Making Soap

[UrbanFool]

I agreed to give a talk on making soap although I have not done so in many years. It took about 10 minutes to realize they've yanked lye off the shelves because it's used to make meth.

My advice at the moment would be to store lots of soap. You can order sodium hydroxide online, but it isn't cheap and of course that could be impossible in an emergency.

I have a container of lye, and can make a batch of soap before giving the talk, but I'm wondering how useful this is because I really don't think it's a feasible thing. (like growing your own rice.)

[applepansy]

Ashes? I remember my grandmother talking about soaking wood ash to use in making soap.

addtion: I found this.... How to Make Lye - wikiHow

Edited April 19, 2011 by applepansy

[UrbanFool]

I kind of put "making lye" in the "growing rice" category.

[Blocky]

You can buy it online very easily. Here is page about places to buy it. Where to Buy Lye for Soap Making - Soap Making Sources for Lye

[rameumptom]

I agree that it is better to store soap. However, it is never wrong to learn a new way of doing something. Wood ashes can be used as lye.

Perhaps part of your talk can be on alternatives to making lye soap: such as storing soap long term (there are better ways of doing it than just keeping it in its original box).

[applepansy]

I kind of put "making lye" in the "growing rice" category.

This made me smile. I'd rather buy pears than peel them. :)

[UrbanFool]

Mine is garlic. I buy the jars of already minced garlic. And the money I use on that is saved by baking my own bread.

I'm going to regret this, but how is the best way of storing soap? I buy my soap at Costco and it's in little boxes. During this entire year of my husband's unemployment I haven't run out of soap in my storage.

[Blocky]

Soap making sounds fun. It would be a great way to make presents. I'd rather have a homemade bar of soap and a jar of jam than pretty much anything else.

[LocalFarms]

I think home-production of anything beats storage any day. Even if you could store all the soap you needed for you and your family, there will always be someone who didn't plan ahead for a disaster who may need your charity. Also, soap would make a great bartering item if we were faced with a long-term disaster and you needed to trade for some food or other need.

[Gramajane]

Wow-- I think I will pick up some more soap at Costco TODAY, as I need to go there anyway! :)

Barter item-- yes! :) and pests don't eat it, nor does it have a shelf life? :)

[mrmarklin]

If it ever comes to not having enough soap on the shelves for purchase, we have a LOT bigger problems than just that. :-)

[mrmarklin]

My mother made some soap once. It wasn't worth it!!! She never tried it again.

[Iggy]

:) and pests don't eat it, nor does it have a shelf life? :)

Pests, as in rodents, most certainly DO eat soap. They love it! It does have a shelf life, sort of, after several years it will lose some of it's scent, but none of its washability.

[peanutgallery]

I make my own soap all the time and I buy lye with no problems. I live in Portland and get it locally at a soap making supply store - just happens to be right across the street from DI :) Call around. You can still get it. I love homemade goat milk soap.

[bcguy]

Here is a better idea.

Learn how to make biodiesel. Then take the glycern and use it as soap. It works wonders on car parts.

Biodiesel does not break down "I have a batch from 2003" and its still in perfect shape. Gas or diesel to break down over a period of time.