Lard soap questions

[Zing]

So a good friend recently made 100% lard soap, her very first time. I do not like it, the lather was very creamy and lotion-y. She calls it slimy and is asking for feedback. I have never used animal products. Did she use too high of a superfat, or is lard like olive oil? She has raging ADHD and cooks by just throwing in ingredients. I impressed upon her that she HAS to follow an actual RECIPE and use a LYE CALCULATOR and all the things. She "can't remember" her recipe so all I know is she used 100% lard. Let me know if you have experience or any ideas. Thanks.

[I'm not hating on people with ADHD. I love my friend and her energy and all her interests. But she's super high energy and I told her when she makes soap that she has to slow down and read and ollow directions 'cuz she's messing with lye.]

 

[AliOop]

100% lard soaps will definitely have a lotion-y, creamy lather. It could also be described as slimy, especially if the superfat is higher.

Assuming that simpler is better for her, then I'd suggest something like:

Oils: 60% lard, 20% CO, 20% liquid oil (olive, RBO, sweet almond)
Additives: 2% sugar or sorbitol (per weight of oils)
Superfat: 2-3%

 

[MelissaG]

Please tell her to slow down. She's going to hurt someone if she rushes, ignores things, or forgets something when she's using lye.

 

[KentuckySilks]

100% lard soaps will definitely have a lotion-y, creamy lather. It could also be described as slimy, especially if the superfat is higher.

Assuming that simpler is better for her, then I'd suggest something like:

Oils: 60% lard, 20% CO, 20% liquid oil (olive, RBO, sweet almond)
Additives: 2% sugar or sorbitol (per weight of oils)
Superfat: 2-3%

That’s a great recipe, not too complicated- sorbitol will definitely give more bubbles than regular sugar, imo, Amazon has it

 

[Kari Howie]

Please tell her to slow down. She's going to hurt someone if she rushes, ignores things, or forgets something when she's using lye.

Patients with ADHD and ADD have differently-wired brains and may require medication to “slow down” and focus.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I made a batch of 100% lard soap early on and was not impressed. It did not improve much over the first two years.

If simple is important, 80% lard, 20% coconut will make a surprisingly nice soap.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

cooks by just throwing in ingredients. I impressed upon her that she HAS to follow an actual RECIPE and use a LYE CALCULATOR and all the things. She "can't remember" her recipe

@Zing Tell her it is CHEMISTRY, because it is, and requires the exacting precision of science. If she doesn’t want to follow procedures and keep records for every batch, for safety’s sake, she needs to move on to other activities.

 

[Kari Howie]

I made a batch of 100% lard soap early on and was not impressed. It did not improve much over the first two years.

If simple is important, 80% lard, 20% coconut will make a surprisingly nice soap.

I agree. I was disappointed in my 100% lard soap, but I found that coconut oil made all the difference.

 

[Kari Howie]

Please everyone, understand that telling a person with ADHD to slow down is like telling a person with major depressive disorder to “snap out of it.” It is not something that a person can easily control. It is not a matter of willfully ignoring advice. It is a brain disorder that manifests in varying degrees of severity from one individual to another. They have difficulty staying task focused and tend to impulsive behavior. That’s why simpler is better and activities with immediate gratification are ideal for them along with medical management as deemed necessary. On the plus side, they often have high rates of creative abilities/achievements, which, fortunately, are not blunted by medication. In the meantime, as far as soap making goes, she may require in-person mentoring to help put the brakes on and ensure she’s following a simple recipe from a lye calculator with a hard copy to keep in front of her while she’s working. Failing all that, another creative outlet may be better suited.

 

[AliOop]

Please everyone, understand that telling a person with ADHD to slow down is like telling a person with major depressive disorder to “snap out of it.” It is not something that a person can easily control. It is not a matter of willfully ignoring advice. It is a brain disorder that manifests in varying degrees of severity from one individual to another. They have difficulty staying task focused and tend to impulsive behavior. That’s why simpler is better and activities with immediate gratification are ideal for them along with medical management as deemed necessary. On the plus side, they often have high rates of creative abilities/achievements, which, fortunately, are not blunted by medication. In the meantime, as far as soap making goes, she may require in-person mentoring to help put the brakes on and ensure she’s following a simple recipe from a lye calculator with a hard copy to keep in front of her while she’s working. Failing all that, another creative outlet may be better suited.

Well said. Another way for folks with ADD to handle a complex project (like soapmaking) is to break it into chunks that are completed at different times, such as:

1. Put together the recipe in the soap c@lculator, and print it out.
2. Gather all the materials that will be needed, and check them off on a checklist.
3. Make the soap, using a second checklist to ensure that all materials are used.

 

[bookworm42]

Never tried 100% lard but good to know.
If she really wants to make soap she could try melt and pour. It might be a good option as it's simpler and safer. I like the idea of the 80% lard 20% coconut oil to help keep things simple as well.

 

[AliOop]

I made a batch of 100% lard soap early on and was not impressed. It did not improve much over the first two years.

If simple is important, 80% lard, 20% coconut will make a surprisingly nice soap.

I almost suggested the 80-20 version; you are right, it is probably the better choice for a newbie who needs the greatest simplicity.

And I can't disagree about the limitations of 100% lard soap, unless it's made with sugar or sorbitol. Sorbitol is my favorite as well, @KentuckySilks. But I always suggest sugar for beginners, since a) most folks already have it in their house, and b) if they don't stick with soapmaking, they won't have sorbitol lying around the house forever.

Still, if someone has significant skin issues, 100% lard is a great starting point, and can end up being the only true soap that their skin can tolerate. Using a washcloth or bath pouf can help a lot with getting it to lather.

 

[Ephemerella]

I don't mean to sound offensive, but melt and pour might be more satisfying to her — lower risk and higher immediate reward, and some m&p can have nice lather and feel good on the skin. BB's goats milk and buttermilk are especially nice. When I first started, I found it incredibly gratifying to "make" something and then be able to use it and share it hours later.

 

[MelissaG]

Please everyone, understand that telling a person with ADHD to slow down is like telling a person with major depressive disorder to “snap out of it.” It is not something that a person can easily control. It is not a matter of willfully ignoring advice. It is a brain disorder that manifests in varying degrees of severity from one individual to another. They have difficulty staying task focused and tend to impulsive behavior. That’s why simpler is better and activities with immediate gratification are ideal for them along with medical management as deemed necessary. On the plus side, they often have high rates of creative abilities/achievements, which, fortunately, are not blunted by medication. In the meantime, as far as soap making goes, she may require in-person mentoring to help put the brakes on and ensure she’s following a simple recipe from a lye calculator with a hard copy to keep in front of her while she’s working. Failing all that, another creative outlet may be better suited.

My niece has ADHD so I do know. But she also knows better than to try to use dangerous chemicals because of her attention problems.

 

[Servant4Christ]

Maybe ask the dimensions of her mold so you can calculate and print out a couple revised recipes for her from soapcalc. That way your friend can choose which recipe to try and have the hardcopy to follow explicitly. I find that my ADHD friends/family do best with lists they can check off step by step.

 

[Zing]

Thanks all for the feedback. And @Servant4Christ , that is such a cool suggestion, like why didn't I think of that?! And @AliOop , I like those steps. Two additional steps could be measuring the oils and butters, and mixing the lye solution. And, @Ephemerella , melt and pour is not offensive. I made it for years and years -- especially on December 24....

 

[Quilter99755]

I put my soap calc recipes in a sheet protector while I am making soap. I can use a white board pen to cross off items when I add them. A couple of times I have measured items out but have forgotten to add them...usually the scent or another additive. So I am thinking about using two sheets...one for when I measure items out and the other one for when I add things to the pot. Old age is creeping up on me.

Also you did not mention if she had cured the soap. I'm one of the people who put all the containers/utensils in a pan and deal with cleaning them a couple days later after I don't have to worry about a lye burn. The small soap chips that I scrape out of the containers are slimy prior to curing...almost oily feeling. I leave all my lard soaps cure for a minimum of 6 weeks. At that time they have a nice creamy lather with a few bubbles but have lost the oily/slimy feeling. If she is using the soap too early (or needs instant gratification), maybe melt and pour would be the better way to go. I used them as part of my journey to making soap from scratch.

 

[Tammyfarms]

I made a batch of 100% lard soap early on and was not impressed. It did not improve much over the first two years.

If simple is important, 80% lard, 20% coconut will make a surprisingly nice soap.

I know it’s an additional ingredient, but I have made a really nice soap with 75% lard, 20% coconut and 5% castor. I do add 2% each salt and sugar and aloe instead of water. I do 2-3% super fat.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

I know it’s an additional ingredient, but I have made a really nice soap with 75% lard, 20% coconut and 5% castor. I do add 2% each salt and sugar and aloe instead of water. I do 2-3% super fat.

Just out of curiosity, why do you add salt to this recipe?

 

[Tammyfarms]

Just out of curiosity, why do you add salt to this recipe?

When started soaping I used sodium lactate and switched to salt for hardness. I now know that I probably don’t need it as lard makes such a nice hard soap on its own. My usual recipe uses 20% olive oil in place of 20% lard so it’s a little softer. So, to answer with one of my least favorite sayings…. “I have always done it that way”.
I probably need to reevaluate the need for salt at this time. Thanks for bringing it up.