If you're thinking of making soap that requires handling lye, it might seem intimidating, but working with melt-and-pour soap does not take a lot of time.You can make decorative and functional glycerin soap in your spare time to use at home or package and give as gifts to family and friends.There are a few fun variations of the basic soap making method.
Step 1: Purchase supplies.
The soap base is in meltable blocks.It's easier to buy blocks of clear, white, or a different color of glycerin than it is to make your own.No matter what color you choose, clear glycerin soap looks transparent.You'll also need essential oils.The essential oils are sold in craft stores.You can buy a small bottle of soap scent if you only need a few drops.Pick one of the oils you'd like to use to scent your soap.There are soap molds.There are many different types of molds sold by craft stores.If you get a mold that is usable for glycerin soap, it will pop out of the mold as soon as it has set.Rubbing alcohol.Pick up a bottle at the drugstore if you don't already have it in your medicine cabinet.Before it sets, you need to remove bubbles from the glycerin by pouring it into a spray bottle.
Step 2: There is a double boiler.
If you need to fill the soap molds, cut off as much glycerin as you can and slice it into smaller pieces that will be easier to melt.Put the pieces in a double boiler, fill it with water, and place it over medium heat.Continue heating until it is completely melted.You can make one if you don't have a double boiler.There are two pots, a large one and a smaller one.The pot should be filled with a few inches of water.If you put the smaller pot inside the larger pot, it will float on the water.The pots should be placed on a burner.Allow the chunks of glycerin to melt in the smaller pot.You can melt it in the microwave.Place the chunks in a microwave safe bowl and heat them up until they are completely melted.If you want to make soap, you can either melt the entire block of glycerin or cut it off a little at a time.The soaps will have the same mass and volume, but they will be reformed into pretty shapes.
Step 3: Add the essential oil.
Since the oil is so concentrated, a little goes a long way.Use a wooden spoon to stir the drops in, then remove them from the heat.
Step 4: The soap molds should be prepared.
The molds should be set on a flat surface.To lightly mist the insides of the soap molds, use the spray bottle full of rubbing alcohol.As the soap cools and dries, the alcohol prevents bubbles from forming.The soap may have a layer of bubbles if you don't use alcohol.
Step 5: Put the soap in it.
Carefully pour the soap into the molds after lifting the double boiler.Each mold should be filled with its rim.If it overflows, the soap will come out wrong.If pouring soap using a double boiler is difficult, use a funnel to pour it into a bottle or pitcher with a spout.The soap doesn't get too cool before it makes it to the molds, so you have to do this quickly.Before pouring the soap, make sure it's cold.If you want to make it easier to pour, place it in the microwave for a short burst of heat.
Step 6: It should be sprayed with more alcohol.
After the soap has been poured into the molds and is still in its liquid stage, mist it with the spray bottle.This will prevent the formation of bubbles on the flat side of the soap.
Step 7: Allow the soaps to cool and then pop them out.
Allow the soaps to cool in their molds for an hour or two.To pop out your new soaps, Invert the soap molds.If the soap doesn't come out right away, gently tap the back of the mold.When you are ready to use the soaps, store them in an air-tight container.
Step 8: There is a possibility that this is not the case.
After melting the glycerin, pour it into a large metal or plastic bowl.You can add a few drops of essential oil.Remove the rope from the bowl and let the liquid cool and hardened.Remove the first layer from the liquid and let the second layer cool and solidify.Continue dipping the soap until it reaches your desired thickness.You can use different materials for your rope.Rather than dipping a straight length of rope into the glycerin, try tying it into a loop or knot to create soap in different shapes.Each time you take a shower, hang the rope from the shower head.
Step 9: Make soap with different colors.
You can buy a block of clear glycerin at craft stores and color it yourself.After melting the glycerin, separate it into several different containers and add a few drops of coloring to each one before pouring the liquid into the soap molds.
Step 10: The soaps should have decorations on them.
Solid objects can be added to the soaps to give them more flair.You can personalize soaps to make favors for baby showers or kids' birthday parties, or to match your bathroom décor.You can make floral soaps by suspending dried flower petals in liquid glycerin before pouring it into the molds.Birthday party soaps can be made by filling the molds halfway and putting a small toy in the center.To cover the toy completely, pour more liquid soap over it.You can make baby shower soaps by pouring soap into the molds and putting baby items into it.
Step 11: You can make your own mold.
You can make your own mold if you can't find one at the craft store.A hard plastic item can be used as a mold.Before using an item that is usually used to make food, be sure to wash it thoroughly.Excellent soap molds can be made with ice cube trays.There are trays with interesting shapes, like fish, shells or skulls.Small plastic bowls or cups can be used to make larger soaps.A yogurt cup is a recycled plastic container.