Learn about the melt and pour soap making process. Includes information about how to do melt and pour soap making, tips to make better soap and gives a comparison verses other soap making methods.
Soap making has become a hobby for many people in recent years. It is an art that has been around for centuries. With making your own soap you can pick the fragrance, color and properties to customize the soap for your own needs. The melt and pour soap making process is fairly simple and an easy way to break into homemade soaps as a hobby.
The melt and pour method of soap making is basically as the name says: melt down a soap base and pour into molds. The soap base is bought in a large, clear block. The soap is then melted down in a double broiler or in a bowl in the microwave. In either method of melting the soap it must be covered during the process to reduce moisture escaping. Do not stir the soap too often because of this moisture loss. Once the soap is melted add the fragrance, color and other agents as desired. Once the soap and additives are mixed completely, pour into the molds. This short process will produce lovely homemade soaps.
While the melt and pour method is actually taking a ready made soap and melting it down it does have its advantages verses other methods of where the soap is made from scratch. Cold process soap making is where a chemical reaction occurs with the mixing of lye and oil to produce the soap base. The chemical reaction and use of lye makes cold process a hazardous process. Hot process is like the cold process, but with a heat source used to speed up the chemical reaction. As with cold process, hot process soap making carries some danger. In the melt and pour method there is no chemical reaction as the soap comes ready-made. It is also quicker as there is no waiting for this chemical reaction. The melt and pour method is relatively safe which makes it a great process to use when children are involved. The general rules of working with heat and hot items applies, though. If you are looking for a hobby or just a fun craft, melt and pour soap making is the method to use.
Some basic tips can help in making your melt and pour soap the best quality. Make sure that you do not overheat the soap. It should not be boiling or smoking at any point. Keep the heat at a low setting and slowly melt the soap. When adding colors, fragrances or other additives to the soap make sure they are made especially for use in soap. Using additives that are not made for soap making can result in soaps that irritate the skin. To figure the amount of soap needed for a certain mold, fill the mold with water and then pour that water into a measuring cup. When pouring the soap into the mold let it cool slightly. Cooling the soap slightly helps produce a smoother final product and prevents any warping of the mold. Sometimes when soap is poured into molds it has air bubbles that form on top. When these bubbles appear take a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol and spray the soap to make them disappear. These are some basic tips to get started in the melt and pour soap making process.
Melt and pour soap making has become the most popular form of soap making among beginners. This is mostly due to its ease and safety. When working with the soap and additives be sure to read all directions that came with them for information on amounts and proper procedures. There are many wonderful websites and books to use for references if you need additional help. Most of all have fun with the soap making process and enjoy the final results.
