Homemade Lye Soap
The interesting thing is that while lye soap has just two ingredients, lye and lard, the process of making it was quite time-consuming.
Today, we see many different types of soaps but until the mid 1850’s, people typically made their own household cleaners and bath supplies to include lye soap. Years ago during the first hard frost, hogs were killed. The lard used in lye soap was supplied and then saved from this process. The lye used in soap came from leftover ashes from wood-burning stoves.
The early process of making homemade lye soap involved pouring water into the pile of saved ashes, which were then siphoned to get the liquid lye. The thing to remember is that lye is actually highly caustic. For this reason, people who made homemade lye soap had to know exactly the process to use and the appropriate concentration of materials. After all, if the soap consisted of high levels of lye, the skin could burn. However, if the soap were low on lye content, it would not harden correctly.
The process of making the homemade lye soap involved mixing lard and lye over an open fire. For hours, the mixture would be stirred using a special long-handled paddle. From there, the soap would be poured into a metal pan where it would sit to harden. Depending on the batch, this drying and hardening process could take weeks to months to complete. Once the lye soap was done, it could be used to clean the body, as well as laundry, floors, windows, dishes, and so on.
Although you can still purchase authentic lye soap through a number of companies, this natural product is still made. When created the right way, lye soap is actually very gentle. To make the soap more appealing, fragrances can be added, along with natural or essential oils for softening the skin such as coconut or jojoba. Today, some people do make homemade lye soap using the traditional process but we have seen some advances.
If you want to make lye soap today, you can still collect ashes from your wood-burning stove or you can now purchase lye from the store but remember, this substance is caustic so handle with care and keep it away from children and pets. Additionally, you want to wear rubber gloves along with safety goggles. The package of lye will have very strict handling instructions on the back, which should be followed carefully. However, if you want to use ashes, just as they did in the 1800s, you would want to add the ashes to cold water, saving the lye water, which would then be added to fat. As the lye is added, the mixture will start to become hot from the chemical reaction.
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For the lard, you can use this ingredient or choose another type of oil if you prefer. For instance, you will find sources that sell sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil specifically for making soap. The only difference is that oil tends to be greasier so if you want authentic lye soap, stick with the lard. To get started, you need a heavy-duty kettle and utensils made from tin, iron, or aluminum. Whatever you use for making soap should never be used for anything else so store these items away from your normal cooking pots and utensils.
Place the lard into the kettle and then slowly add the lye, taking care not to splash the mixture, and then stir slowly. Sometimes, the mixture of lard and lye will mix nicely but if you find chunks in the soap mixture, the problem results from separation of lye and lard. In this case, you could melt the mixture and then add one cup of water at a time, stirring and mixing until the soap is syrup-like and thick. Once you reach the right consistency, the homemade lye soap could be poured into special soap molds or even a glass pan lined with a rag. If you want to add fragrance or essential oils, add them in small drops to the warm mixture prior to pouring into the mold. Allow the soap to cure for one week and then with a sharp knife, cut it into bars.
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