What soapy thing have you done today?

[Michele50]

"...... This is also my first soap with EDTA. I still have mixed feelings about using it, but I’ve had a couple more cases of DOS. EDTA seems like the lesser of two evils.

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This might not help the thought of using EDTA in your soap but it might.....providing you don't already know this.

EDTA is used in the medical field for heavy metal blood poisoning, as well as to lower dangerously high levels of calcium and to control disturbances to the heart rhythm. I'm guessing, with the various forms of EDTA, that the use of the chelators that are injected into humans (and in animals by veterinarians) are different kinds than what's used in soap. However, the way I looked at including a tiny bit in my soap was that if it's used interveiniously for numerous days than a tiny bit in my soap probably isn't gonna kill me. I only started including it in mine a few months ago. I began making soap maybe 3 years ago but took off 10 months; I returned to soap making for us 3 months ago. That's when I began its use and love what it does for my bath water; soap scum is less noticeable for those who shower but I enjoy long baths--love to soak.

Upon seeing a particular specialist for the first time, I had to submit a list of my medications so I included supplements as well. She told me she was glad to see I was taking zinc with a chelator. I need zinc so b/4 purchasing just any kind I researched what the best kind would be. Those with a chelator create a stable, water-soluble product that will more easily be absorbed. No use taking something that my body will not effectively process, resulting in expensive pee (lol). Since I'm already taking a chelator, adding a tiny bit to my soap that will be only on my skin for a short time and then rinse off didn't bother me. Lol, when I began to research EDTA (for the purpose of soap) I wasn't taking zinc; I read all kinds of scary stuff regarding it and then remembered reading the same fearmongering regarding citric acid.

https://www.drugs.com/mtm/edetate-disodium-edta.html
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/edta-uses-and-risks#1
https://wagwalking.com/treatment/chelation-therapy

 

[Mobjack Bay]

@Dawni CONGRATULATIONS on the order! woo hoo!
@KiwiMoose love that black and red soap! did you alternate the pours for the red and white on the top? use a divider? I think you got the trace just right for that one
@Kari Howie how cute is that soap?! I appreciate the talent it takes to make the placement of the dots look random, but just right
@Michele50 I'm not worried about me, I'm worried about the chronic exposure of aquatic organisms to EDTA in the environment. e.g. technical analysis here.

 

[Dawni]

Here’s some polka dot soap I made.

I like your logo! Simple but it works.. Cute soaps too

 

[Kari Howie]

I like your logo! Simple but it works.. Cute soaps too

Hestland Gård means Horse Country Farm in Norwegian. My mom’s family is all from Norway and her maiden name was Hetland: close to Hestland. The reason for the horse-related name is that up until last year we had two beloved horses who I had to sell because of my horrible arthritis.

 

[Dumfrey]

Many thanks for the suggestion. I actually bought a little bottle of lanolin, and I think I'll have to add some to the next batch. A lot of shavers say very good things about Mitchell's and that stuff goes baah.

Wet shaving is what lead me to soap making. So, from using other artisan soaps, I already knew what may face loved: high % tallow soap and lanolin. So when I cam across the LBussey variation in the mega thread, I jumped on it. Love at first shave.

 

[Carrie O'Donnell]

I used Pringles cans a lot before I could save up n buy molds.. The original ones made soap too big for my tiny hands but the local version was just right.

I never lined either. I get mixed results unmolding. Sometimes the soap just slid out and I can clean and reuse the can. Sometimes I have to tear it out lol

One of first soaps posted here was molded in a Pringles can, somewhere in October last year. No DOS or anything, seems to have no nasty side effects after a year.

That's so funny because, as a newbie I don't have a lot of materials yet, and I saw a Pringle's can sitting on our counter and I thought, "hmmmm that seems like the perfect size for round soap!" I feel like I'm looking through a brand new lens now and am looking at everything in terms of, "....could I use THAT as a mold...?" I'm glad to know the Pringle's can worked out!

 

[sirtim100]

That's so funny because, as a newbie I don't have a lot of materials yet, and I saw a Pringle's can sitting on our counter and I thought, "hmmmm that seems like the perfect size for round soap!" I feel like I'm looking through a brand new lens now and am looking at everything in terms of, "....could I use THAT as a mold...?" I'm glad to know the Pringle's can worked out!

It gets worse. You'll start buying stuff specifically because it's in containers that can be used as moulds.

The Pringles cans work very well, but you end up eating a lot of Pringles, and I don't even like them...

 

[Kari Howie]

It gets worse. You'll start buying stuff specifically because it's in containers that can be used as moulds.

The Pringles cans work very well, but you end up eating a lot of Pringles, and I don't even like them...

 

[sirtim100]

Wet shaving is what lead me to soap making. So, from using other artisan soaps, I already knew what may face loved: high % tallow soap and lanolin. So when I cam across the LBussey variation in the mega thread, I jumped on it. Love at first shave.

Likewise. From wet shaving to honing to stropping to wondering about shaving soap to making the stuff. Where will it all end?

I'm currently very deeply in love with Cella. Extra, Extra Purissima!

 

[Zeb Lisik]

I just shaved with a shaving cream puck I got on Amazon years ago, read the ingredients and felt inspired to attempt to make my own. I also use a dove unscented liquid I put on after which really soothes which I'd love to make. I wouldn't call it 'after shave' per se (it's not a stinky cologne like substance that burns) though it is put on after shaving haha

 

[Kari Howie]

I just shaved with a shaving cream puck I got on Amazon years ago, read the ingredients and felt inspired to attempt to make my own. I also use a dove unscented liquid I put on after which really soothes which I'd love to make. I wouldn't call it 'after shave' per se (it's not a stinky cologne like substance that burns) though it is put on after shaving haha

 

[Kari Howie]

I didn’t intend to attach the above photos to Zeb’s post. (Tech difficulties on my part.) Anyway, they’re pics of the giblet chicken gravy I made last night showing light to medium trace!

 

[Zany_in_CO]

I'm glad to know the Pringle's can worked out!

Be sure to line the can and DON'T fill all the way to the top... leave about 1/4". Makes it easier to get the soap out.

And yes, we've all been through the stage where we eyeball everything as a possible mold. I had good luck with those plastic things you put under clay plant pots to catch water. The 3" ones with 1" or so sides only cost 4¢ each at the time (2004).

 

[Zany_in_CO]

Anyway, they’re pics of the giblet chicken gravy I made last night showing light to medium trace!

Spewed coffee on my screen while reading that one! Hilarious!

 

[sirtim100]

I just shaved with a shaving cream puck I got on Amazon years ago, read the ingredients and felt inspired to attempt to make my own. I also use a dove unscented liquid I put on after which really soothes which I'd love to make. I wouldn't call it 'after shave' per se (it's not a stinky cologne like substance that burns) though it is put on after shaving haha

Let me know how the soap adventure goes. Be nice to share experiences across the lather.

I'm in the middle of an event with my NGO, and the madness doesn't cease till Sunday morning. So I just think about soap, and now I've got my crock pot (guilt, shame, flagellation), I think about liquid soap...

 

[Zany_in_CO]

I'm currently very deeply in love with Cella.

After pondering who of our members is named Cella, it occurred to me that @sirtim was shamelessly in love with a shaving soap. I should have known. For others that may be interested. I looked it up. Here's what I found:

Cella Shaving Cream, Almond

Ingredients: cocos nucifera, tallow, stearic acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, aqua, potassium carbonate, parfum.

ETA: Uh oh. If you want to duplicate Cella, you're in for a whole new adventure. Cream Soap involves using both NaOH and KOH plus potassium carbonate, "rotting" for 2 months and other things like "whipping" your dear Cella. No worries. If you search "Cream Soap" you'll find lots of threads on the subject. Here's my favorite:

LINDY'S EXCELLENT CREAM SOAP TUTORIAL

 

[TeresaGG]

This is also my first soap with EDTA. I still have mixed feelings about using it, but I’ve had a couple more cases of DOS. EDTA seems like the lesser of two evils.

@Michele50 I'm not worried about me, I'm worried about the chronic exposure of aquatic organisms to EDTA in the environment. e.g. technical analysis here.

There is a thread about a biodegradeable alternative to EDTA here
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/glda-a-modern-alternative-to-edta.74141/

 

[Ladka]

Add some lanolin and this is very close to the lbussey version. Which I have found to be perfect for me.

What does lanolin do in soap?

Today I sold six of my leaf lard soaps to a person that ordered them two months ago. Plus a tiny piece made of tallow and lard to someone else. And gifted one tiny piece to the person who sold me both raw tallow and lard. They are all sellers on a farmers market I visit on Saturdays.

 

[MaryAlice]

I put together my Christmas wish list for family members. There are a lot of soap making items on that list. Getting excited about really starting into this sudsy thing. And now the cat's out of the bag with my family.

 

[runnerchicki]

My soapy thing today is reading as many posts from the last 24 days that I can. I have been so busy with moving into my new house that I haven't had a second to even sit and relax. Still lots to get done too and I will be scarce for a few more weeks at least (I do not multi-task very well; so until I am satisfied with the house I will have a hard time expending mental or physical energy on anything else.) I miss you all though.