homemade liquid soap

The main difference between liquid soap and bar soap is the lye. Bar soap uses Sodium Hydroxide and liquid soap uses Potassium Hydroxide. Otherwise, the warming-blending-sitting process is identical to bar soap. But after the night of rest in the "mold," instead of cutting the bars, we add water and stir.

Ivory's Liquid Soap

3.375 oz Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
8 oz water
5 oz coconut oil
1 oz castor oil
11 oz vegetable shortening

1. Warm your oils until liquefied and sprinkle the lye into your water.


2. When they're cool enough to touch, slowly pour lye water into fats.


3. Blend.


4. Stop when you a drip stays visible on the surface for a few seconds.


5. Pour into a jar or other non-reactive container.

6. Insulate and allow to rest for 24-48 hours.


7. Find a BIG bowl. Dilute soap with water, slowly stirring to get the consistency you want. I add a few cups at a time and then let it rest. It thickens. Near the end (around 64 ounces of added water) I hit it with the stick blender to break up any chunks.


8. Stir in 3-4 Tbsp essential oils. I used lavender and tea tree oil to make it antibacterial.

9. Funnel into your containers.

I got nearly a gallon of soap out of this recipe. WOW! VERY economical. The most bang for your buck I've seen.

We use it exclusively as our dish soap and hand wash, but coconut oil is notoriously drying so be careful with your hair. I've been using it and it has a serious SQUEAK when rinsed. It works, but it's not my favorite. So, if you have hair that breaks easily, be careful. Also, this is a BUBBLY soap, so no dishwashers or washing machines unless you want a foam flood.

excerpt grabbed from Ivory (from little house in the suburbs)