Basic Lye Soap Recipe

I like this recipe alot!!!! It's a keeper!

First off, safety. Rubber gloves are recommended, however I personally don't use them. Second, keep white vinegar near by when working with lye, it will counteract and neutralize the lye if it splatters on you. Make sure to always have it handy. Third, do not use aluminum. Use either enamel coated pan or glass saucepan( I use a 2 quart glass pyrex measuring cup). Use a wooden spoon to stir. You can also use a plastic pitcher or plastic pan to mix lye. CAUTION: DO NOT breath in vapours from lye. Stand back while mixing lye with water. If using glass to mix it in, I set my saucepan in a plastic dish (plastic tub you get on the same isle as dish drainer/ silver ware tray)to be sure that if it shatters it won't be such a mess. I haven't had that happen but I know someone who has. Better to be cautious.

Soap making is very easy. This recipe is no heating and all that. There are people who make it that way but this recipe is less nerve wracking and turns out the same.

You will need:
12oz 100% lye (1 1/2c)
3pounds lard
3c water (cold)

The day before: Place 3 cups water in refrigerator.
Place lard in a flat bottom plastic dish pan and allow to come to room temperature overnight.

1. Place water in saucepan. Slowly pour lye in water while stirring with wooden spoon. Stir until crystal's are dissolved. It will be hot. DO not breath in vapours. Best done outside. Let sit 1 hour.

2. Slowly drizzle lye water into lard while stirring constantly, (can be done indoors). After all the lye is added, continue stirring until pudding like consistency. May take 1/2 hour or more.

Let set over night. Cut into bars with thin knife. Should be able to turn out onto towel. If not firm enough yet, let set another day. Then let them set for two weeks until dry Turning every couple days.

NOTE: you can always use a mold instead of the plastic dish pan. After making this once I plan on getting a mold to use otherwise the edges are rough and I don't have time to shave the edges but might do that someday to try to make re-milled soap.

Also, some of the dry crystal's got on my skin and made me itch and when the soap had hardened and I touched it it made my skin itch but once it's been in water I had no problem and I like the soap alot! Just thought I'd share with ya in case that happens to someone else to encourage them not to quit making this:)


HAVE FUN!