Soap Making Supplies

So you've decided to buy some soap making supplies? Before you do, take a look around your kitchen. You might be surprised to find you already have some of the things you need.

Keep in mind, however, whatever you confiscate from your kitchen should not be used for anything but soapmaking again. If you're like me though, you probably have two of some of the items on the following soap making equipment list.

1. Your most expensive purchase will be your soap making scale that is accurate to the nearest gram or 1/10th of an ounce.

2. A stainless steel 8 - 12 quart/litre pot, a 2 quart/liter plastic juice jug and one or two mid-size plastic mixing containers (for mixing color and a small amount of soap to create multi-colored, marbled soaps).

3. Mixing and measuring utensils - a whisk and/or hand blender, silicon or rubber spatulas (2 would be best), plastic spoons (like the wooden ones) and measuring spoons.

4. Candy thermometers (2 - one for the lye and one for the oil).

5. Small lightweight bowls for weighing materials on the scale. I use empty margarine tubs.

6. Some Wooden soap molds or plastic soap molds.

7. Butchers paper to line the soap molds.

8. A piece of wood or styrofoam the size of the soap molds top opening.

9. Old wool blankets to insulate the soap with.

10. Safety equipment - rubber gloves, apron or old clothes and safety goggles.

11. A thin, sharp knife to cut the soap. You may find, like I did, that a knife tends to cut soap like it does cheese, leaving the bottom edge uneven, and decide to make or buy a proper soap cutter.

12. One plastic 2 quart/litre juice jug to mix the water and lye in.

I also like to have a few ramekins and small jars on hand to put any additives in that I will be adding to the soap at the last minute.

Once you have your soap making supplies, it's time to decide which homemade soap recipes to make.