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Blender Soap:
Soap Making Safety and Set-up
Soap making safety and set-up has to be the MOST IMPORTANT part
of making Blender Soap. Because the process does go very
quickly with this method, there is no time to grab something you may
have forgotten. I'm going to share my soap making safety tips
- in the
order I do them. Hopefully you'll do the same things, in this
order. Please DO NOT skip over this section thinking you know
what to do. It will even be a good review for the experienced
soap maker. Although making Blender Soap is fast and easy,
you are STILL working with lye.
When
The first issue with soap making safety, in my mind, is the safety of
my family. As a
result I choose my 'soap' time very carefully. I make sure
that all children will be gone for, at least, an hour. I make
sure that all pets are secured and out of the way. If you
have a small child that takes a nap, this would be a good time for soap
making. HOWEVER,
make sure you have a sitter to care for them in case they wake
up. Babies always wake up when you don't want them to
(giggle). If you have older children (mostly teenagers), that
can be reasoned with, explain the dangers and soap making safety to
them and ask them to stay
out of the kitchen for your 'soap' time. For me it is always
easiest to simply make sure ALL family are gone.
Where
The ideal place is on your kitchen counter right next to your
sink. If this isn't possible try to get as close to your sink
as you can. When I'm doing demonstrations on soap making I
have a very large bucket that becomes my sink. If you cannot
be close to your sink you'll need to get a large bucket that will fit
all of your times. You'll find out exactly why in just a bit,
however for now just take this into consideration. You'll
also need to be close to your stove (if using solid fats or
shortenings). Again, when doing demonstrations, I carry a hot
plate with me. And finally, make sure you have very good
lighting.
At home I have a wonderful counter that is exactly between my stove and
my sink. If you can accomplish the same thing, do
so. I've talked with a few people who have their 'soap room'
set up away from family - for them this solves a lot of soap making
safety issues. A 'soap room' is a separate room
with a locking door. All the things they need are in this
room and they can secure themselves and the soap form little fingers
that might get hurt.
Clean
No moaning and groaning here! Complaining is not
allowed when it comes to soap making safety. If you're
working on your kitchen counter take the
time to remove all canisters, and appliances (other then your
blender). Wash the counter real well. Make sure all
dishes are done and out of your sink (put away). Then take a
moment to check the floor and counter to make sure there is no standing
water. This simple step can save a ton of worry and protect
you from a potential accident. By the way, while we are
talking about clean, make sure all your soaping items are clean as well
(including the blender - that is unless you WANT spaghetti scented
soap, hehe).
Gather
Soap
Making Safety
Items
I gather all my soap making safety items first and make sure they are
all in good
repair. Taking a moment to do this could save a burn (from
having a hole in a rubber glove). If my soap making safety
gear is NOT in
good repair, I can replace it BEFORE I start. Here are the
things I gather:
Rubber
Gloves:
Playtex makes a good heavy duty rubber glove. If you decide
to buy cheaper make sure they are made of good thick rubber and
designed to protect against chemicals as well as heat. It's
also a good idea to find a pair that go, at least, half way to your
elbow. Spend the time to find a pair / brand that your hand
fits in very well.
Safety
Glasses:
No, your regular glasses are not enough for soap making
safety. You need good safety
glasses that also curl around the side of your eyes and protect from
splatters going down or up. You can find safety glasses at
some grocery stores or pharmacies. If checking at a pharmacy,
ask the pharmacist about them. Often, if the store doesn't
carry them, they can suggest a place you can get them. Best
chance is at a science store, or call your local school for
ideas. You may also be able to find some at a local factory.
Full
Canvas
Apron: This isn't as important, with soap making
safety, as the above
things are, but consider this to give yourself another level of
protection, and to protect your clothing. It's much easier to
remove an apron quickly then to remove your clothing. And,
the pockets on an apron are very useful. I personally do not
do soap making without one.
Good
Shoes:
DO NOT make soap with bare feet, in socks, or in sandals!
Face it, all spills go down. Protect your feet.
3/4
Sleeved,
Loose Shirt: Here I may get some moans of
disappointment as most books, that talk about soap making safety, call
for long sleeve shirts. Let
me explain my reasoning. At one time in my life I was a
devout 'long sleeve' soap maker. Then I had an accident and
got soap on the cuff of my shirt. I ended up ripping the
sleeve off of my shirt to protect my wrist as I couldn't get my shirt
off. I got real lucky! I have no burn scars from
the incident. However, it scared the heck out of me and I
will
no longer wear a long sleeve shirt. I make sure I have good
rubber gloves that go half way to my elbow. My shirt has
sleeves that go just below my elbow - and it's very loose - no cuff.
My thinking is that I can wash and neutralize soap on my bare skin (if
that should happen), faster then I can get a shirt off. And,
in trying to pull a shirt off I risk burning other areas of my body as
well. If my shirt is loose (not bulky), with 3/4 sleeves, I
feel better protected.
Apple
Cider
Vinegar: I fill a coffee cup sized container
half full of Apple Cider Vinegar and then set the full bottle
reasonably close, but out of the way. Apple Cider Vinegar
will help neutralize lye that has touched the skin. If you
should splatter, while making soap, splash the area liberally with the
vinegar and then wash the area immediately with cool (not hot) soapy
water. This is NOT the cure all for lye burns. It
can help with little splatters but should NOT be used for major
accidents.
Phone
Numbers
of Importance: Take a moment to write down
important phone numbers and put them by the phone - your Doctor, the
Hospital, and Who to Contact in case of emergency. You may
never need these for soap making safety, but to have them by the phone
isn't a
bad idea anyway.
A Note
on The
Door: I also put a note on my door that tells
people I am making soap. This way I'm not torn between
answering the door or finishing my project. I give an
estimated time that I'll be done and ask that whomever it is come back
then.
Through all the soap making I've done, I've never had a serious burn
nor do I have any burn scars. Not because I haven't had an
accident. But, because I've been prepared in case an accident
happened - soap making safety is VERY important. "An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of
cure." TAKE the time to make sure you, and your family, are
safe.
Equipment
and
Additional Pre-preparation
Your Blender: Set your blender up, make sure
it's clean and in perfect working order. Make sure you have
all the parts and pieces you need. Take a moment to read the
manufacturers safety instructions and if it's a new blender, use it
once before you make soap in it. All blenders are a little
bit different and you should be aware of how it operates and reacts
before you start making a batch of soap. In shopping for a
good blender - make sure the carafe is glass (not plastic or metal) -
it will
last longer.
VERY IMPORTANT: Before you make a batch of soap,
fill your blender with water and let it set for a few
moments. Make sure it doesn't leak! DO NOT skip
this step! Even if you have just made a batch and are setting
up to make a second one, take the time to check the blender
again. Working with soap you are also working with
lye. After time the lye will wear away at the rubber
seal. Also, because you wash and reconstruct your blender
after each batch, you need to make sure you have put it back together
securely. What a disaster, to have a batch of soap leaking
out of your blender! I've been there - it's not a fun thing.
A Good
Scale:
If you are going to make a recipe, in this book or design one of you
own, you'll need to weigh your soap making fats, oils and butters, and
also your lye. For this you'll need a good scale that can
weigh fractions of an ounce. This is most likely the biggest
expense you have in equipment. You may be able to find good
ones at places like GoodWill. Shop around and get one that
will work for you.
Heavy
Plastic
Spoon and a Small, Long Handled Spatula: I know
a lot of soap makers say to use wooden spoons, however, I find that
wooden spoons absorb scents and get icky after a while. I
prefer a long handled, white, heavy plastic spoon. The handle
on your spoon and spatula should allow you to reach the bottom of your
blender without touching the sides or top of the blender cup.
Yes, plastic spoons will deteriorate with time, but so will wood.
Soap
Mold:
This can be anything from pretty molds to a plain, heavy grade, plastic
container. If you're in the market for pretty soap molds,
just search the web for 'soap molds'. Trust me, you'll find
at least 10 sites that sell molds for soap making. Local
craft stores also sell soap molds (but at a higher price).
Weigh the difference between the mold you want on the web (with
shipping) and the price in a craft store. You just might be
surprised. Also, have a few things handy that you can pour
extra soap in. Depending on the mold you choose you may have
extra soap after filling the mold cups. Make sure you know
how much soap your mold will hold, some 'tray' molds hold 2 lbs. of
soap. You will also need a towel to wrap the soap
in. Place your towel down first. Set your soap mold
on top of the towel. Have two thick pieces of cardboard (a
little larger then the full soap mold) ready and make sure you have
enough towel to cover the mold. Also, make sure the towel is
at the back of the counter, not hanging over the edge.
Glass,
Heat
Proof, Measuring Cup (one cup size): The perfect
glass measuring cup will also show ounces. You will need to
measure 5 ounces of water so make sure you have a marking for it.
Don't use a plastic cup - I have heard of some very bad
things happening and it's better to be safe than sorry.
Regular
Spoon:
I use stainless steel. You will need this to stir the lye in
the water as it will settle and clump at the bottom.
Hot
Soapy
Water: A sink (or deep tub, or bucket) full of
hot soapy water. As you are done with each item put it
directly in. This is also a soap making safety measure as you
dilute the soap and other ingredients in the water.
A sauce
pan
or microwave glass bowl if you are using solid fats, oils or butters:
If you are using liquid fats or oils these will be used at room
temperature. If using solid fats, oils or butters they will
need to be melted. You only need a small sauce pan.
The little porcelain coated camping pans are perfect for this.
Time
When
Family Is Safely Away: I know this is repeating
myself but, for soap making safety, it is important enough to do
so. Especially if
you have small children, make sure they are safely away and explain the
dangers to them. NO interruptions. Also put the cat
or dog outside and DON'T answer the phone. By the way, no
cheating on the phone thing, cordless and cell phones are a no-no as
well. Serious accidents happen when your focus is
divided. For all you folks that can multi task, this is one
time that you should not.
Safe
Place
for Soap To Cure:
With small children you may
want to pick a place that can be locked. At the very least
pick a place that will not be disturbed. DO NOT put these up
high (you might spill or fall while trying to do so). My room
was off limits to my children so I used my dresser. Think
about
this one carefully and remember that you'll be making yummy smelling
things that want to be touched so placing these out of reach and away
from sight is important with soap making safety. Your soap
will
need some time
to be alone, make sure it's safely secured. If you have small
children you may want to consider a locking cabinet. Here's a
fun hint. If you have a coat closet that has a low shelf (but
out of reach of children) use that shelf. Your coats and
items in the closet will smell wonderful all the time.
A few
last minute things to remember:
Blender
Soap
Is For One Pound Batches Only. The fluid inside a blender
rises when it’s on. It needs this space to do so.
Too much over a pound will not blend correctly. Your blender
does not have the power to handle too much more then a pound,
especially as it begins to thicken close to the trace stage.
If you have a soap mold that calls for two pounds you can make one
after the other and pour it on top. Do not be tempted to make
two pounds at once.
Exception
to
This Rule: You can invest in an industrial sized blender
that does have more power. But even these blenders cannot
handle more then two pounds of soap. Don't try to buy a
bigger kitchen blender to make two pounds. It just doesn't
have the power you'll need.
Always
Add
Lye To Water, Never The Other Way Around. I
remember this by telling myself, “I can Lye (lie) to Water, I can’t
water to lye (lie).” It's a little pun but it helps me
remember. Water can splash up if you add it to lye.
Then you are risking burns. Always adding the lye to the
water is another soap making safety precaution.
Measure
Everything, EXCEPT YOUR LYE, Before You Start. I
measure everything, except
my lye, before I begin. These things can all be
measured without gloves. Having everything ready makes the
experience much nicer. That means oils, fragrances or
essentials, herbs - everything. Then, just before I'm ready
to start, I put on my soap making safety gear and measure the lye.
If you should have an accident, call your doctor. Chemical
burns are very different from regular heat burns. Call your
doctor immediately should you actually get a lye burn. Often
your nurse or doctor can advise you on how to care for it, or if you
may want to head into the hospital. DON'T play around with
any splashes in or near your eyes. Get help right
away. Call 911. I
cannot stress, enough, the importance of soap making safety.
Did you find what you
were looking for?
Original Text Copyright © 2004, by Sandy Marie deFerbrache, Second
Printing 2007, Web Site Adaptation 2009. Original Photographs
Copyright © 2004, by Sandy Marie deFerbrache, New Photographs
2007. All Rights Reserved.
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All
information, shared on
this web site, is for enjoyment and study only and is NOT meant to
diagnose or treat any medical condition. Only your
health care professional is qualified to diagnose or treat medical
conditions. Do not risk your health! Just because
something is 'natural' does NOT make it safe. Do not, under
any
circumstance, ingest or use herbs in any form
without consulting your Doctor. If you do, you do so
at
your OWN RISK.
Web Site
Content (text, graphics, look and feel) are Copyright Protected © All
Rights Reserved 2009 - 2010, Sandy Marie.
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