How to Make Your Own Hot Process Soap Molds

Create decorative soap with a homemade soap mold.

Resorts and hotels have fancy eye-catching soaps, neatly wrapped, sitting on the sink for you to use during your stay. These little soaps can make a charming addition to bathroom decor and are just right for holiday or birthday gifts. Rather than hoard these after every hotel stay, you can make your own soaps right in your own kitchen. Create different shapes and sizes with soap molds -- which can be pricey, depending on the size and form. You can make your own hot process soap molds from everyday items found in your home.

Things You'll Need

• 16 oz. coffee can
• Freezer paper
• Scissors
• Clear tape

Instructions

1. Clean out the inside of the coffee can with soap and water. Dry completely.

2. Cut out a 3-inch-wide-by-5-inch-high piece of freezer paper. These dimensions fit the diameter and height of a 12 oz. can.

3. Insert the piece of freezer paper inside the coffee can. Overlap the ends, wrap the excess over the rim of the can and secure with clear tape. This freezer paper can withstand the temperature of the hot process soap.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a wood cutting board for your workspace. This surface is heat resistant, and it's easy to clean up any soap spills, as hot process soap does not pour easily and needs to be spooned into the mold.

• Once the soap is cured and cool, you can cut it into 1/2-inch circles and use metal cookie cutters to create interesting shapes out of your homemade soap.

• For soaps with a smaller diameter, you can use an empty toilet paper roll or a 2-inch wide PVC pipe. Use the same technique with the freezer paper to create the hot process mold.

References

• Soap Making Essentials: Hot Process Soap Making Tutorial
• Sizes: Cans

Resources

• Our Life Simplified: Homemade Soap Molding Experiment