HOW TO MAKE BAR SOAP

HOW TO MAKE BAR SOAP

In this production I will be showing you two methods of producing bar soap. Whichever method you use will give you the desired result.

METHOD  1

BAR SOAP PRODUCTION

The major challenge of producing bar soap is in the quantity of lye solution, soda ash solution to use to a given amount of oil. The hydrometer is an instrument to use when it comes to this or you make use of an online calculator or a floating method. By floating method you are to drop an egg or Irish potatoes in the lye solution. If it float, it means the standard gravity of the lye solution is ok. If it does the add water or caustic soda to the solution. Do not worry about this the method below can help you produce good quality soap.

MATERIALS  AND THEIR QUANTITY

1. Caustic Soda    ¼ kg           

2. Soda Ash Dense    ½ kg           

3. STPP                    ¼ kg         

4. Palm Kernel Oil (PK Oil)  1 liters                                      

5. Sodium Silicate    1/4litre        

6. sulphonic  acid  ¼ liter  

7. Sodium benzoate 2 – 3 table spoon

8. Perfume          

9. Color

Production method:

STEP 1: soak ¼ kg of caustic in 75cl of water and ½ kg of soda ash in another 75cl of water. In two different container and allow it to ferment separately for 2 days each.

STEP 2: After 2 days add the ¼ kg of STTP to the soda ash and stir until it is completely dissolved.

STEP 3: measure 60cl of Lye (caustic soda solution) and 50cl of soda ash. You can as well make it 50:50

STEP 4: Take a little quantity of oil to mix you color in a bowl.

STEP 5: After mixing the color with the oil, pour all the remaining oil into the bowl.

STEP 6: Add 60cl of caustic soda solution gradually and stir.

STEP 7: Add the 50cl solution of soda ash and STTP gradually and stir.

STEP 8: Add the ¼ litres of Sulphonic acid and stir

STEP 9: Add 2 – 3 tablespoon of Sodium Benzoate

STEP 10: Add perfume and stir.

STEP 11: for easy removal place nylon on your mould and then pour the soap on them.

STEP 12: keep it in the sun or a place where air will touch it and all it to dry for 2 days. After 2 days your soap is ready for use.  

 

METHOD 2

The following ingredients are needed  for bar soap production.

 

1. Oil: the oil could be palm kernel oil(PKO), palm oil, olive oil, sesame oil, almond oil etc. A mixture of oil can also be used depending on the nature of soap.

2. Caustic soda(lye) 

3. Sodium silicate to give the soap a glassy appearance and to increase the quantity of the soap produced. It is a soap filler.

4. Sodium sulphate is a soap filler.

5. Soda ash is also a soap filler.

6. Kaolin (filler)

7. Texapon or Alkyle Benzen sulphonate

8. Citric acid a clean agent.

9. Perfume to give the soap a nice smell.

10. Color

11. Water.

 

Note that there is no soap without lye. The quality of soap is dependent on the amount of lye in a given volume of oil. 

 

What is lye solution?

A lye solution is a solution of caustic soda and water. Caustic soda could either be sodium hydroxide(NaOH) or Potassium hydroxide(KOH). They are both strong base or alkaline because they can completely dissolve in water to form a solution. 

The solution formed is called lye. To produced a creamy looking soap sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide can be combined to form a lye solution.

An instrument called hygrometer is used for measuring the specific gravity of lye. 

An online lye calculator can also be used to know the quantity of lye to use in a given volume of oil.

 

Follow the steps below for the production:

1. Take a little quantity of oil to dissolve your color in a bowl. 

2. Stir until the oil blends with the oil.

3. Pour the remaining litres of oil into the bowl and stir to form a uniform solution.

4. Mix 300g to 350g of caustic soda in a litre of water to form a lye solution.

5. Mix 100g to 200g of soda ash in a half litre of water. Stir until it dissolves.

6. Pour the lye gradually into the PKO solution and stir until it is mixed properly and bit thickened.

7. Add the soda ash solution gradually and stir until it blends.

8. Add 2 to 3 table spoon full of kaolin.

9. Add 2 to 3 table spoon full Sodium sulphate

10. Add a little quantity of sodium silicate.

11. Add the desired quantity of fragrance but not too much and stir until it blends.

12. Pour the molten form in moulds and allow it to dry for two to three hour.

13. Keep it for at least two days before using it or selling.