First time making soap at home
By Lee Ka
@kaka135 (14994)
Malaysia
January 8, 2016 6:17am CST
I attended a soap making class last year. Finally, I just made my own soap at home.
It took me more than two hours to complete the process. The process of soap making is actually quite simple, it's just that the stirring took up the most of the time, almost two hours.
I explained the steps to my children and showed them how to do. As cold process soap making requires lye which is quite dangerous, so I didn't let my children get near when I was handling the lye. My children were happy to learn the process, and of course they wanted to help as much as they could.
I am not sure if the soap will form nicely, as I might not reach the trace yet. I'll have to wait for 3 days in order to take out the soap and cut them into pieces, then I'll know.
Good luck to me! 
Do you make your own soap or do you like to use homemade soap?
Image: The soap in liquid form before I poured into the mold.
Do you make your own soap or do you like to use homemade soap?
Image: The soap in liquid form before I poured into the mold.21 people like this
19 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
8 Jan 16
At my age two hours making soap isn't a good investment of time.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (502189)
• Italy
8 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill Yes Abby, it costs more to make at home, I have checked.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@Missmwngi I can afford to buy soap, it's not that expensive. I think making it, in the long run, would cost more.
3 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
8 Jan 16
Unless one can manage to make much that can save enough cash right?
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
8 Jan 16
My mom used to make soap as gifts. I hope you enjoyed making the soap. As for me, I'd rather let someone else handle it. I'll buy from etsy though.
What fragrance / essential oils did you add?3 people like this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
8 Jan 16
I think making soap as gifts is a good idea. I gave some homemade soaps I made when I attended the class to my parents and parents-in-law and some friends, they all like them.
I didn't use any essential oils this time, I just used the very basic ingredients - olive, palm and coconut oil, as it's my first time doing on my own and haven't learn other techniques yet.
I will learn to add essential oils and others next time. I have bought Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, peppermint, lemongrass and citronella oil. I'd like to make a mosquito repellent soap in future. 
I gave some homemade soaps I made when I attended the class to my parents and parents-in-law and some friends, they all like them.
I didn't use any essential oils this time, I just used the very basic ingredients - olive, palm and coconut oil, as it's my first time doing on my own and haven't learn other techniques yet.
I will learn to add essential oils and others next time. I have bought Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, peppermint, lemongrass and citronella oil. I'd like to make a mosquito repellent soap in future. 1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
9 Jan 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum As my little girl always wakes up in the middle of the night because of being bitten by mosquitoes, hence I started to learn a little bit more about essential oil, then I found out the mosquito repellent soap.
I am sure your mom knows about adding the essential oil. What oil does she normally put?
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
9 Jan 16
@kaka135 I am not sure of the process of adding essential oils myself. The mosquito repellant type soap is a good idea though!
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
8 Jan 16
The soap we buy from the shop is quite cheap as well, but if we'd want to buy homemade soaps, they are quite expensive. Well, it doesn't mean if I make the soaps myself, they will be cheaper, as the oils can be expensive as well.
I just enjoy the process of making and learning.
2 people like this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
9 Jan 16
@mom210 That's good!
I think I have been learning much more in these few years while learning for/together with the children. I let my son learn sewing and cooking as well. He is just interested when I am doing those. He just started to learn how to knit now. He keeps repeating the verse while knitting.
I think I have been learning much more in these few years while learning for/together with the children. I let my son learn sewing and cooking as well. He is just interested when I am doing those. He just started to learn how to knit now. He keeps repeating the verse while knitting. 1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
8 Jan 16
That's good!
I'd like to learn this together with my children, and we might be able to give some to others or sell them in future. My parents and parents-in-law like to use the soaps I made (from the class), so I plan to make more and give to them.
I'd like to learn this together with my children, and we might be able to give some to others or sell them in future. My parents and parents-in-law like to use the soaps I made (from the class), so I plan to make more and give to them.2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
8 Jan 16
I don't make any at home. I hope it will turn out well
3 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
11 Jan 16
I never made soap before but I have watched some tutorials on youtube. I did not know you had to wait 3 days for the entire process of making soap!
Did you pour the soup into cute molds?
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
11 Jan 16
We need to wait for 2-3 days in order to remove the soap from the mold, and cut it into pieces. Then, we need to wait for at least 6 more weeks to be able to use the soap. I didn't know this until I attended the class.
Nope, I didn't get cute molds, but just reuse the milk carton, to save cost.
Nope, I didn't get cute molds, but just reuse the milk carton, to save cost. 1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
13 Jan 16
@infatuatedbby That's another on my list I want to learn as well.
I haven't learn that yet. I just found a friend who sells beewax for making candles, but it's quite costly. Anyway, I will still try to save some money to try some, it is a good activity to do as well.
I haven't learn that yet. I just found a friend who sells beewax for making candles, but it's quite costly. Anyway, I will still try to save some money to try some, it is a good activity to do as well.1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
12 Jan 16
@kaka135 Wow, I never knew you had to wait at least 6 weeks to use the soap! That is very interesting! Since you can make soaps, do you make your own candles also?
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jan 16
I always wanted to make my own soap but I don't know where to buy the chemicals like lye. Some of them are available online but online shopping is not practical here due to shipping and taxes.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
13 Jan 16
Can you find local online shops for soap making? I am glad to know a friend who is a soap maker and she sells the materials. I also found some online shops locally.
I tried to search for "soap making supplies Philippines" and found quite a number of shops. Perhaps there's one that near where you stay.
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
15 Jan 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker I didn't know about that. Even for local online shop?
Yes, it's always good to have free shipping. Shipping cost can be quite expensive. But, if you can find a local shop nearby which is even better, as you can consult the buyer. Some might even share with you the soap making tips.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jan 16
@kaka135 I will check them if they have free shipping. I hate online shopping because many sellers forces me to pick up the package at the post office and I have to pay some taxes and fees.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16770)
• Canada
8 Jan 16
Some commercial soap contains harmful chemicals in small quantities so to make the process profitable. But at home production can be anything and price is not always a big factor. There are many types of soap I see but I've never tried them to see what they are like.
Want to make your own homemade soap? Here are ten brilliant soap recipes anyone can try at home.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
8 Jan 16
Thank you for sharing the recipes. It'll be useful for me, for the next soap making.
Yes, I have read about the commercial soap. Though I have been using them for years, I just think if I have a chance and I'm willing to make my own, I'd like to make some soaps especially for my young children. Yes, the price is not always the big factor, and I enjoy doing things together with my children, it's a very good family activity.
Yes, I have read about the commercial soap. Though I have been using them for years, I just think if I have a chance and I'm willing to make my own, I'd like to make some soaps especially for my young children. Yes, the price is not always the big factor, and I enjoy doing things together with my children, it's a very good family activity. 2 people like this
@Bluedoll (16770)
• Canada
9 Jan 16
@kaka135 These family activities are educational as well as useful. Crafts like making paper is something who knows might give children and even ourselves insight into process and products. I like all natural products but careful what I use on my face.1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
11 Jan 16
@Bluedoll Yes, I think that as well. Making paper has always been on my to do list. I was not so conscious when I was younger, as I didn't get to know all these. Since I know there are ways of doing things our own, and live more naturally, I'd like to go into this direction.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
9 Jan 16
Do you mind sharing what ingredients you use?
I have used olive oil, palm oil and coconut oil for mine. 50% of olive oil, and my parents and parents-in-law think the soap makes the face and body clean and not oily. Most of them have oily face, that's why they like using the soap I made.
My instructor told me if we use more than 50% olive oil, the soap can be too oily, so we have to adjust the weight of the oils.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
11 Jan 16
@paigea A friend told me to calculate the INS numbers as well when writing out the recipe for soap making. The INS numbers seem to be able to confirm that the soap will turn out to be alright (if within 120 - 160). You can find the INS number for each oil on Internet. That's what my friend told me, but I haven't try it out yet. As I am using the recipe my instructor gave me during the class, so I didn't re-calculate. My instructor didn't tell us about the INS number, she just asked us to adjust the recipe ourselves. If it's too oily or oil dripping, perhaps the olive oil is too much. That's what she told us.
I think it might be good for you to learn to make the soap again.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
9 Jan 16
@kaka135 I used lye. And it is a long time since I tried it! I know I used coconut oil and I don't remember what else I tried. The soap was literally oily to touch. And it was dripping oil.
It felt nice on the skin but just didn't set right I guess. I would be starting over to learn to try making it again.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Jan 16
Yes, good luck to you! My mom used to make soap all of the time.. She would pore it into egg cartons. Worked fine and the soap was good.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jan 16
@kaka135 ....Sure, hope it is helpful to you.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
13 Jan 16
I have never made soap.
I applaud you on your abilities to make it.
Yes the lye would be caustic for sure.
I just read something but I deleted it.
I was going to share with you here about putting coffee in the soap..supposed to be good aroma and good for the skin. I do not know how it would be done though.
Is your soap any fragrace?
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
15 Jan 16
I just started to learn to make the very basic and simple soap, there are many other techniques to learn.
Thank you for sharing about the coffee soap, I will surely check it out. I have not heard about it before. I love the aroma of coffee, though I do not drink coffee now (because of pregnancy).
Currently, I haven't add any fragrance to my soap yet, but I will do that as I have bought some essential oils as well. I need to study more before I can move into a little more advanced.
Thank you for sharing about the coffee soap, I will surely check it out. I have not heard about it before. I love the aroma of coffee, though I do not drink coffee now (because of pregnancy).
Currently, I haven't add any fragrance to my soap yet, but I will do that as I have bought some essential oils as well. I need to study more before I can move into a little more advanced. 1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
15 Jan 16
@kaka135 Yes perfect the skill first, then add the niceties.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23978)
• United Kingdom
9 Jan 16
We have never made soap although I guess it would be nice as a hobby to give as gifts. We tend to buy our soap from France where it seems much nicer lathers really well and seems to last longer!
1 person likes this
@abhinalstrikr (4110)
• India
9 Jan 16
it will be nice to know the know-how of soap making,becos i will name it on mine and will get the fragrance of my mood
1 person likes this
