Homemade Dish Soap
Yield: 4 8oz bowls
Equipment
- Heat-safe bowls or ramekins (for soap molds)
- Heat safe bowls for mixing
- Immersion Blender
- Double boiler or stainless steel pot
- Digital scale (grams recommended)
- Safety gear: gloves, goggles, long sleeves
- Stainless steel or heat-safe mixing spoon
- Thermometer
Materials
- 620 g coconut oil
- 32 g castor oil
- 250 g water room temperature
- 110 g sodium hydroxide lye
- 20 g lemon essential oil optional
Instructions
- Prepare your containers by choosing ramekins or small bowls to use as molds for your dish soap bars.
- Place 620 g coconut oil in a double boiler and melt completely, then stir in 32 g castor oil.
- In a separate heat-safe bowl, carefully add 110 g sodium hydroxide to 250 g water (never water to lye). Stir slowly until dissolved, then set aside to cool.
- Allow both the melted oils and the lye water to cool to 105–120°F, making sure they are within 10 degrees of each other.
- Slowly pour the lye solution into the oils. Use an immersion blender to mix until the soap reaches trace, which looks like a pudding-like texture.
- Stir in 20 g lemon essential oil or other essential oils if desired.
- Pour the soap mixture into your ramekins or bowls.
- Let the soap cure in a cool, dry place for 4–6 weeks before using.