Liquid Soap - From Scratch

[busymammaof3]

I couldn't find anything refering to this on the search engine (for the forum) so I thought I'd start a new post.

I have read a few recipes for liquid soap (from scratch) online. But wanted to get seom info, advice from those on here who made made it, themselves. One that is not your typical runny-melted down stuff. I heard of one that was more like a gel type consistency. Maybe something more along those lines? I know you use something other than sodium hydroxide...can't think of the term at the moment. But beyond that?

I have already been using my homemade bat soap for laundry...and it works fine. But my mother refuses to do it for hers. I think she would be more apt to give it a try if it was a liquid/gel consistency. And I'd like a basic recipe so I can play round and see if I can tweak it for my dishwasher, as well!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lil Outlaws]

Well what you use for liquid soap (a la hand soap) is potassium hydroxide, though I've never tried it.

Here are some recipes for liquid laundry detergent though

http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-s ... t-recipes/

 

[jadiebugs1]

Though this is the most frequently visited/posted to forum here on the SMF, I'll bet this might be a good question to also ask on the BATH & BODY forum....they (though they are the same ladies/gents as here) would surely better be able to answer questions about liquid soaps....

IMHO, liquid soaps are a whole 'nuther ball game than 'cake' soaps. But I've never tried the liquid soaps....I's scared...

 

[busymammaof3]

Thanks

I checked out the laundry recipes from the link. I have copied, pasted and saved all of them before. I have used some, and variations...of course. Maybe I should add another new "hobby" to the list...liquid soap making. LOL

I will definitely post this in the bath & body as well.

Thanks for both of your inputs!

 

[busymammaof3]

Just FYI

I found some really great, detailed recipes for liquid soap making, from scratch (potassium hydroxide, etc).

I plan to order the lye when my husband's paycheck comes in, this thursday.

I already have a bucket of palm kernel, coconut and Lard.
So, I'm set on oils. :wink:

Since my husband's paychecks went from $1500.00/2 wks to $615/2 wks (yes, that's net)...I am going to teach myself how to make liquid soap and tweak it so that I can use it for the dishwasher and then replace the hard bar slivers in the washing machine with a homemade, liquid laundry detergent as well.

Maybe then, my mother will be willing to use my product for her "expensive" frontloader. :wink:

 

[IanT]

keep me updated!!! i want to delve into the liquid side of things too!!! for the same applications!


sweeeeeeeeet

 

[Deda]

http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4770

This link isn't for LS with KOH, but it has a my laundry recipe, and some really good ones from other members, too.

 

[Tabitha]

Looks like we have a duplicate thread. I will copy & paste the replies from the other one over here & close the other one to cut back on confusion.-Thanks.

 

[Tabitha]

busymammaof3 Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:11 pm Post subject: Liquid Soap - From Scratch

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I couldn't find anything refering to this on the search engine (for the forum) so I thought I'd start a new post.

I have read a few recipes for liquid soap (from scratch) online. But wanted to get seom info, advice from those on here who made made it, themselves. One that is not your typical runny-melted down stuff. I heard of one that was more like a gel type consistency. Maybe something more along those lines? I know you use something other than sodium hydroxide...can't think of the term at the moment (I know about it - somewhat but my brain is mush tonight). But beyond that?

I have already been using my homemade bat soap for laundry...and it works fine. But my mother refuses to do it for hers. I think she would be more apt to give it a try if it was a liquid/gel consistency. And I'd like a basic recipe so I can play round and see if I can tweak it for my dishwasher, as well!

Thanks in advance!
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Erin Marie
Devoted Wife to Teddy Bear
Proud Mother to David, Ramona & Teddy Markus
http://www.myspace.com/busymammaof3
http://www.daughtersofsarah.etsy.com




Bigmoose Forum Member
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Hello,

I have made a few batches of liquid soap. First thing is you must use Potassium hydroxide (KOH) for your lye. Be careful with this type of lye. It is a little nasty compaired to the sodium h. used for bar soap. As for wanting it to turn out like a nice gel I am not 100% behind this yet but I think homemade liquid soap is naturally thinner. There are thickners you can add to make them look like the store bought stuff. I tried Borax as a thickner and do not like it at all. Even when you follow the directions with how much water to add it will turn out thinner than you want but cleans and lathers well yet. A good book to get is "Making natural liquid soaps" by Catherine Failor. Below is a link to some thickners you could try. They are a bit expensive but if your aim is to sell the soap I think it is necessary. I have been working hard at developing a beer shampoo recipe and I think it is just about ready to sell now. It is in the final stages of testing now and I am excited to be finally done with developing this recipe. It works great, you really can make some nice shampoo on your own. Good luck with your projects and show us some pictures.

http://southernsoapers.com/cart/index.p ... 013f8ca9b5

Bruce
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nakedsoapmaker
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I'm so glad to hear that about thin liquid soap! I made a batch about two months ago of liquid soap, (smells like ginger/fig, smells amazing! lol) BUT the batch has separated into two parts, one is gloopy soap that floats on top of the liquid runny soap; if ya give the pump bottle a quick shake it looks and behaves like regular store bought soap. I always figured I screwed something up with that batch, and I'm hesitant to try it again.

Maybe with this new info about thickeners I'll have to try it again. Wish me luck!




Lindy
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Stearic Acid - I have that!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I just need to reheat my shampoo and add that in instead of the pectin - right?
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busymammaof3
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Bigmoose wrote:
Hello,

I have made a few batches of liquid soap. First thing is you must use Potassium hydroxide (KOH) for your lye. Be careful with this type of lye. It is a little nasty compaired to the sodium h. used for bar soap. As for wanting it to turn out like a nice gel I am not 100% behind this yet but I think homemade liquid soap is naturally thinner. There are thickners you can add to make them look like the store bought stuff. I tried Borax as a thickner and do not like it at all. Even when you follow the directions with how much water to add it will turn out thinner than you want but cleans and lathers well yet. A good book to get is "Making natural liquid soaps" by Catherine Failor. Below is a link to some thickners you could try. They are a bit expensive but if your aim is to sell the soap I think it is necessary. I have been working hard at developing a beer shampoo recipe and I think it is just about ready to sell now. It is in the final stages of testing now and I am excited to be finally done with developing this recipe. It works great, you really can make some nice shampoo on your own. Good luck with your projects and show us some pictures.

http://southernsoapers.com/cart/index.p ... 013f8ca9b5

Bruce

Bigmoose, Thank you so much for the advice! You were so helpful! I will definitely try and get my hands on that book! As far as the potassium hydroxide...where do you usually purchase yours? I will look at that link for the thickeners as well.

I have some relatives that have adopted my preference to bar soaps. But I have a few, like my mother who just won't do the shampoo bar thing. She hates the ACV rinse. So, a liquid shampoo that is PH balance would probably win her over, finally. ;0)
_________________
(((HUGS)))
Erin Marie
Devoted Wife to Teddy Bear
Proud Mother to David, Ramona & Teddy Markus
http://www.myspace.com/busymammaof3
http://www.daughtersofsarah.etsy.com

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busymammaof3
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I have a load of stearic acid, still...left over from my last purchase for lotion making essentials. So, I'll probably use that, if I need a thickener, before purchasing extra ingredients.
_________________
(((HUGS)))
Erin Marie
Devoted Wife to Teddy Bear
Proud Mother to David, Ramona & Teddy Markus
http://www.myspace.com/busymammaof3
http://www.daughtersofsarah.etsy.com

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busymammaof3
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After I posted that original thread...I found some sites that discuss liquid soapmaking. Thought I'd share. I should probably put them in the recipes section, as well. Anyone who's been making liquid soap have any thoughts on these links?

http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/form_liquidsoap.html

http://www.colebrothers.com/soap/liquid.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/508019/Mybath ... structions
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(((HUGS)))
Erin Marie
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Proud Mother to David, Ramona & Teddy Markus
http://www.myspace.com/busymammaof3
http://www.daughtersofsarah.etsy.com

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Bigmoose
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Hi Busymammaof3, I recently found a local supplier for lye but I have ordered from this site a few times for lye in the past.
http://www.dudadiesel.com/biodiesel_chemicals.php
Also order the Phenolphthalein as you will need it to check your PH. Paper test strips do not work well for liquid soaps. If you get that book it explains how to use the P. I made a recipe from the 1st link you had listed. Water ratio is way off. Use much less. The 2nd link I don't know what to say. I have never heard of liquid soap being made that way. The 3rd link suggests using some oils that are not the best ones if you want a clear product in the end. All of this is covered in that book. Also I am not sure about using stearic acid as a thickner for liquid soap. I have never tried it but I don't see liquid soap of any kind as a suggested use for it.

Have a great day!

Bruce
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busymammaof3
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I found a link at the end of that tutorial on liquid soap (for the 1st link-Snowdriftfarm).

BASIC LIQUID SOAP

Oils: (by weight)

45 oz. coconut 76 degree
80 oz. sunflower seed oil


Water = 48 fluid oz.

Potassium hydroxide = 26 oz. (by weight). This is a 3% lye discount.

Dilution water = 2 to 2.5 gallons

What are your thoughts on this one?

I may not be able to buy the book, right away, as we are beyond broke.

You mentioned another ingredient besides the potassium (Phenolphthalein).I was going to ask you to explain it's use...but I think I have a good idea. I found this page online http://www.summerbeemeadow.com/SitePage ... INDICATORS that explains it's use (briefly) as well as a variety of oils and their effects in liquid soap making.

 

[Bigmoose]

I have tried that recipe. Well really I changed some of the ingredients but left the total amount of oil the same. The 2 to 2 1/2 gallons to thin with is way to much water. Just a guess I would say cut that to 1 gallon. You can always add more. Once it is too thin you have soap that is too thin and that is it. Also when they say to add your thinning water to the paste and insulate it, I have found it easier to add the thinning water to the paste and let simmer on low heat covered untill disolved. This is a little bit of a job. You will have some very thick paste on hand. Paper ph strips I am told are no good for liquid soap. If you can't get any phenolphthalein to check ph with let me know. Any more questions just ask.

Bruce

 

[Bigmoose]

Also if you have not made your soap yet let me know what kind of oils you have and what you want the soap to do and I can help you make a recipe that will best fit your needs.

Bruce

 

[carebear]

let simmer on low heat covered untill disolved.

DANGER DANGER!!!! Do not, under ANY circumstances including bleeding, tears, or broken bones, take your eyes off of a pot of soap simmering on the stovetop. Not for one second. Not for half a second.

Ask me how I know.

(I had the cleanest kitchen in creation. Twice.)

 

[Bigmoose]

Carebear I would like to hear what happened. I have done this more than once and never had an issue with it. I have a gas stove and low flame barely has any flame so I put the lid on and walk away. I check every half hour or so to stir and see if there are any chunks left. Did yours boil over? A sticky mess and a clean kitchen?

Bruce

 

[baltochef]

I have been using a recipe that is virtually identical to Recipe #3 in the link from Tipunts.com that Lil Outlaw provided in the above post..

I can state unequivocally that the combination of grated / melted bar soap (I used Ivory instead of Fels Naptha), Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda powder, 20 Mule Team Borax powder, and water cleans my laundry as well as any commercial product that I have ever purchased does..

In addition, a 2.25 gallon batch costs a little less that $0.75 to make using current prices in the Baltimore, MD area for a 3-pack of Ivory bar soap, the washing soda, and the borax powder..I use 1/2 cup of the gel-like soap for a full tub of laundry, less than 1/2 cup for smaller loads..This means that the average cost for laundry soap per tub of clothes is approximately $0.010344..That is to say, 1.0344 cents per tub..Not bad, wouldn't you say??..

When my finances allow I am very interested in making liquid laundry soap from scratch..Thanks for all the info and links from those that responded!!!..

Bruce

 

[busymammaof3]

Thanks, Y'all! ;0)

Thanks for the help and encouragement, everyone! I have thought about going ahead and making a batch of the semi-homemade liquid laundry soap from those recipes online. But since I'd have to purchase the other caustic sodas to add to my homemade bar soap...I'm just going to wait and order the Potassium hydroxide and the BPA (sp) instead. Lord willing Teddy's paycheck covers the bills 1st.

Thanks, Bigmoose for the offer! You're awesome!

 

[alwaysme07]

8) I was looking for some info about this.