Making Soap

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Hello Everyone. Welcome to the "Other Side". Ain't it great to be here? Even tho I was expecting a "5", there was this niggling little worry that it might come down to a "10". Thank God that all the alarm sounding "Y2K nuts" got the message out and TPTB paid attention, got off their butts and headed off the disaster. At least the initial crash, that is. I like being prepared for the unexpected. As far as being ashamed or feeling conned, NO WAY!! We all know it isn't the risk, it's what's at stake, and the stakes haven't changed. Plus, the $500 billion bill will start comming due any time now. Three guesses as to who will be footing it, and the first two don't count. I really like everyone's thoughts on changing our lifestyles to become more self sufficient. And BD's suggestion that it can take up to 10 yr. to accomplish that lifestyle sounds about right. Now if I can just pay attention that long and not go back to the lazy way of dashing to the store and grabbing "it" off the shelf, it will be a miracle. Finally, to my question: Does anyone know of a site for soap making? or does anyone have experience with it? I bought a book and it seems pretty good, but I want to do more reading and research before starting up. I only have one memory of my mother and aunts saving up their fats and making soap in the back yard. (That was back in the 1950's and will give you some idea of my age.) It was a brownish yellow and had a fascinating smell, not at all unpleasant. My mother had to grate it into a washer full of very hot water and run it a while to dissolve it. But, Boy Howdy, did it ever get stuff clean! Thanks for any help you can give me.

Before I sign off, I want to tell every one here how much I appreciate you all. I have turned here and to the TB forum nearly every day for comfort, support and to keep a hold on my sanity for the past 18 mo. I don't intend to leave now. I'm sure there are many others like me. I just want to tell you regulars that you have a place in my heart and I thank you. God Bless you all.

-- Juniper (silverfox@milfordnet.com), January 15, 2000

Answers

I found this on Preparation Nuggets forum...am just learning to cut and paste, so hope it works out okay!

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Grate 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap into a saucepan with 1 pint water and heat until melted. Add = cup Borax and = cup Washing Soda. Stir and mix well. Pour into a large bucket and add plain water to make two gallons. Let set up overnight, then it's ready to use. It has a sort of gel consistency and doesn't bubble much, but cleans clothes well and costs about 32 cents a gallon. Use about 1 cup per load in a regular washer. (Look for fels naptha soap at grocery or hardware stores.)

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), January 15, 2000.


we are candle and soapmakers we are also dried flower growers and crafters. one of the best books we have found for soapmaking is natural soap book by susan miller cavitch. i hope this helps

-- larry and ruth (iantyler@dmrtc.net), January 15, 2000.

Go to Walton's Feed, self reliance area--I think or info page. They have lots of links there that will assist you with nearly everything.

-- lynne (leaves8@hotmail.com), January 15, 2000.

Yes, Walton Feed has an excellent site, with all kinds of info on how to do things the old fashioned way, along with many facinating stories from old timers. I laughed myself silly over the stories of the outhouses! Anyhow, you just look up www.waltonfeed.com Sorry, I'm link-challenged.

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), January 15, 2000.

I think that it's great that you're trying the old methods!

Just one caution, if I may, if you or anyone in your household has ever had rashes or itchy skin (a reaction to a laundry or hand soap), you may want to try sampling some small batches before you go all out and make a year's worth of that formula.

We've had a problem with lye-based soaps, so I save money by buying a year's worth of soaps we can use at a Wal-Mart sale. My husband figured it out one year and said that there was only about a $4.92 difference between making it ourselves and buying it at a "true" sale. Of course, he might have fudged the figures because he hated our first soap-making experiment. (:

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), January 16, 2000.



We've made several batches of soap using the info straight out of Carla Emerys book.

All succesfull. All good soap.

We cheated by using store bought lard. Got a bunch of fat to render on the next load.

-Greybear

-- Got Wash Pots?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), January 21, 2000.


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