I think the original post got deleted, BUT luckily I did take a copy of it while it was still up. I think the thread is still around somewhere, but I didn't save the link. I think it maybe was someone named Mike (?) who originally posted it? Anyway! Here are the notes I took:
Quote:
I keep this soap on hand all the time. It takes a few days to set up but it's really easy to make and works well in soft water. People with hard water will want to have it softened with borax or washing soda before adding soap.
1 gallon heavy plastic or glass container with wide mouth
1/2 gallon cold water
2.25 ounces lye
1 lb lard, melted
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax (up this to 1 cup if you can't find the washing soda)
Fragrance oil or essential oil of your choice (optional)
Hot water to fill the container
Superfat = 0%.
Add cold water to container. Add lye; stir well (this barely gets warm because lye is so diluted) Add lard, washing soda, borax, fragrance oil. Add hot water to finish filling the container and stir well with a wire whisk.
Whisk 3 times a day or so until set up. Initially, it will start with a glob of soap on top but will set up more each time you whisk it. After three days or so, you will be left with a nice, powdery liquid that you can use in your laundry.
Add 1/2 - 1 cup for a top loading machine. Dissolve in hot water before adding to a very cold wash. Otherwise, just add it while the machine is filling. Use less in a front loader; this one WILL suds if you add too much.
End quote.
I can't remember if this is from the same thread or a derivative of it, but here's the same soap converted to modern measurements and made with CO. (This is the one I make.)
500g Coconut oil
2 Litres cold water
92g NAOH
1/2 cup borax (= 125 mls)
1/2 cup washing soda (= 125 mls)
1.25L hot water
20ml orange 5x eo
5ml lemongrass eo
Superfat = 0%
******
I used warm water and a stick blender and I added some FO I had that was a good-for-nothing seizer, but it smelled great, so I chucked some of that in as well when the soap was finished. (No probs with that.) When it was all done, I split the batch in two and added some bluing to the one half for washing whites, just until I could see the soap had a very pale blue colour to it. Works brilliantly.
I've also saved a link to a video that shows you what it's supposed to look like:
[ame="[MEDIA=youtube]s7K9myB9yPk[/MEDIA]"]
Some extra notes I have say, that if you have harder water you might get some soapscum and then you can add some more borax or use vinegar in the softener dispenser. (I use vinegar.)
Also, if you can, put the soap directly in with the wash load, so you don't risk gunking up the soap drawer.
I have a HE frontloader and I use maybe ½-1 dl pr load, give or take and I haven't had any problems with sudsing or soapscum or the soap not dissolving. No problems at all.
That's it!
