacuum chamber will remove any remaining air or water before the soap is ready for use or sale.

>> Click here to make your own soap

While the process of making soap has been around for centuries, most of us don’t know how to make natural soap although it is very simple to do. It will save you money and is rewarding hobby. Unlike the shop-bought versions, natural soap does not have any chemicals in it as they are made from recipes containing basic vegetable oils or animal fats. The majority of soaps are made with a substance called lye, a byproduct of burning wood materials. The lye is essential when converting fat and oil within the soap for it to be broken down in water correctly. This is however, a hazardous solution if used incorrectly.

With various processes to choose from, one of the most widely used techniques is the cold process and it involves using lye and oils. Pre-made soap blocks containing added scents is called the melt and pour method while the hot process involves cooking the soap. Rebatching refers to the process of grinding old soap scraps and re-blending them. The latter is ideal for those who prefer to avoid the use of lye as it is already in there. Here is one easy homemade recipe using lye that will show you how to make natural soap from scratch. Don’t forget that the fumes from the lye mixture can be hazardous so use goggles and avoid inhaling any fumes. Any oils used, should be mixed on their own in a large pot.  The ingredients required are  two cups each of both coconut and grape seed oil, four and a half cups of olive oil or similar and one small 9 1/4 oz container of lye.

The lye and oils need to be heated in separate containers then left to cool at 110F.  Once both reach the same temperature, the lye should be poured slowly into the oil. Using a stick blender (home improvement stores sell these reasonably cheaply), blend the mixture for around three minutes ensuring you scrape the bottom and sides. The soap is ready when it reaches a consistency similar to honey, a state known as trace. A drop of cinnamon oil can be added now, however it should only be mixed enough to combine as the soap will start to harden around this time. Pour the mixture into soap molds which should be wrapped in blankets to assist the chemical reaction. It is best to leave to set overnight then it can be cut into pieces and is ready to use.  The soap should be stored in a cool and dry location on brown paper,

You will soon get used to this process and learn how to make natural soap trying differing recipes using various oils, fragrances and fats. Oatmeal and buttermilk are ideal bases for soap as are citrus, honey and chamomile while glycerin based soaps mean you do not need to use lye.

>> Click here to make your own soap

There are many ways and different methods instructing you how to make you own soap including the cold process method.  This is best for those who wish to make their soap from scratch using a mixture of water, lye, oils and vegetable or animal fats for productions. It is a simple technique to study although it can take up quite a bit of time as well as involving handling an acidic lye mixture. Alternatively, while the hot process method is similar to this, it uses heat to hasten the soap making mission. The advantage of this speedier method is that you can use it as soon as it’s ready although it would be good practice to begin with the cold process.

The rebatching method is probably the easiest way to discover how to make your own soap as this entails the use of existing scraps of soap melted down as a base to create new bars of soap. The technique known as melt and pour is similar too and is the simplest method for those who are new to this learning process as it does not involve dealing with the lye solution. The benefit of this method over the rebatching process is the use of a pre-made natural soap base to which you can add the colour, scent and required texture to make your own individual product.

Once you have learned how, this is a fantastic way to make natural soap bars, handcrafted into lovely presents for your family and friends. The melt and pour method is ideal for making soap as gifts because you are in control of the ingredients you choose to utilize. Begin with an easy recipe and add only a few fragrant oils, as you do not want the scent to be overwhelming. After you have had a bit of practice with various aromatherapy and scented oils you can then concentrate on colours to make the soap aesthetically pleasing as well.

It is also possible to learn how to make your own soap for more specified purposes, to suit skin conditions or to make a natural domestic cleaning product so have a look online for some of the many soap recipes available or buy a book that will teach you all you need to know.  This can be a fun hobby that will not only save you money but will bring other rewards too and it is also a fantastic alternative to purchasing the commercial equivalents.

>> Click here to make your own soap

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