How to Make Homemade Soap with a Loofah

Soap may be used with a sponge, or the soap can be made with the sponge already inside.

Homemade soap requires the proper supplies, patience and attention to detail. Once the methods are understood, however, the payoff can be great. Various colors and abrasives can be added to homemade soap, and a loofah is one of those abrasives. Incorporating a loofah sponge into soap creates a built-in scrubber that is sure to increase its attractiveness and uniqueness. Contrary to popular belief, loofahs are not sea sponges, but are gourds that can be grown in any garden with sufficiently warm weather.

Things You'll Need

• 1 foot length of 3" diameter PVC pipe
• 2 PVC pipe caps
• Silicone baking sheet
• Spray oil
• Loofah sponge
• Accurate scale
• Measuring cup
• Stainless steel saucepan
• Thermometer
• Pitcher with pour spout
• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Wooden spoon
• Vinegar
• Large bowl with pour spout
• Stick blender
• 16.2 oz. olive oil
• 21.1 oz. rice bran oil
• 15.5 oz. coconut oil
• 19 fluid oz. distilled water
• 8.1 oz. lye
• Essential oils (optional)

Instructions

Prep and Make Soap

1. Place one cap on the PVC pipe and set it upright on the kitchen counter. Roll the silicone sheet and place it inside the PVC pipe, up against the sides. Spray oil along the inside of the silicone sheet. Place the loofah inside the silicone-lined pipe.

2. Weigh all the oils and place them inside the saucepan. Gradually heat the oils to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. While the oil is heating, measure the water and pour it into the pitcher. Put on safety goggles and rubber gloves. Carefully pour in the lye a little at a time, stirring with the wooden spoon until all lye is dissolved. Keep the vinegar within reach during this step. If lye splashes onto your skin, neutralize it with vinegar.

4. The lye solution will heat up on its own. When both the oils and lye solution are at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, pour oils into the large bowl with the spout. Then, slowly add the lye solution to the oils.

5. Stir the soap mixture with the stick blender, then blend for four to five minutes. Be sure the blender is immersed when on, and that no air bubbles are allowed to form inside the mixture.

6. The soap is ready to pour into the PVC pipe when it traces. Tracing means that ripples created in the mixture do not dissipate. For loofah soap, a slight tracing is desirable. The mixture should have the consistency of smooth pudding. At this time, gently stir in the essential oils, if desired.

Pouring Into the Mold

1. Hold the PVC pipe mold with one gloved hand while pouring a third of the soap mixture into the mold at a time. Gently shake and tap the mold on the counter between pours to ensure the soap mixture enters into the loofah crevices.

2. Cap the PVC pipe, wrap it in a towel and let it sit for four days.

3. Clean any utensils that contacted the pure lye with vinegar.

4. After four days, uncap the mold, and gently lift the silicone lining. Unwrap the lining from the soap.

5. Cut the soap with a sharp knife into the desired size.

Tips & Warnings

• When the soap mixture is at the proper consistency, it must be poured immediately to avoid further thickening. Essential oils and colors may change its consistency. Loofah sponges can be cut into small pieces for use in traditional soap molds. Also look for the simpler melt-and-pour method for loofah soap.

• Lye is a dangerous chemical and is extremely caustic. Always practice caution when using lye, and avoid splashing. Always pour the lye into water and not the other way around. Do not pour lye into hot water. Lye may harm skin and eyes. Always wear protective gear and keep vinegar handy to neutralize lye's extreme alkalinity.

References

• Birch Bark Handmade Soap: Cold Process Loofah
• Birch Bark Handmade Soap: Soapmaking Tutorial
• Down To Earth: How to Make Cold-Pressed Soap

Resources

• Helium: How to Make Loofah Soap (Melt-and-Pour)