Would you like to learn how to make your own bar soap for clothes? This simple trick will allow you to create a super foamy soap with just three ingredients.
It’s an economical and efficient way to produce your own natural soap, perfect for keeping your clothes clean and fresh.
Ingredients
- Coconut oil (200 g)
- Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) (85 g)
- Distilled water (190 ml)
Preparation
- Prepare your workspace in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves and safety goggles to protect yourself from caustic soda.
- Slowly pour the sodium hydroxide into the water (never the other way around) while mixing with a stainless steel spoon. The mixture will heat up quickly, so be careful. Let the solution cool to about 40°C.
- Melt the coconut oil in a pot over low heat. Once melted, let it cool to about 40°C, similar to the temperature of caustic soda solution.
- Slowly pour the caustic soda solution into the melted coconut oil. Mix carefully with a hand blender until the mixture reaches trace, that is, when it has a pudding-like consistency.
- Pour the soap mixture into silicone molds and cover with a towel to keep warm. Let it sit for 24 hours to allow the soap to harden.
- Once the soap has hardened, unmold it and place it in a dry, ventilated place. Let it heal for 4 to 6 weeks. This time allows saponification to be completed and the soap to become more efficient for cleaning clothes.
Councils:
- Use utensils and containers dedicated exclusively to soap making, as caustic soda residue can be difficult to remove completely.
- If you want to add fragrance, you can incorporate essential oils suitable for the clothes after reaching the trace, just before pouring the mixture into the molds.
- Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling caustic soda fumes.
- Store cured soap in a cool, dry place to extend its shelf life.