Comments on: Self Sufficient Skin with Homemade Soap

By: Amara

Amara — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:18:58 +0000

I always thought that it was really hard to make soap! Maybe I’ll have a go at this one day…

By: Megan

Megan — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 08:47:26 +0000

I just wanted to add what I’ve read. I have not tried this to back it up for sure yet. But when you make lye water from wood ashes. You can set the bucket or what ever your using in the sun (away from animals and children) and the sun is supposed to evaporate the water and leave the lye in the dry form….

I will be starting my very first “lye factory” soon. So I will let you know how it works for me! On that same note I’m hoping to be able to buy lard and tallow from local butchers in my area so I can render my own fats for soap making. And of course I use spring water from the spring head on our farm!

By: Mrs.Dirty Boots

Mrs.Dirty Boots — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 09:15:56 +0000

Hi Krystal, It is pretty difficult to gauge. We use 6oz homemade lye water for 16oz olive oil, but it is a bit of a rough guestimate and depends on the strength of the lye, which you can check roughly using the feather or egg method – http://www.aselfsufficientlife.com/homemade-lye-from-wood-ash.html.

By: Krystal

Krystal — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:17:09 +0000

If using homemade lye water, do you use the amount of water called for in the recipe (in the above, 10 oz) or do you add the weight of the water and the lye (in the above, 10 oz water+3.8 oz lye=13.8 oz homemade lye water). I’ve been making homemade soap for some time now, but why pay for lye when I can make it using the ashes from our wood stove?! Thank you!

By: Mrs.Dirty Boots

Mrs.Dirty Boots — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:12:10 +0000

Thanks Phalini and good luck with it!

By: Phalini

Phalini — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 01:45:09 +0000

Hi, Mrs. Dirty Boots–

My boots are dirty, too; covered with mud and cow dung. I am so grateful for your comprehensive instructions. For years, I have been wanting to learn how to make homemade soap, and for the first time, I have started a batch of homemade wood ash lye. I am just now contemplating what kind of oil to use with the lye. Because we are vegetarians, I won’t be using fat from slaughtered animals, but I have been thinking about using ghee, although it’s pricey. But now, after reading your article, I am thinking more along the lines of using olive oil for my first attempt at soap-making. Thanks for your awesome articles!

–Phalini

By: Mrs.Dirty Boots

Mrs.Dirty Boots — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 07:06:18 +0000

I am no expert but can’t see why it would matter. And, since we used budget el cheapo bags of salt my guess is it probably was iodized.

By: Jenifer Church

Jenifer Church — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 21:45:53 +0000

When using homemade lye, you say to add salt. Does it matter if it’s iodized or not?

By: african giftscast iron dutch ovens

african giftscast iron dutch ovens — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:10:03 +0000

Interesting post, not like the others that I usually read about castile soap recipe!
Can I link to your blog? Keep it up! Can’t wait to read more about castile soap recipe.

By: Environmentally Friendly Washing Up? | A Self Sufficient Life

Environmentally Friendly Washing Up? | A Self Sufficient Life — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:47:56 +0000

[...] we use soft soap or homemade liquid soap with lemon juice to cut through the grease. They do work but I still cannot give up my washing up [...]