Public Recipe

Liquid Soap Paste

Liquid Soap · KOH · 100 g oil load · 3% superfat · 6 views · 0 saves

Safety First: Wear gloves, eye protection, and work in a ventilated area. Add citric acid to distilled water and dissolved before adding the lye (KOH) Prepare Lye Solution: Carefully add pre-measured Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) to pre-measured distilled water (never water to lye!) in a heat-safe container; it will fizz. Melt Oils: In a slow cooker, melt your chosen oils (like coconut, castor, olive). Combine: Pour the lye solution into the melted oils in the slow cooker. Must be with in 5 - 10* of each other Blend to Trace: Use an immersion blender to mix until the mixture thickens to "trace" (a pudding-like consistency). Cook: Cover and cook on low for 3-6 hours, stirring occasionally, until the paste becomes translucent and resembles petroleum jelly or thick amber. (Paste will foam up during cooking process. Keep an eye on it) Leave sit overnight or up to a day or 2 to saponify Phase 2: Diluting the Paste Cool & Store: Allow the paste to cool and store it in covered jars. Choose Ratio: Decide on your desired thickness (e.g., 1 part paste to 3 parts water for general use, or 1:1.5 for a stronger cleaner). Heat Water: Gently boil distilled water in a large pot. Dissolve: Add small pieces of the soap paste to the hot water and stir thoroughly until dissolved. Using heat (low simmer) and stirring speeds this up, or let it sit overnight to dissolve. Add Fragrance (Optional): Once dissolved and cooled, you can add essential oils or fragrance oils. Bottle: Pour into bottles and enjoy your homemade liquid soap!. Check PH Ranges Skin-Friendly/Mild: 5.5 - 7.0 (Close to skin's natural pH). General Liquid Soap: 8.0 - 9.0 (Slightly alkaline). Antibacterial Soap: 5.0 - 6.5 (More acidic for hygiene)Why pH Matters Skin Health: The skin has an "acid mantle" (around pH 5.5) that protects against bacteria; soaps too high (alkaline) can disrupt this, causing dryness, while too low (acidic) might not clean well. Cleaning Efficacy: A balanced pH ensures the soap effectively removes dirt and oil without being harsh or ineffective. .