Update:


In case you haven't noticed, there is an additional child in our family photo. I would like you all to meet the newest member of our family. She is the pretty little 7 year old in the purple dress. "Eloise" now has a little sister. We have decided to call her, "Amelia Bedelia".

Monday, February 27, 2012

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~

4 comments:

Jody said...

This is too funny, I have spent the morning looking at soap recipes and supplies to make soap from goats milk!

Jennifer said...

Awesome, I am gonna pass info to Kandis..she was looking for a recipe. I will let her try it first and she can give me some of hers..lol Girl...you are good!

Unknown said...

you are invited to follow my blog

megan elizabeth said...

Love all this stuff! I will have to start making my own, too!

Love and miss ya,
meg

P.S. This picture of Andrew quite possibly made my day. Haha!