An interesting and useful hobby that everyone can try is soap making. Soap is used to wash our hands when we get dirty, or to wash our bodies every time we shower. Other uses can be to wash clothes or dishes. In general, it is mainly used to wash things. But the soap can also be used as an ornament in the bathroom, kitchen or even in the bedroom. A beautifully made and crafted soap can be a great addition to any room you like, or it can just make bath time so much more fun.
Some ingredients that you will need as a beginner are lye and some fats. The basic properties of the soap you are going to make will depend on the type of oil you use. Using coconut oil will produce a soap that will lather well. Vegetable oils will produce a mild soap, while olive oils will produce a much milder soap than using other vegetable oils. Lye, on the other hand, is used to hydrolyze oils to produce fatty acids and glycerol.
Soap making can be done by either the cold process or the hot process. Both are relatively simple to make and once you’re done, the pre-made soap is ready for you to design any way you like. For the hot process, mix lye and water while heating the fat in a separate bowl. Add the lye water to the fat and continue heating for two hours until your soap is ready. The cold process is almost the same, without having to heat the fat. Simply add the fat to the lye water and mix until chilled. This can then be poured into molds depending on the shape you want.
Once your soap mix is ready, you can add various things to it so that it can enhance its appeal. You can choose to add colored dyes to get the color you want your soap to have. The fragrance oils will add to the smell of the soap making it more attractive to use. With constant practice and trying different techniques and styles, you will be able to achieve different and attractive designs for your soaps.
One caution to keep in mind is that bleach is a dangerous substance. It is a corrosive substance that can degrade skin on contact. This is why protective gear such as gloves should be worn, and children should always be supervised by an adult.
Soap making is a fun hobby that everyone in the family can enjoy. It is different from the usual arts and crafts that use wood, clay or paint. It is also useful as the finished product can be used as a display or used as normal soaps in the bathroom.