Basic Soapmaking

Basic recipes and instructions for soapmaking

cold process soap making

  • Home
  • About Us
  • What’s New!
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter

cold process soap making

Many people love cold process soap making andconsider it to be the only real soap making method. I suggest that you test thewaters and see what fits the best with you. The cold process method does meanthat you will handle lye (sodium hydroxide) and safety precautions and equipmentwill need to be used. Note that because of the caustic effect of lye, the equipmentthat you use should only be used for your soap making.

Many soap making suppliers sell some greatcold process soap making kits.

Gather your soap making supplies andequipment

cold process soap making instructions

Remember you need to wear a pair of goggles and gloves when you handle lye. NEVER pour water into lye – ALWAYS pour lye into water.

It is best to have all you soap making equipment and ingredients ready.

Your workspace should be covered.

Mold(s) are prepared and set out.

Print out a copy of the your recipe for a quick reference.

  1. Measure and set aside your essential oils or fragrances and any additives you will be adding to your homeade lye soap recipe.
  2. Weigh out your lye (sodium hydroxide) and your distilled water. Place your lye – water solution in a roasting pan of in the sink. This way if it bubbles over (how I am happy that I actually listened to this safety tip).
  3. Dissolve the lye (sodium hydroxide) by pouring lye (sodium hydroxide) into water distilled water LYE INTO WATER. Make sure that you do this in a well ventilated room or even outside. Take your time to make sure that it is completely dissolved. Let cool.
  4. Weigh out your oils and butters using a digital kitchen scale.
  5. Place all of your oils and butter in saucepan and heat them on low-medium heat. Use your thermometer to monitor that the temperature does not go over 150F.
  6. Remove from heat when your oils are between 120F and 140F.
  7. Monitor the temperature of your lye-water solution with the thermometer. When the lye-solution and the melted oils reach about the same temperature (between 100F and 120F), add the lye-solution to the melted oils. This might take a bit of time and juggling. Sometimes I will put my solutions in cold water bathes. Certain soap makers do not really worry about having the same temperatures before mixing.
  8. Use a stick hand blender to mix the soap solution. You should be still wearing your goggles and gloves. Be careful not to splash. Continue to mix until you’re the mixture reaches trace (this means that the mixture has thickened enough that when you drizzle some on the top of the mixture, it leaves a trail (trace) on top).
  9. Add your additives and scents (essential oils – fragrance). Blend all these together for a few seconds with a spatula or hand blender.
  10. Pour the soap mixture into mold(s). Cover mold(s) with plastic wrap and cover/wrap these with towels for insulation.
  11. Let the soap set for 24 to 48 hours or so before taking it out of the mold(s). Unmold and cut the soap into bar. Sometimes I put my molded soap in the freezer a few minutes to make it easier to unmold.
  12. Place the soap bars on a covered rack to dry out and cure for a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks before using them.
  13. Enjoy your handmade soap.

What you will need – soap making equipment for CP

  • Rubber gloves
  • Goggles
  • Digital scale
  • Thermometer
  • Heat safe container with spout
  • Glass mixing bowls
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring spoons
  • Stick blender
  • Saucepan
  • Knife or soap cutter
  • Mold(s) (soap mold. silicone bakeware, candy or candle molds, wood molds or hard cardboard boxes (mil cartons work) lined with parchment/freezer paper)
  • Plastic wrap
  • Old towels

Leave Cold Process Soap Making for Homepage

Go to Soap Making Recipes

Go to Sitemap

  • home

Recipes

  • Soap Recipes
  • Bath

About Soap Making

  • Learn How to Make Soap
  • Natural Soap Making
  • Soap Making Instructions

Soap Making Methods

  • How to Choose Soap Making Recipes
  • Melt and Pour Soap Making
  • Cold Process Soap Making
  • Room Temperature Soap Making
  • Hot process soap making
  • Rebatching Soap Making
  • Liquid Soap Making

More Great Stuff!

  • skin + soul blog
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Soap Making at Home Connection

Site Policies

  • Privacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Why make soap?
  • Books

By Ron & Andrea Rennick, Copyright © 2012 to 2015 www.ridgesoap.com

 – All Rights Reserved

Pages

  • african black soap recipe
  • Aloe Vera Soap Recipe
  • amazing sea salt bath benefits
  • baby laundry soap recipe
  • baby soap recipe
  • Basic Soap Recipes
  • bath salt recipe
  • beeswax soap recipe
  • biodegradable soap
  • books about bath salts
  • Books about soap making
  • calendula flower oil
  • castile soap recipes
  • cold process soap making
  • dead sea mud soap recipe
  • epsom salt bath benefits
  • himalayan bath salt benefits explained
  • History of Soapmaking
  • homemade bath fizzies
  • homemade bath products
  • homemade castile soap
  • homemade herbal salve
  • homemade lip scrub
  • homemade massage oil
  • homemade milk bath
  • homemade soap recipes
  • homemade teacher gift ideas
  • honey oatmeal soap recipe melt and pour
  • honey soap recipe
  • honey soap recipes
  • hot process soap making
  • how does soap work
  • how to make castile soap
  • how to make herbal soap
  • how to make lavender soap
  • How to make organic soap
  • how to make soap
  • Lard Soap Recipes
  • Lard, why use it in soapmaking
    • Rendering lard from bacon
    • Rendering lard from pork fat
  • lavender soap recipe
  • lemon poppy soap cake
  • liquid soap making
  • lotion bar recipe
  • lye soap recipe
  • make natural soap
  • making castile soap
  • making soap without lye
  • massage oil recipe
  • melt and pour soap making
  • natural soap colorants from your kitchen and garden
  • natural soap making
  • natural soap recipes
  • oatmeal soap recipe
  • Our Soap Recipes
  • rebatching soap making
  • room temperature soap making
  • saponification
  • soap making at home
    • soap labels
    • soap making equipment
    • soap making ingredients
    • soap making instructions
    • soap making kit
    • soap making molds
    • soap packaging supplies
  • soap making recipes
  • What is tallow in soap making?
  • Why Make Soap

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316