Here's A Nifty Trick We Learned.....

**If you make this and find that the soap becomes stringy or too thick, simply take enough mixture to partially fill your pump dispenser, add a little hot water and gently shake. Keep adding water and mixing until desired consistency is achieved. I'm not sure, but I think you should only do this when you are ready to fill a small bottle. Leave the large container concentrated.***

 A few blogs that I look at

 mention variations of this recipe.

I finally took the time to actually try it.

Using this method, 

I was able to stretch 5 bars of soap 

into over 40 (8oz) bottles

 of liquid hand soap.

The recipe only requires

 a couple of teaspoons

 of the other stuff 

and I bought the soap at the Dollar Tree,

so I figure it costs about 20 cents/bottle.

*I will post recipe at the end*

 This is the most time consuming part.

While grating the soap 

we put the water on to boil.

 We placed the soap bits and boiling water

 in a glass bowl

and used my stick blender

 to whip the mixture.

This step can also be done

 in a traditional blender,

 but you will see in a minute

 why the stick blender makes big batches

 so much easier.

I paid $75 for my traditional blender

 and $19 for the stick blender.

The stick blender is the only one I ever use,

 because it's so easy

 to just stick it in the pot, or bowl,

or whatever I'm working with.

Sorry about the tangent.

Back to the soap.

 After the thick whipped stuff 

cools for about 15 min.,

Add remaining water and

lightly whip again, 

then add honey and glycerin.

Stir.

Add essential oils.

Stir again.

Allow to cool completely 

before replacing the lid.

You can use a ladle and funnel

 to fill bottles,

but I prefer to use a turkey baster.

I had this huge cheese puff 

container & lid from Sam's,

 so I made a label and laminated it, 

and stuck it to the front.

This "vat" held 5 batches.

Bar Soap Makeover
(1 batch)

1 bar soap (grated)

1 cup boiling water

1 Tbs. honey

1 tsp. glycerine

enough cold  DISTILLED water to make each batch

 equal 8 cups

I used a glass bowl w/measurements,

 so I could see as I was adding water.

I would have gone crazy guessing, 

then dipping it all out to see if there were 8 cups.

20 -30 drops essential oil

(I used a lavender / tea tree mixture)

This all makes sense to me,

 because I already went through the process.

If you have any questions

 feel free to leave a comment.

I hope some of you try this.

Eloise and I really enjoyed this activity

and I won't have to buy hand soap

 for a very long time.

Drew said
 that he can't use our hand soap,
because it makes him feel funny.
LOL

Yours Truly

till Niagara Falls

& the kitchen sinks,

~Me~