Annie's Goat Hill Soap Making Process
There are several popular soap making methods:
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Melt and Pour is the method that involves a glycerin based soap that is purchased ready-made. The soap is melted and additives are added such as dehydrated goat milk, colorants, and essential/fragrance oils. The soap is poured into molds and then hardens. There is no curing process involved.
Melt and Pour is the method that involves a glycerin based soap that is purchased ready-made. The soap is melted and additives are added such as dehydrated goat milk, colorants, and essential/fragrance oils. The soap is poured into molds and then hardens. There is no curing process involved.-Hot process involves heating all ingredients and mixing the batch while hot.
Hot process involves heating all ingredients and mixing the batch while hot.-Cold process is the method that I use. The base ingredients are heated and then cooled before they are mixed.
Cold process is the method that I use. The base ingredients are heated and then cooled before they are mixed.Basic Cold Process Steps:
-Mix frozen goat milk with sodium hydroxide (lye).
Mix frozen goat milk with sodium hydroxide (lye).-Heat the base oil(s) to the melting stage.
Heat the base oil(s) to the melting stage.-Cool the goat milk mixture, and cool the base oil(s) to a certain temperature, then add the milk/lye to the oils.
Cool the goat milk mixture, and cool the base oil(s) to a certain temperature, then add the milk/lye to the oils.-The mixture is stirred until it reaches a "trace" stage. Trace occurs when the soap begins to thicken.
The mixture is stirred until it reaches a "trace" stage. Trace occurs when the soap begins to thicken.-Once the mixture begins to trace, ingredients such as essential oils, colorants, herbs, and extra moisturing oils are added.
Once the mixture begins to trace, ingredients such as essential oils, colorants, herbs, and extra moisturing oils are added. -The mixture is then poured into a mold, and left undisturbed for 24 - 48 hours. During this period the mixture goes through a "gel" stage that saponifies the oils. What remains from this stage is purely soap.
The mixture is then poured into a mold, and left undisturbed for 24 - 48 hours. During this period the mixture goes through a "gel" stage that saponifies the oils. What remains from this stage is purely soap.-After 24 - 48 hours, the soap is cut into bars.
After 24 - 48 hours, the soap is cut into bars.-Each bar of soap must cure for 6 weeks to ensure the PH level is right where it should be, and the soap has hardened sufficiently. At this point the soap contains absolutely no lye, and is ready for use.
Each bar of soap must cure for 6 weeks to ensure the PH level is right where it should be, and the soap has hardened sufficiently. At this point the soap contains absolutely no lye, and is ready for use.- Many of the steps in this process come with the warning of care and caution. Before the soap is cured, it can be caustic, and can cause severe damage to the skin or eyes.
Many of the steps in this process come with the warning of care and caution. Before the soap is cured, it can be caustic, and can cause severe damage to the skin or eyes.2008-2012 © Annies Goat Hill, Leesburg, Ohio
