Soap Making 101: How To Make Soap (+Printable Checklist)
Learn how to make soap using these step-by-step instructions. I’ve also included a free printable checklist to help you navigate the entire soapmaking process from start to finish!
Source: The Nerdy Farm Wife
Making soap is one of my favorite pastimes. There are so many ways to personalize a single recipe, that I rarely make the same soap twice! Once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought again!
Before We Begin
This method of making soap from scratch involves handling lye (sodium hydroxide). In the past, lye was traditionally made with wood ashes, while today we use a standardized product. No matter what it’s made from, lye is a caustic substance that requires careful handling by responsible adults only.
If you’re not comfortable working with lye yet, or want to make soap with kids, you may want to consider starting with melt and pour soap first. This type of soap making uses a pre-made soap base, manufactured in a factory where someone else handles the lye part for you. If that sounds more your speed, check out my article: How to Make Soap Without Handling Lye.