If you think that making homemade glycerin soap may be no easy task, especially if you think of creating a version which requires you to handle lye, think about it again, you can create glycerin melt-and-pour soap but that will not take you a lot of time. You can create decorative and functional homemade glycerin soap in your spare time to use at home or package and give them as gifts to your family and friends. Read on to learn how to make homemade soap making method.
To make
homemade glycerin soap this is the things that you'll need:
you'll need a
soap molds, a rubbing alcohol, a spray bottle, glycerin, an essential oils, a
knife, a microwavable container or a double boiler, a spoon and a soap
colorant.
Now the methods
that you need for making homemade glycerin soap:
First: you'll
need to buy supplies. Craft stores sell glycerin, which is a soap base, in
solid, melt able blocks. If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own
glycerin, but it's easier to buy blocks of clear glycerin, white, or a
different color of glycerin. Clear glycerin soap always looks a little
transparent, no matter what color you choose. In addition to glycerin, you'll
need the following supplies:
Essential oils.
Craft stores sell essential oils meant for use in glycerin soap. You'll only
need a few drops to make an entire batch of soap smell really nice, so you can
buy a small bottle. Chose lemon verbena oil, rose oil, lavender oil, peppermint
oil, or another oil you'd like to use to scent you soap.
Soap molds.
Craft stores sell many different types of molds, ranging from very small to
very large in size. Be sure to get a type of mold that is usable for glycerin
soap, which will pop right out of the molds soon as it has set.
Rubbing
alcohol. If you don't already have some in you medicine cabinet, pick up a
bottle at the drugstore. Pour some into a clean spray bottle; you'll need it to
remove bubbles from glycerin before it sets.
Second: you'll
need to melt the glycerin in a double boiler.To do this, Cut off as much
glycerin as you need to fill the soap molds you bought, then slice it into
small pieces that will be easier to melt. Place the glycerin piece in a double
boiler, fill the boiler with water, and place it over medium heat. Continue heating
the glycerin until it is completely melted.
But if you
don't have a double boiler, you can always make one. Find two pots, a large one
and a small one that fits inside.Fill the larger pot with a few inches of
water. Set the smaller pot inside the larger pot so that it floats on the
water. Place the pots on a burner over medium heat. And put the glycerin chunks
into the dry, smaller pot and allow them to melt.
And of course
you can also melt the glycerin in the
microwave. Place the chunks in a microwave safe bowl and heat them in 30 second
increments until they are entirely melted.
And you can
melt the the entire block of glycerin or just cut them off a little at a time
until you've melted an amount that seems suitable for your homemade glycerin
soap making project. Of course the finished soap will have the same mass and
volume as the glycerin chunks, they'll just be reformed into pretty shapes.
Third: you'll
need to stir in the essential oil. To do this, add just some drops of the oil;
since it's so concentrated, a little goes a long way. Use a wooden spoon to
stir the drops in until they are thoroughly combined with the glycerin, then
remove it from the heat.
Fourth: you'll
need to prepare the soap molds. To do this, set the molds on a flat surface
lined with paper towels. Use the spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol to
lightly mist the insides of the soap molds, coating the area where the glycerin
will go. The alcohol prevents bubbles from forming in the soap as it cools and
dries. And one thing, if you don't use alcohol, your finished soap may have a
layer of bubbles.
Fifth: you'll
need to pour the soap. To do this, lift the top of the double boiler and
carefully pour the soap into the molds. Fill each mold to its rim. Be careful
not to let it overflow, or the soap will come out misshaped.
If the soap is
tricky to pour using your double boiler, use a funnel to pour it into a bottme
or pitcher with a spout, then transfer the liquid to the soap molds. You'll
have to do it quickly though, so the soap dosen't get too cool before it makes
it to the molds.
And if
necessary, heat the soap one more time before you pour it. Heat it back up in the double boiler
or place it in the microwave for a some more short bursts of heat to make it
easier to pour.
Sixth: you'll
need to spritz it with more alcohol. To do this, use the spray bottle to mist
the soap after it has been poured into the molds and while it's still in its
liquid stage. This way you'll prevent the formation of bubbles on the flat side
of the soap, too
Seventh and
final: you'll need to let the soaps cool, then pop them out. To do this, let
the soaps cool in their molds for an hour or two, until they're becomes
completely hard. Invert the soap molds to pop out your brand new homemade
glycerin soap.
You'll need to
tap the back of the mold gently if the soap does not come out right away.
Store the soap
in an air-tight container until you are ready to use them.
Here are some
tips tips that will be of some use to you.
if you would
like to make a soft white soap, instead of clear soap, purchase an opaque
glycerin soap base to melt and pour and do not add coloring.
display
homemade glycerin soap in clear, glass containers to decorate your kitchen or
bath.
Wrap homemade
glycerin soap in trimmed waxed paper or clear plastic wrap to keep the surface
clean and then place in gift wrap or crafting paper. Tie with a ribbon.
Use a toothpick
or something similar to carve with to make some fun designs.
And as i can
forget, melt and pour soap can get very hot. Gloves, clothing that covers
exposed skin and eye protection should be worn. And children should be
supervised.