No More Scum - Your Handmade Soap Guide

According to Wikipedia "Scum" can refer to:

* A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially water or molten metal).
* A greenish water vegetation (such as algae), usually found floating on the surface of ponds
* The topmost liquid layer of a cesspool or septic tank. Some would consider this layer "frothy".
* A card game, also known by various other names, such as President.
* A derogatory insult, implying "worthless", "of no value", or "despised".
* Soap scum, a chalky residue often found in showers or bathtubs.
* Scum, a 1977 play for TV directed by Alan Clarke and set in a borstal. later remade in 1979 into a film by the same director.
* Scum, a 1987 album by grindcore band Napalm Death.
* S.C.U.M. (Society for Cutting Up Men) Manifesto, a.k.a. [The] SCUM Manifesto, a 1968 radical feminist book by Valerie Solanas.
* Scum punk - a subgenre of punk rock
* SCUM (band) - Norwegian/American punk/metal band
* SCUMM (Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion), scripting language developed at LucasArts to ease development of the graphical adventure game Maniac Mansion.
* As a verb, to "scum", or "scumming", is the act of soliciting sex from a person who is perceived to be of a lesser social class.
* A derogatory insult for the University of Michigan (scUM) or the University of Southern California (SCum)

Although all of these definitions are interesting the one that we are concerned with is the one under "soap scum," a chalky residue often found in showers or bathtubs.

I'm sure you are familiar with the scum I'm talking about. And if you've ever had to clean the tub you know that it's something you'd rather not have to deal with.

Well, did it occur to you that the soap you are using on your face and body is the same soap that is producing that scum on the tub?

It doesn't take too much thinking about it to figure out that the same scum is sticking to YOU!

Although we may not see it like we can on the tub, we can feel it in the way of tight, dry, or scaley skin. You may also run your hands over your skin and feel a not-so-natural feeling. This is a result of the "scum" that is left behind by chemical laden soaps. In fact, to call them soaps is a misnomer. They are not soaps at all. I'll talk about that in my next post.

Until then, run don't walk to your nearest handmade soap source cuz trust me, you'll be glad you did!

You may find that by using real handmade soaps that you do not experience the soap scum or ring around your bathtub. And they certainly don't leave a scum on you. The reason typical store soaps do this is the additives that are put in the soaps are very harsh and drying to the skin. These additives clean so well that they can strip the skin of it's natural oils resulting in dry, tight skin. With handmade lye soaps, oftentimes you will feel a softening effect to the skin right away with the first use and they clean effectively without stripping or drying because they are rich in the natural glycerin which softens the skin.
Other good news it that natural soaps do not contain sodium laureth sulphate, an ingredient that has been shown to have carcinogenic effects.

More about how store soaps are usually made another time.

Have you checked that tub yet and answered the poll?

To get started making your own handmade soap you will need a few items you probably have right in your cabinets. The only thing is you will need to dedicate these items to "soapmaking Only".

Large Bowl
Thick plastic will work. I've been known to make soap in those 5 gallon buckets you can get at the donut shop that had icing in them.
Stainless steel bowls are wonderful.
Enamel pots - as long as they are not chipped.
Just make sure that it is fairly deep so you aren't splashing stuff around.

Long-handeled Stirring Spoon
Again, plastic will work.
Wood is OK.
I like the new silicon stirrers the best.
Just don't use metal.

Cooking Pot for Oils
Enamel, stainless steel, glass or anything will work for this.

Rubber Gloves for protection.

Safety Glasses are a nice safety item to have if you don't already wear glasses.

A soap mold
You can use cardboard boxes, tupperware, plastics, PVC pipe or invest in a wooden soap mold. Use your imagination with this - just make sure whatever it is you use, it is sturdy.

Freezer wrap - this is to line your mold with.

Measuring Scales - these can be gotten at Walmart but I don't like the ones there very much. You can also get them through eBay and soaping companies.

Tape or pins or tacks to hold paper down

OPTIONAL - one of those stick blenders - doesn't have to be expensive but if you have one of these around that you can dedicate to soap making it sure does make the process move along faster.

I will be giving instructions on making a very basic handmade soap using ingredients you can find easily and locally. So here goes:

12 ounces Olive Oil (don't use extra virgin - just the plain old cheap stuff does the best)
12 ounces Coconut Oil
19 ounces Crisco

6 ounces sodium hydroxide - otherwise known as lye
16 ounces distilled, rain, spring or purified water

Optional:
2 ounces of your favorite fragrance oil or essential oil
Coloring

You can get most of these items at your local Walmart or grocery store. I live out in no where land and I can get everything but the fragrance oil/essential oil and lye at Walmart.

The lye you can pick up at Lowe's or other hardware type store. It is under the brand Roebic and can be found in the plumbing department. Make sure that you pick up the powdered stuff. It's about $7 and will make lots of soap. If you decide you hate soapmaking (which I don't think will happen!) you can always use it to clear your pipes!

You may make your soap plain and it will still end up giving you a nice clean, fresh scent. However, if you would like to give it additional scent you can get fragrance oils at your local craft store. Essential oils can be found at your local health food store. If you are doing this I would recommend starting out with Peppermint oil as oils at these stores are more expensive and usually not as good as the ones you find online but it will give you a start until you see if you like making your own handmade soap.

If you would like to stay totally natural but want a bit of an added scent you can add cocoa powder to your soap. It will lend a mild chocolate scent to your finished product. It will also color the soap a chocolate brown color.

If you wish to color your soap as mentioned above cocoa will do that. You can also use many different types of spices to achieve color. I will talk about this more later so just leave your soap white, use cocoa or again, purchase some coloring at your local craft store.

You are ready to start!