Cold Laundry Soap Recipe

Making soap can be dangerous. You use lye which is caustic. Follow the directions carefully and use safety precautions. You might want to read my other soap making posts for additional information on the procedure. Never make soap with small children around and make it in a well ventilated area. Lye can burn the skin and the fumes are nasty ! USE LYE SAFETY ! Rubber gloves and goggles are recommended

This is a simple recipe for Cold Laundry Soap that works wonderfully. However Melissa might have a story or two about the hazards of grating the soap, as fingers and knuckles often get in the way ! Melissa was always the laundry soap grater person in our family and did a wonderful job but I don't think it was a job she was anxious for.

Cold Laundry Soap

2 quarts strained rendered beef fat. I prefer to use the fat around the kidneys as its harder and whiter

1 can lye (16 oz)

1 quart water

1/2 cup ammonia

2 Tablespoons borax dissolved in 1/2 cup water.

Combine the lye and water in a glass jar.... it will heat up fast so be careful

Stir until dissolved. Cool the lye water solution to 98 degrees. I do that by putting the jar in a sink filled with cold water and ice.

Cool the melted beef fat to 98 degrees also

Add the lye water into the beef fat and stir well. Add the ammonia and the borax and continue to stir until it is as thick as honey.

Pour into wooden mold or a glass baking pan that has been coated with a light coating Vaseline.

I usually cut into bars after 24 hours, let harden in a dry place.
Grate and use after 3 weeks time.

below are links to past posts about soap making, with other recipes for soap. Please read the cautions about soap making in these posts

Soap Making Day

More Soap Talk