If you want your soap-making to be a family activity, melt-and-pour soap-making is probably the best method for you.
Basically for melt and pour you buy a prepared soap base. That base is melted before you add any additional ingredients to make your soap unique. When you have added colour, fragrance, or textures you decant your soap mixture into moulds or shape it by hand to create your bars of soap.
This method is much safer for working with your kids than making your soap from scratch. You do not have to handle any caustic or corrosive chemicals to make the soap.
Melt and Pour Soap Making Instructions
The first step is to prepare your work area. You will need access to a heat source, and bench space. Make sure you have your soap base, measuring tools, soapmaking equipment, soap moulds, and any additional ingredients.
When you have everything to hand you are ready to start.
Step One:
Measure out the required amount of soap base you need to make your soap (i.e. how much you need to fill your mould). If you are using your stove as your heat source, place the soap pieces into a double boiler and melt them over low heat.
If you are planning to use a microwave to melt the base, place the soap pieces into a microwave-safe jug or bowl. Heat the soap in the microwave for one minute at a time, stirring the soap pieces between each minute in the microwave. Repeat until the soap is evenly melted.
The soap base will get very hot during the melting process, so please take care.
Step Two:
Remove your melted soap base from the microwave or stovetop and add your fragrances and colours to the mixture, while stirring gently to mix.
Step Three:
Pour your soap mixture into the mould or moulds that you have prepared. If the top of the soap is uneven, use a rubber spatula to smooth the top. It is also a good idea to pick the mould up and gently tap it on the countertop to dislodge any air bubbles that may have been trapped.
Step Four:
Set the soap in a warm, safe place to allow your soap to harden.
After about twenty-four hours you will be able to turn the soap out of the mould and if necessary cut it into individual bars. Since the soap base was fully cured prior to use for forming your soap, you can use your bars of soap as soon as it is completely hardened.
