| Glycerin Soap |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-102 |
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Q: I'm looking for ways to dress up a first-floor guest bathroom. Any ideas for something other than just monogrammed towels?
A: (Debbie Stapley, Craft Expert) To add your own touch to any bathroom in the house, why not make your own decorative soaps? They're easy, and there are infinite ways to make them fun. Here's the basic process: Materials:
Clear, unscented glycerin soap
Trinkets to put inside, such as spare change, shells, beads, game pieces, toys, etc.
Colored glycerin soap, cut into pieces
Small bread pan
Soap mold
Essential oil
Soap dye
Microwave
Microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl
Cooking spray
Heat-safe knife and fork
- Cut a bar of clear glycerin soap into one-inch pieces. Place them in a microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, and microwave for about one minute.
- If you wish to color or scent your soap, add about four drops of soap dye or one drop of essential oil to the melted soap, then blend gently with a metal fork.
- Spray a bread pan or soap mold with vegetable oil to make it easy to remove your finished soap.
- Fill the pan or mold with about 1/4 inch of the liquid soap and let it stand for three minutes, or until a skin develops across the top.
- Place objects on the soap layer, with their prettiest sides down.
- Reheat the rest of the soap until it melts again. Then slowly pour it into the mold (figure A) until the soap is 3/4 inch to one inch higher than the objects inside.
Working smarter: Use a sharp knife to pop any air bubbles in the mixture before the soap gets too hard. - Wait 15-30 minutes for the soap to harden.
- Run a knife around the sides of the soap. Then turn the pan or mold upside down and hit it on a hard surface to release the soap. Now you have a beautiful bar that can be cut into smaller pieces if you like. Or if your soap didn't turn out the way you wanted it, you can melt it down and start over.
Tip: For more color, add little pieces of colored glycerin soap to the pan before topping with the second batch of liquid soap. More questions for Debbie:
Q: Can you use food coloring to color the soap?
A: No, stick with dyes that are specifically made for soaps.
Q: If I can't find clear glycerin soap in the store. Is there another option?
A: Yes, there is, but there is also a rule of thumb: If you can see through the soap, it will probably melt easily. If you can't see through it, it will burn. The good thing about the see-through glycerin soaps in other colors is that you won't have to purchase dye separately. You may even want to try to find a soap that's already scented, so you don't need the essential oil.
Web extra:
Q: Can you use different molds or cookie cutters?
A: Use any soap mold that appeals to you, but use a cookie cutter just to cut shapes after the soap has hardened -- not as a mold.
Web site resources for glycerin soap:
Al & Abigail's Country Place information Zenda's Homemade Soap and Beauty Recipes Sweet Cakes soap-making supplies About.com information Books: Soap -- Making It, Enjoying It
By Ann Bramson
1975, Workman Publishing
708 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-254-5900
Web site: www.workman.com/
Beautiful Handmade Natural Soaps
By Marie Browning
1998, Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue, S.
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-532-7160
Fax: 212-213-2495
Web site: www.sterlingpub.com/
Handmade Soap
By Tatyana Hill
Lorenz Books (1999)
An imprint of Anness Publishing
27 West 20th St.
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 800-354-9657
Fax: 212-807-6813
Web site: www.lorenzbooks.com/
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