Do you often run out of liquid soap? Buying it can be expensive, especially if you choose soaps made with natural ingredients. Why pay € 5 or € 10 for a bottle, when you can make it yourself at home? Read on to learn how to turn a bar of soap into liquid soap or make it from scratch.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Method One: Turn a Bar of Soap into Liquid Soap
Step 1. Choose a bar of soap to use
You can make liquid soap from any bar of soap around the house. Use leftover or half soaps, or choose a specific one to create a liquid soap designed for a specific purpose. Eg:
- With a face bar of soap, you can make liquid soap that you can use to wash your face.
- With an antibacterial bar of soap, you can make a good liquid hand soap to use in the bathroom or kitchen.
- With a moisturizing bar of soap, you can create a liquid soap to use as a shower gel.
- Use a fragrance-free bar of soap if you want to add your own to create a custom liquid soap.
Step 2. Scrub a whole bar of soap into a bowl with a fine grater
Use the finest grater you have, so that the blending process is faster. You can cut the bar of soap into pieces to be able to grate it more easily.
- You should get about 230g of soap flakes. If you have less, scratch another bar of soap.
- You can easily double or triple the doses of this recipe if you need a lot of liquid soap. It can also be a gift idea, especially if you keep it in a nice jar.
Step 3. Blend the soap with boiling water
Boil 235ml of water, then pour it into a blender along with the grated soap. Blend until you get a paste.
- The blender may get dirty with hard-to-remove residue, so if you'd rather not use it, you can make soap on the stove. Simply add the soap flakes to the water when it starts boiling over the heat.
- Alternatively, try making soap in the microwave. Put a cup of water on a microwave-safe dish, boil it in the microwave, add the flakes, and let it sit for a few minutes for the soap to melt. Return the dish to the microwave and reheat it every 30 seconds if it needs more heat.
Step 4. Add glycerin to the solution
Glycerin acts as a skin moisturizer, making the liquid soap gentler on the skin than the original bar of soap. Add a teaspoon and mix until blended well.
Step 5. Personalize the soap with additional ingredients
At this stage, you can let your creativity run wild, especially if you started with a neutral bar of soap. You can add the following ingredients to make your liquid soap special:
- Mix in some honey or moisturizer to make the soap more nourishing and gentle.
- Mix a few drops of essential oils to perfume the soap.
- Add 10 - 20 drops of lavender and tea tree essential oil to make the soap naturally antibacterial.
- Use food coloring to alter the color. Avoid using traditional chemical dyes, as they are not good for the skin.
Step 6. Create the right texture
Continue blending the solution when it has cooled completely. Gradually pour in some water to bring the soap to the ideal consistency. If you are not using a blender, mix the water thoroughly with a whisk.
Step 7. Pour the soap into the containers
When it has cooled completely, you can pour it into jars or pump containers with a funnel. If you've made a lot of soap, put the leftover soap in a large bottle or jerrycan. Keep it handy to refill your smaller bottles.
Method 2 of 2: Method Two: Create the Liquid Soap from Scratch
Step 1. Get the ingredients
To achieve the saponification process and the formation of bubbles, you will need the right mix of oils and potassium hydroxide. This recipe guarantees two liters of soap. You can get these ingredients on the internet or in home improvement stores:
- 300 g of potassium hydroxide flakes
- 1 l of distilled water
- 700 ml of coconut oil
- 300 ml of olive oil
- 300 ml of castor oil
- 100 ml of jojoba oil
Step 2. Get the right tools
When handling potassium hydroxide, you must wear safety clothing and properly prepare the work area. You will need to operate in well-ventilated rooms with good lighting to be able to see what you are doing. You will need the following tools:
- A pot
- Measuring cups of plastic or glass
- Kitchen scale
- Immersion blender
- Protective gloves and goggles
Step 3. Heat the oils
Weigh the oils and place them in the saucepan over low heat. Make sure you add the exact amount specified for each oil; adding more or less will not give good results.
Step 4. Prepare the potassium hydroxide solution
Wear protective clothing and make sure the window is open. Weigh the distilled water in a large bowl. Weigh the hydroxide in a different bowl, then add it to the water. Stir constantly as you pour it.
Make sure you add the hydroxide to the water and not the other way around! Adding water to the hydroxide would cause a dangerous reaction
Step 5. Add the hydroxide solution to the oils
Slowly pour the solution into the pot, making sure you don't splash it on your skin. Use the hand blender to get the hydroxide and oils to combine well.
- As you blend the liquids, the solution will begin to thicken. Keep blending until you are able to leave a trace in the mixture with a spoon.
- The solution will continue to thicken until it becomes a paste.
Step 6. Cook the pasta
Leave the pot on low heat for about six hours, checking every 30 minutes to break it up with a spoon. The pasta will be cooked when you can dissolve one part of the mixture in two parts of boiling water, without the water becoming milky.
Step 7. Dilute the paste
You should have about half a kilo of pasta when it is cooked; weigh it to make sure of its quantity, then put it back in the pot. Add a liter of distilled water to the paste to dilute it. It can take several hours for the paste to dissolve completely in the water.
Step 8. Add fragrance and color
Use your favorite essential oils and a natural food coloring if you want to personalize your soap.
Step 9. Store the soap
Pour it into jars that you can close, because you will have produced much more than you can use in one go. Pour the soap you want to use into a container with a pump dispenser.
Advice
- Add your soap bottles to gift baskets, or wrap them for loved ones.
- Pump bottles are more hygienic and durable than bars of soap.
Warnings
- Homemade liquid soap contains no preservatives, so don't use it when it reaches one year of age, or if it takes on an unpleasant color or smell.
- Take safety precautions when handling potassium hydroxide.
