Rebatching soap is a method of ‘remaking your soap’. Basically, you grind up existing bars of soap, add water or milk, and reblending before decanting them into moulds. This soap-making method is a good one for sharing with your kids.
It is also the method you would use to ‘fix’ a soap-making disaster. If you have a batch of soap that is the wrong colour, needs more fragrance, or just doesn’t look right, rebatch it.
Instructions for Rebatching Soap
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 (i.e., the soap you want to rebatch), measuring tools, soapmaking equipment, soap moulds, and your additional ingredients. When you have everything to hand you are ready to start.
Step One:
Put on your safety glasses, rubber gloves, and an apron, and make sure you have the windows open. If your soap base has cured, there is no longer any risk of problems with the caustic soda.
Step Two:
Measure out the ingredients you wish to add to the soap and set them to one side.
Step Three:
Either grate your soap into small chunks and place it in a stainless steel or enamel pot. Add a little water to prevent scalding and put the pot over heat to melt the soap.
I tend to use a double pot or bath method so that the soap pot is not directly over the flame.
Stir the soap occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pot or burning. Stirring also helps to ensure that all of the soap mixture melts.
You can expect the melting process to take a while and don’t worry when your soap ends up looking like a gluggy mess.
Step Four:
When your soap has melted evenly (no lumps) you can gently add any extra ingredients. Make sure you stir the mixture enough to distribute the new ingredients evenly.
Step Five:
When you are happy with your mixture, spoon your soap mixture into the mould or moulds that you have prepared. You will have to work reasonably quickly as it will start to set very quickly.
Step Six:
Set the soap in a warm, safe place to set up. 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. If you have used a ‘young’ batch of soap for your rebatching, don’t forget to allow your soap to cure.
If you used commercial bars or soap or purchased a soap base, your new soaps will not need to be cured and can be used as soon as the soap has hardened.
