Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Homemade Blender Milk Soap

For this soap, you can use fancy molds or simply pour soap into a bread pan and cut it to the size of bars you want. Love how versatile and forgiving this recipe is. It is great for redheaded children, babies and other people with sensitive skin. 
Last weekend, in the midst of visiting my sister, she watched my kids so I could learn to make milk soap in blender at my step-grandmother's house (Regina). I was pleased to learn it was actually a very simple process. I really like milk soap because it makes your skin feel great. We use it for hands, face and body. I thought I'd post about it before I forgot the instructions. 

Here are the ingredients:
6 oz. frozen milk (just freeze in ice cube trays)
4 Tbl lye granules
16 oz of shortening, lard, or tallow 

I took pictures of Regina making the first batch. 

First she measured 6 oz of frozen milk cubes (need to use frozen because the lye will burn the milk and make it look and smell bad) into a stainless steel milk shake cup. You can use any stainless steel item, as long as you can easily pour it into a blender. She stuck the bottom down into the drain for stability. Next she measured out 4 Tbl lye granules into the cup. Unlike her, I will be using gloves! You do not want to get lye on your skin. Ouch!
Using an old wooden spoon, she kept poking and stirring the lye and milk so that it wouldn't create "hot spots" in the milk as it melted, which kept it from burning. While the frozen milk was melting, we measured out 16 oz. of shortening and just barely melted it (don't get it too hot).She poured the melted shortening into the blender and then poured the melted milk and lye mixture over that. She used an old glass blender she has bought at a yard sale.She immediately pulse blended about 5 times, checked, blended a couple more times until it got to the "trace stage". That means it is just starting to thicken up or set up. This is where you add the essential oils, oatmeal or whatever you wish. We just added probably 1 tsp of peppermint oil. This picture was taken soon after trace, after we had added the peppermint oil and it was really starting to get thick. You don't want it any thicker than this when you are scraping it out of the blender. We pulse blended it a couple more times and then quickly scraped it out of the blender into a plastic lined bread pan. We smoothed the top down with a knife. She said she would let it set a few days and then cut it. It'll be ready to use a month from now. I can't wait to see how it turned out. Talk about cheap and easy! This isn't fancy soap, although you can make it look fancy using soap molds. It makes my skin feel great. Regina wasn't super precise in her measurements, but it all seemed to turn out well. It is a very forgiving recipe.
Regina also uses tallow (beef fat) or lard with this same recipe. Watch it though, because different fats set up quicker. I think tallow sets up very quickly. At first I wasn't thrilled that we were using shortening, but why not? It isn't like we're ingesting it. Regina puts her animal fats in the crockpot. She lets it render all day and then puts it in the fridge and pops out a big chunk of fat, wipes off the underside, and there is fat already to make soap. I put my fat in the crock pot, let it render for about 24 hours on low and then strain it through a cheese cloth into a plastic bucket that I can freeze. Great way to use up more of the animal. 
Anyway, after she made a batch, she let me make one, too, and it looked like it turned out good. I've received many compliments on my soap. It isn't pretty or fancy, but it cleans well and moisturizes at the same time. My husband uses it instead of shampoo and I use it in place of shave gel. If any of you do try this recipe, please leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. 
God Bless,
Jackie

P.S. I've made this recipe many times now and sometimes I can't get it to go to trace, but I pour it into molds anyway, and let it sit a month and it still works! This really IS the most forgiving soap recipe. I've even used up to two TBL of lye less for this recipe for relatives who have super sensitive skin and it make take a bit longer to dry out and never goes to trace, but it still turns out great.

39 comments:

Susan Godfrey said...

Oh thanks for posting this! I'll have to give this a try sometime. I've made soap before and this looks MUCH easier!

Blessings!
Susan

Leslie said...

That looks sooo easy! I might have to give this a try. I wonder if coconut oil would work in place of the shortening, or if it wouldn't set right because it melts so easily?

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Your welcome, Susan!

Leslie,
Yes, you could use coconut oil. Just really watch the trace time. It might set up at a different rate.

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

Your a maniac, Jack! The homemade queen! Good job!

Catherine said...

This looks very nice. If you like it and you like the process you may want to buy some molds to pour the soap into.

FaithAlways.. said...

You are so encouraging! What a neat project to do. I can't wait to try it.

Regina @VestPocketFamilyFarm said...

Thank you for the compliments, Jackie. ;))

I don't do complicated, two batches of this recipe every six months keeps the two of us in soap.

Coconut oil is on my list to try next time. So is the chicken fat that's rendering in the crock pot right now.

My next batch is going to use water, I've got it freezing now.

OurLilFullFam said...

Looks neat! I have used goat milk soap from a friend of mine, and you are right, the difference in your skin is wonderful.

Stephanie

sanjeet said...

That looks sooo easy!
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Anonymous said...

Hi Jacki, Where do yo go to buy lye, I live in southern California. Any tips?

Love, Rosemi

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Rosemi,
I would ask if you could order it from your local Mom and Pop hardware store (not a Home Depot type place). Usually places like that will do special orders. Hope you find a place!

Pepper said...

Would be interested to know if anyone has tried this with the coconut oil yet? Am seriously thinking of trying this myself!! =)

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

You bet you can make this with coconut oil! Let me know how it turns out if you try it.

Bernice said...

You can use coconut oil. Just be aware that it is somewhat more drying than other oils/fats. I don't know about with milk though. I haven't tried that. It might not be as drying. I do know also that coconut oil makes a high lather soap. :) Right at first it may not be too bad but after about 5 years it is more drying. LOL. I found some that I made about that long ago and used it in the bath. Made my legs itchy a little but not really too bad. Be careful about using it in sensitive place because it can burn and I don't like to use it on my face.

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

I think the milk makes a huge difference, Bernice. I bet it would help even if you were using coconut oil. So far I've only tried lard, tallow and shortening, but next time I'll try coconut oil and see if it still moisturizes. Thanks for the heads up!

Helen Hoke said...

Jackie,

I was tempted to try this recipe for a week. Now finally I got some lamb fat so I think I am ready. I called my Ace Hardware store and they said they sell pure lye in liquid form. Would it still be the same quantity if I use liquid form vs granules? Also, I only have a small plastic blender, do you think that would work or I should only use glass blender? Thanks so much

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

I don't know about the liquid verses liquid lye. I would think they would be different, but I'm not sure. I would think a plastic blender would be OK. My friend was making everything using plastic containers, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Helen Hoke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Helen Hoke said...

Sorry i was wrong about Ace hardware selling lye in liquid form. they actually came in crystal form. i just made my first batch. can't wait to see how it turns out!

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Good luck, Helen! Let me know how it went :)

Helen Hoke said...

Hmmm... not sure what did i do wrong, but today the soap looked mostly dry so cut it up, and tried a small piece that fell off, it didn't seem to lather at all. Is that normal? Thanks

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Helen,
Nope this soap naturally doesn't lather. Contrary to popular belief, lathering has nothing to do with its ability to clean. You can add something to it to make it lather, but I can't remember what it is. Be careful about using it right away. It needs to cure awhile. Blessings, Jackie

Helen Hoke said...

Jackie, thank you so much for your reply! I guess I was just being impatient. I'll let it sit for a month.

BTW, I am having so much fun reading and practicing things I found on your blog. I just ordered a stoneware muffin pan online today, can't wait for it to get here so I can try your blueberry muffin recipe. I wish I live next door to you. You have so much fun! And that shower you throw for MOPS, I wish I am in your group! I am going to have my second baby at the end of this year, and I am so glad that I found your blog. Oh yes I also just ordered Nourishing Traditions after seeing your commentaries on healthy eating. I just can't say enough thank you :-)

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Helen,
I'm thrilled that you are finding my blog useful. It spurs me on to continue blogging :) I love it when people share info with me and then I like to pass it on. You're words are so encouraging to me. Have a blessed day!

Jessica said...

Hi, thanks for the recipe, trying it soon! question though, is the milk and shortening measured out by weight or just in a measuring cup? i know most soap recipes do by weight but thought i'd check! thank you!

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Jessica,
The cool thing about this recipe is that it is so flexible. In fact I haven't even been able to get it to go to trace sometimes and it still turns out! I just use a measuring cup for these measurements. Happy soap making!

Hidayah said...

Could you make this in a plastic blender container?

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Yes, I ended up using plastic when I was in the middle of soap making and my glass blender quit on me. I just wouldn't use it again for food.

mum4305 said...

You always make everything seem so easy. I am encouraged to try making the soap this winter. Need something that's moisturizing since it is so dry here in Southern Alberta.

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Lori,
This really is just easy. We just made 12 batches of soap this week for Christmas gifts. All looked different and set up different, but all are soap! I even experimented and used only 3 Tbl of lye for a face soap for several very sensitive-skinned relatives. It never went to trace, but it still set up. I've had that happen before and it still turns out great. I LOVE this recipe!

Unknown said...

what kind of milk do you use? i have to ask, as it is not specified. pls also mention what other milk alternatives we can use. thank you!

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

You can use whatever kind of milk you would like :) This is a very forgiving recipe.

Unknown said...

could i use milk powder, evaporated milk?

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

I've never tried it, but I don't see why it wouldn't work, just try to get some that isn't non-fat.

Debra said...

Thank you for sharing your Grandma's milk soap recipe, the instructions make me feel confident enough to try this!

I have used powdered milk in soap before, adding 1 Tbls. per pound of soap at trace, but have not tried it with the frozen milk at the beginning. Cannot wait to try this recipe!

Can you tell me where you purchased the lovely soap molds in the picture at the top of the posting?

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

I'm sure you will love this recipe, Debra. I actually have found everyone of my soap molds at a yard sale. I totally scored!

Justine said...

I finally got around to making this soap two years later and kicking myself for waiting this long! It was super easy and ai cant wait fornit to cure!

Anonymous said...

Can you use liquid shortening?

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

yes

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