How to make Hot Process soap

Soap making is becoming more and more popular, yet many new hobbyists are hesitant to try methods that differ from the one they originally learned. Through this tutorial, you'll find that hot process soap making isn't quite the scary procedure it has the reputation to be. Fair warning, though- this project is not for those looking for a quick and easy craft. This soap is made with a basic cold process soap recipe (including lye) but then is cooked at the end to speed up the curing time. Before you make hot process soap, it is essential to make sure you are prepared. The use of safety precautions is not just suggested, it is essential to the success of your soap. Additionally, you will need to make sure that none of your tools are aluminum, as the caustic lye will cause it to break down.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Safety Gloves
• Goggles/Protective Eye Gear
• Soap Recipe
• Oven
• Digital Scale
• Candy Thermometer
• Purified Water
• Plastic Container For Mixing Lye Water
• Lye
• Oils
• High Temp Kitchen Spatula
• Stick Blender
• Stainless Steel Pot with Lid

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Prepare all your materials and make sure you have followed all the safety precautions needed for working with caustic chemicals.
2. Using your digital scale, measure out the exact amount of water as required by your recipe. The water should be in your lye container; don't use a glass container, as the lye will cause the glass to become brittle and it can shatter.
3. Measure out the exact amount of lye required by your recipe into a dry plastic container.
4. Add the lye SLOWLY to the water and stir well. I use a special high temp rubber spatula for this step. Put the lye water someplace safe to cool, where it can not be reached by children or pets.
5. Measure out the oils required by your recipe and add them to your stainless steel pot.
6. Warm the oils on the stove top at a low temperature. When all of the oils have melted, remove the pot from the heat.
7. At this point, the lye water should be clear; if the water remains cloudy, wait a bit longer. You are ready to mix your soap once the oils and clear lye water have reached a point where the outside of their container is only warm to the touch (110 degrees when measured with a thermometer).
   
   Pour the lye water into the oils slowly. Using the stick blender, mix until the soap gets thick and you can see strong lines in it from where your mixer moves.
8. Place the lid on your pot and place it carefully into the preheated oven. Turn the oven down to about 180 degrees. Now find a way to otherwise occupy yourself for 20 minutes.
9. Soap may become so thick (like this batch) that you can not stir it; don't panic- just let it continue cooking. After 20 minutes, remove the soap from the oven. Take the lid off and stir the soap. Replace the lid and put the soap back into the oven. At this point, the soap typically looks like a thick custard.
   
   It is important to note that during the early stages of the cooking process, your soap might become very thick. While it can be frightening, it is not a cause for panic. As the soap cooks, it will be fine.
10. A batch of soap begining to enter the Gel stage. Continue cooking the soap, stirring it every fifteen minutes. At some point during the cooking process, you will see a dark ring begin to form around the edge of the pot. As this ring expands, the soap will change in consistency from a custard-like stage to what looks almost like thick applesauce, known as Gel. When you see the ring, it is time to prepare the rest of your materials.
11. After all the soap has gelled, it will change consistancy again to resemble mashed potatoes. This is when it is ready to be checked. Prepare any additional items needed to finish your recipe, including your fragrance oil, essential oil, additives, etc. Line your mold with freezer paper so that it is ready to pour the soap into. Continue to check the soap after each 15 minute interval and make sure that it has transformed from the custard stage to the applesauce stage.
    
    Finally, the soap will transform yet again. After it has completed the applesauce stage, it will morph into what looks like thick mashed potatoes.
    
    Keep in mind that there is no set time on how long this process is going to take. Batches can be done by the 45 minute mark or take as long as two hours. The best way to tell if the soap is ready to come out of the oven is to check visually. If the soap appears ready, it is time for the lye test.
12. After you visually confirm that your soap is ready, remove it from the oven. You should be able to take a small amount and roll it into a ball; it should stick to itself at this point.
    
    Make a small ball of soap and let it cool. After it is cool, pick it up and gently stick the tip of your tongue on the soap ball. If you feel like you just licked a 9 volt battery, the soap is still lye heavy and needs to go back in the oven. Continue cooking, checking for lye at 15 minute intervals.
    
    If the soap does not zap or sting, your soap is done. Turn the oven off and move your soap pot to your work space.
13. Now is the time to add any fragrance oil or other additives (except colorants) to your soap, as per your recipe.
14. If you would like to color your soap, now is the time to do it. For a pretty swirled look, pull a healthy bit of soap out of the main pot into a second container. Mix the color into the smaller amount of soap, then gently fold it back into the main pot. Avoid stirring too much at this point or you will lose the swirl and have only colored soap.
15. Gently pour the soap from your pot into the lined mold. A rubber spatula can be a great tool for this, helping to move the soap along without ruining your swirl.
16. Once the mold is full, bang it on the floor or counter. The reason for this is to force the soap down into the mold and knock out any air bubbles that might have formed while the soap was being poured.
    
    Once you are done, lay a sheet of saran wrap over the top of the soap and use your hand to press out the top and make it smoother.
17. Finished bars from the hot process method. Put the lid on the mold and allow it to rest for six to eight hours. Once it is completely cool to the touch, it is ready to be removed from the mold and cut into bars.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover your digital scale with a clear plastic bag to prevent it from being damaged by oil spills.
• Wipe down the container you use to measure lye in with a dryer sheet. This will help keep the lye crystals from reacting to static electricity and will give you a smoother pour.
• Working with lye can be very dangerous. Before you begin any project that requires lye, be sure to read every safety precaution and follow all safety measures carefully.
• Only use lye in a well ventilated workspace. Cover the workspace with disposable paper in order to ensure that no lye is left behind.
• Always wear safety gear when working with lye; lye on exposed skin will burn and if splashed in the eyes can blind you.
• Always pour the lye into the water- never the other way around!
• Keep vinegar on hand to neutralize lye burns.
• Never work with lye around children or pets.
• Never leave lye, lye water or unfinished soap unattended!