I'm in Matthews13's boat too
Hi all, newbie here, with essentially the same issue as OP Matthews13.
I prefer bar soap because it is much more economical in so many ways. I am disabled and hauling home products made with water (that I can add for nothing) is unacceptable to me. I buy dry dishwasher soap tabs for this exact reason.
While making liquid soap from the git-go is ideal, speaking just for myself, I am not equipped to, nor inclined to do so. I need reasonable shortcuts where I can find them.
I decided recently that trying to contend with the remaining bar slivers with my bad hands was more and more difficult, but being reluctant to just discard them when they still had some life left, that I should try converting them to liquid soap primarily for the shower.
Like the OP, I am at the juncture where I need the liquid result to be more sudsy so I can readily see missed spots. I use a Salux cloth which is similar to a shower puff but all flattened out and great for scrubbing backs and soles. Bar soap lathers up on it nicely. The liquified result I have so far does not nearly so.
I'm less bothered by the slime factor but to have that mitigated wouldn't bother me.
If specifics might be helpful now, let me quickly summarize:
1 4oz Zest bar soap, whittled
6 cups water
1 T glycerin added post melt
3-4 oz Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (in the mistaken hope it would lather)
3-4 oz baby shampoo (in the mistaken hope it would lather, too)
I let the melted bar solution alone rest overnight so it coagulated into a gelatinous mass. I stick blended it to loosen it back into a semi-viscous liquid, added the glycerin, shampoo and Dawn as I blended along until it all seemed fully incorporated. I then poured the result into three washed out squeeze mayo bottles, 1 16oz, 2 22oz., which roughly translates to a half gallon batch.
The only time the product is not slimey is immediately after blending. Used alone to wash my hands, it makes no lather, none. After sitting for a week, the product is very slimey and slippery. Thus, when I try to dispense it from a turned upside down bottle, it threatens to run out in a slithering ribbon. So, now I just tip it sideways just enough to start a ribbon and then quickly pinch it off with my thumb.
On the Salux it lathers very modestly but does clean and rinse off nicely.
My first thought is that Zest is just not suitable. So I purchased a 3 pack of Kirk's Castile 4oz coconut bar soap. (Walmart.com shipped me only 1 bar in error, but that's a whole other fettle of kitsch.) Before I proceed with trying again with it, I want to get far more information and, just as importantly, learn from you all here what the actual result should be, what has resulted after two/three/four weeks, and so on.
I have slogged through a slew of Youtube videos, most of which are, well, weakly executed. The one I paid the most attention to was posted by Cheap Geek. However, none of the videos offer any updates showing time elapsed status. After reading around here, it seems that some recipes improve markedly with several weeks of rest.
Well this first post is way longer than I planned. :Kitten Love: :smile:
Ok, so here's my first question: Can I rehab this first batch by adding coconut oil "lard" (not fractionated, not liquid)? If so, how much should I add and in what process (re-heat, just blend, or...?).
Is there any difference between food grade coconut oil lard or beauty grade? Anyone have a favorite brand or supplier?
Many thanks to any and all who reply. I think I will try to make a more comprehensive how-to video that does cover the A-Z of it but we'll see how it goes.
I will continue to read all threads I think might be pertinent, but as I am so new to this whole new world, I don't know enough to know what to ask.
Cordial regards,
Iggymon, 06-29-15, 740p CDT
