Page 265 - The Lost Ways

Machinery and Equipment for Making Soap at Home

With every possibility of making soap exposed to you, the biggest question remains
whether or not it is possible to do so without special equipment. You need to set aside
items that you will use for any other purpose, especially cooking. While it is possible to
argue that you will clean and rinse the items properly, it’s not worth taking any chances.

Setting aside soap-making items is safer and more efficient. There are special materials
that you could use for your needs. Enamel and steel mixing bowls are advisable to use
when making soap. Stay away from plastic because some of them melt, and since there
is no sure way to tell which ones will, it is advisable to avoid them altogether. Stirring
spoons could be made from silicone or styrene plastic.

For the molding process, you can either buy molding items at your local store or use
sandwich containers or silicone baking pans as a substitute. The advantage of these pans
is the fact that you can always peel the mold off as soon as you make it. Gather together

newspapers, a quart canning jar, a stainless steel thermometer with the ability to read up
to 200 degrees, old towels, and any additional additive that you may have in mind.

Possible Soap Additives

Soaps vary in color, shapes, and fragrances, just to mention a few differences. The beauty

of making your own soap is the fact that you can do practically anything you want with it.
You are free to add any ingredients that please you as well as smells that you appreciate
and love. However, there are certain basic and popular additives that you should always
have in mind when making soap.

Survivalists are staunch believers in Mother Nature. Making natural soap should be a
priority. The important thing with herbs is to ensure that they are properly dried before
being included in the soap mixture. Some of the most common soap herbs include

lavender and chamomile, although there are different herbs that people use as well,
depending on personal preference. The goal is to ensure that you find high-quality herbs
if you are going to make the best soaps on the market.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are gathered from different plant parts, including the roots, leaves, flowers,

seeds, and stems. Usually, fragrance oils are blended from natural essential oils, or they
are sometimes artificially generated. It is important to know what you have. Most of the

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