{"id":137376,"date":"2023-01-04T10:49:26","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T10:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schoolofnaturalskincare.com\/?p=137376"},"modified":"2024-10-23T03:03:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T03:03:51","slug":"types-of-soap-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schoolofnaturalskincare.com\/types-of-soap-making\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Different Ways to Make Soap at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are interested in making soap at home (and you should as there are <\/span>lots of benefits of homemade soap<\/span><\/a>) there are actually four different ways to make soap that you can choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s explore the different types of homemade soap, how each is made, how long it takes and the skill level required.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is soap made? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soap is the product that results from the chemical reaction that takes place between fat (for example, plant oil, plant butter or animal fat) and a strong alkali, also called \u2018lye\u2019, for example, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This chemical reaction that creates soap is called <\/span>saponification<\/b>. The reaction between triglyceride and lye creates glycerin (glycerol), and a salt of fatty acids, which is soap.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 different ways to make soap at home <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are four different ways you can make soap. Three involve saponification. One isn\u2019t true soap making (you won\u2019t be creating a saponification reaction) but we have included it on the list as it is popular with crafters and children. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 different types of soap making:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Melt and Pour Soap Making<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Cold Process Soap Making<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Hot Process Soap Making<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Liquid Soap Making<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s look at each way of making soap in more detail.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please note: There are very important safety considerations when making soap with lye. Even some of the soap making methods we have described as \u2018easy\u2019 carry risks if safety precautions are not followed. If you are new to soap making, our article on <\/span>Lye Safety in Soap Making + 10 Safety Tips to Follow<\/span><\/a> is a good place to start.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How long does it take to make soap? <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Different types of soap take different lengths of time to make, from one hour to six weeks! There are usually several stages which can take varying lengths of time, for example, mixing oils and lye, saponification, hardening and curing. For each type of soap we have indicated how long it takes to carry out each stage. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Soap making method 1: Melt and Pour Soap Making <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Skill level: Easy<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Type of soap made: Soap bars<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hands-on time: 15-60 minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Time in mold: 1 day<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Melt and pour soapmaking isn\u2019t \u2018real\u2019 soap making as you are not creating soap through saponification but rather you are working with a pre-prepared soap base. It\u2019s popular with crafters who want something very quick and easy to make or if you want to make soap with children. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As the name suggests, you simply need to melt the soap base, add fragrance and color if you wish, and pour into molds to set. As you don\u2019t need lye to make melt and soap pour soap it is safe to make with children (under the correct supervision, of course).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"4<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Soap making method 2: Cold Process Soap Making <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Skill level: Beginner and intermediate<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Type of soap made: Soap bars<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hands\/on time: About 60 minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Time in mold: 24-72 hours<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cure time: 4+ weeks<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cold process soap is made via saponification; the lye used is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). It is made at relatively low temperatures (usually 30-50\u00b0C). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cold process soap recipes contain nourishing oils and butters, and which ones you use will affect the quality of the soap, its cleansing and nourishing abilities and the speed of saponification. Different oils\/butters have different fatty acid compositions; each fatty acid will impart certain qualities to the finished soap.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"4<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    How to make Cold Process Soap<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The oils and lye solution are combined and mixed with an immersion blender to set off the saponification reaction. The soap batter is then poured into a mold where the saponification reaction continues over the next few days.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When the soap has hardened it is taken out of the mold and cut into the bars. The bars need to cure for four to six weeks, during which time the oils finish saponifying and the bars harden further. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Beginners should start by following reliable soap recipes and instructions such as the ones we provide in our <\/span>Diploma in Soap Making<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Certificate in Cold Process Soap Making<\/span><\/a> online courses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once you are confident making simple cold process soap bars following a recipe, you can:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n