Biodegradable Soap

You wash your hands with soap in order to remove all the dirt and infection that you have come in contact with. True the infection is gone, but it has now been replaced by harsh chemicals with which the soap has been made. So what's the use of cleaning your hands? That is why we have biodegradable soaps which are non toxic, natural soaps made up of organic oils.

What is Biodegradable Soap?

The soap is a cleaning agent that decomposes naturally with time. Hikers, trekkers and campers usually carry biodegradable or eco-friendly soaps with them so that they do not affect the environment, when they wash their clothes or body. These soaps are non-toxic and the organic oils which are used to make these soaps, are environment friendly and besides adding a nice fragrance to the soap, they also form a part of a therapeutic bathing experience. These oils helps you to relax and soothe your aching body. These soaps can also be used to bathe babies as no chemicals are being used here. If people are suffering from certain skin problems like dry skin, or skin which is prone to pimples and so on, then it's recommended that these soaps be used.

These soaps are available in bars and also in the form of liquid. The liquid soaps are easier for the hikers or trekkers to carry around as they don't have access to bathing water everywhere. Now that you realize how important these soaps are, won't it be interesting to learn more about making homemade soap? I am sure it will be. So let's see how we can do that.

Recipes to Follow

Material

• Oil of olive (8 oz.)
• Oil of soybean (16 oz.)
• Oil of coconut (8 oz.)
• Lye (4 oz.)
• Coffee (10 ounce)
• Thermometer
• Weighing machine
• Protective gloves and glasses
• Cooking pan
• Measuring cups
• Thick cloth
• Knife
• Wax paper
• Container with lid (preferably plastic)
• A wooden spoon

So, have you collected all the materials? Now then let's move on to see what are the procedures to make the soap.

Directions

• First make sure that you have worn your protective glasses and gloves for protecting your eyes and hands
• Then, make 1 cup of coffee and put it in the refrigerator to cool
• In the measuring cup, measure 7 ounces of lye and add the coffee to it
• One tiny advice here. While you are dealing with the lye, make sure that you are in an open area as the fumes from the lye, if inhaled, will be bad for our health
• Keep the measuring cup aside now and for the time being let us concentrate on the oil
• The three types of oil which you have i.e. coconut, soy and olive, you mix them and heat it over a medium flame
• In the meantime, do keep checking the temperature of the coffee and lye mixture. The former gets heated up due to the latter. So keep checking the temperature until it reaches 100ºF to 110ºF.
• Likewise, heat the oil mixture to the same temperature. Use the thermometer to measure the correct temperature
• Now, mix these two mixtures and keep stirring them with the wooden spoon, till they become a thick substance like honey
• Now, take your plastic container and pour the mixture into it and close the lid of the container and wrap it in a thick cloth
• Keep it like this for the next 48 hours
• 48 hours over? So now, open the lid and check whether the soap has hardened or not
• You have to leave the container, with its lid open for another 24 hours if the soap is still soft
• Is your soap hard enough? Great! Now take it out and put it on the wax paper and cut it into bars with a knife
• Here's a tip that will make it smoother for you to cut the soap
• Before using it, just run the knife under hot water and you will see how easier it will be for you to cut the soap
• For the next 3 or 4 weeks, allow the soap to cure.

There, now you have your own, safe, natural, homemade soap. These soaps are not only good for your skin and clothes, but they are also eco-friendly. So next time you buy a soap, make sure that you buy a biodegradable one or better still, make one at home!