How to Make White Goat's Milk Soap

Goat's milk is extremely hydrating, and when it is incorporated into handmade soap it produces a rich, emollient lather that both cleanses and moisturizes the skin. Goat's milk can often be found at a natural foods store, but many areas have local goat dairies that can offer you a fresh, organic goat's milk for soap making. It is important to add the goat's milk to the soap mixture at the right time to avoid disrupting the solidifying abilities of the lye.

Things You'll Need

• 7 ounces of lye
• 16 ounces of olive oil
• 16 ounces of coconut oil
• 16 ounces of palm oil
• 16 ounces of water
• 8 ounces of goat's milk
• Wooden spoon
• Glass measuring cup
• Stock pot
• 2 glass candy thermometers
• Rubber gloves
• Protective goggles
• Soap molds
• Cardboard
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Combine the lye and the water into a glass measuring cup. In a well ventilated area, preferably outdoors, pour 7 ounces of lye slowly into 16 ounces of water. Be careful to avoid breathing in the fumes, as they are highly caustic and can burn the lungs, skin, and mucus membranes. Place a candy thermometer into the cup, and wait for the temperature to rise to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Heat the oils in a stock pot. Pour all of the oils into a medium-sized stock pot, and heat them over medium heat. Stir the oils with a wooden spoon to ensure that they do not scorch or burn. Do not boil the oils. Place a candy thermometer into the pot, and wait for the mixture to reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Mix the lye water with the oils carefully. Pour in 8 ounces of goat's milk, and stir the mixture well until it resembles a loose pudding in consistency. This is called "tracing" and is vitally important to ensure that the soap will be able to solidify correctly.

4. Pour the traced soap mixture into a soap mold. You can use either a long, rectangular soap mold or individual soap molds. A long soap mold can be cut into bars once the soaps have cured, while individual soap molds can allow the soaps to be preformed into designs or patterns. You can make a long soap mold by constructing a cardboard box into a 18 X 4 X 4 inch box. Use duct tape to tape the outside of box's edges and corners, which will help avoid the soap mixture from leaking out.

5. Store the soap molds in a cool, dark room for at least 7 weeks to allow the mixture to harden. This is called "curing," and will help the soap lather well and maintain a solid consistency. After 7 weeks, the soaps can be removed from their molds or cut into bars.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear protective goggles and rubber gloves when handling or using lye.

• Keep lye and hot oils out of the reach of children.

References

• Soap Recipes
• Benefits of Goat's Milk Soap

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish