I got an e-mail from a blogger friend the other day and she asked me:
I see that you’re making your own soap!!! I’m so impressed. I’ve been trying to read up on how to do this myself. But before I take the plunge, I thought it would be best to try some out first. So I bought some at a local store, and so far I love it. But I’m just not having any success using it to wash dishes. Could you fill me in on all the ways you use lye soap?
Mostly I use my soap for bodies. Live bodies….promise….we use it while bathing, for hand washing and I even use it for my face. It is very mild, and by the time you use it (after curing for 6+ weeks) the lye is completely out of the soap. If you want a stronger soap use it sooner.
In regards to household uses, I use it anywhere I can. For dish washing and kitchen cleaning this is what I do.
I shave small bits of soap with a knife into the sink and I add hot water, the soap will dissolve into the water. This works well for easy clean up jobs. There won’t be a lot of bubbles and suds, commercial dish soap has added chemicals to make it bubbly. I try to avoid those chemicals.
For big messy jobs I add my homemade scouring powder to the water. (Equal parts Borax and Washing Soda with a scoop of Oxiclean).
This formula works very well for baked on food, and messy stove tops.
For a quick wash up, I get the bar of soap wet, and rub a wet rag on it until it is saturated with the soap and quickly wash whatever need washing. Very simple.
I have also used my soap in homemade laundry soap, which is a post all itself, so I am going to link you to a great post by my friend. She does a great job explaining everything you would need to know about homemade laundry soap.
I find great satisfaction in making and using my own soap. Not just because as a family we benefit from using soaps and cleaning products free of harsh chemical. It is more about creating something from my own hands, something that is important in the care and nurture of my family.
Update here is a link to my post about making soap:
http://momzoo.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-soap.html
I was just reading that another handy way to dissolve your soap for dishes or laundry is to grate it on an old cheese-grater for smaller shavings – the way you cut it up with your knife.
I managed to miss the boat and didn't realize you make your own soap!
I was just going to say cheese grater, too! I made soap a looooong time ago in a RS class and it was so much fun!
Making things from scratch gives you so much more control in what ingredients you put in. Kudos to you!
Thanks Aimee! That cleared up some questions I had. I've been making my own laundry soap for a couple of years and can hardly wait to try the lye soap in it. I've also been grating it and using it that way! It's been great for my skin too. I'm convinced that making my own soap is the way to go and am ordering my supplies next week. Thanks again!
Have you posted how you make your soaps before? My sister used to make soap and share it with me but I must admit I was never too impressed with it so never made my own.
Those are great ideas. I'd love to make my own soap someday, but I'm afraid this isn't the season for me. You are so inspirational!
Frieda, and SuburbanZoo. I have grated the soap before, but being that it is a hard soap I just find it quicker to use a knife or vegitable peeler. Although I have been thinking that maybe I should grate a whole bunch and keep it in a jar with a lid by the sink and use it that way. 🙂 Look at you two getting me to think…
Mrs M: Yes, time and season… 🙂
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