Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 >>> has anyone ever heard of using lechitin to thicken home made liquid soap. some body suggested it to me. thought i'd see if anyone has done it and how it turned out. i've been having a hell of a time with the liquid soap. <<< I've never heard of using it, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. I haven't made liquid soap yet, but have never seen a recipe that calls for lethicin. Are you making this from scratch or melting down cp/hp soap and adding water? NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 i am making it with kaoh (pottasium hydroxide.) it really has been quite a nightmare. i think the recipe i am using is too caustic in the end product. i used some on my hair (back when i had hair) and my hair was all sticky. like i had used a bunch of hair spray in it or something. so i figure less lye and more oil. i have tried using glycerin to thicken it but i would have to use so much it would just cost too much. if any one has tried this please let me know!! thanks sunny > >>> has anyone ever heard of using lechitin to thicken home made liquid > soap. some body suggested it to me. thought i'd see if anyone has done it > and how it turned out. i've been having a hell of a time with the liquid > soap. <<< > > I've never heard of using it, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. I > haven't made liquid soap yet, but have never seen a recipe that calls for > lethicin. Are you making this from scratch or melting down cp/hp soap and > adding water? > > NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 one more thing the recipe i am using calls for borax to thicken it but i have reservations about using borax... it also suggested using xantham gum but a chemist told me that it will just give my soap a snotty feel... that is definetly not what i am going for. sunny > >>> has anyone ever heard of using lechitin to thicken home made liquid > soap. some body suggested it to me. thought i'd see if anyone has done it > and how it turned out. i've been having a hell of a time with the liquid > soap. <<< > > I've never heard of using it, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. I > haven't made liquid soap yet, but have never seen a recipe that calls for > lethicin. Are you making this from scratch or melting down cp/hp soap and > adding water? > > NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 You can use 1/2 tsp salt per pound of diluted soap for thickening. I don't know about lecithin. Borax works if you don't overdo it. Are you sure that you have cooked the diluted soap enough? You can test it by putting a bit on the bottom of a cold glass until you get the consistency you want. You can overdo this too. My best advice is to go back and reread the directions very carefully. Anne, ANNE LEE'S www.annelees.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2001 Report Share Posted May 22, 2001 what kind of salt do you use? i tried regular table salt - it didn't work so i asked a chemist about using it in soap based shampoos (as opposed to detergent based). he said it only works with detergents. just turned into white flakes in the soap and sank to the bottom. i have done several small batches trying to get it. i actually haven't tried the last batch. but it is very clear - just runny! later sunny > You can use 1/2 tsp salt per pound of diluted soap for thickening. I don't > know about lecithin. Borax works if you don't overdo it. Are you sure that > you have cooked the diluted soap enough? You can test it by putting a bit > on the bottom of a cold glass until you get the consistency you want. You > can overdo this too. My best advice is to go back and reread the directions > very carefully. > Anne, > ANNE LEE'S > www.annelees.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 Your solution has to be hot for the salt to dissolve. I used table salt. My Norton is catching it but everyone should avoid all attachments right now no matter who they are from. I am getting my own mail back and at the bottom is " see attachment " . What kind of sick mind does this stuff? Viruses everywhere. Anne, ANNE LEE'S www.annelees.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 >>> i am making it with kaoh (pottasium hydroxide.) <<< At this point, one thing I'd suggest is double checking your recipe to make sure all the ingredient amounts are right. Too much water, not enough lye, etc can cause problems. There are several lye calculators online that you can use to calculate the proper lye amount. One of them, once you put in the amount of oils you're using, tells you not only how much lye to use, but also how much water. Pretty cool, huh? >>> i think the recipe i am using is too caustic in the end product. <<< It's entirely possible. Too much lye will cause your soap to be caustic. It can also be cause by not allowing the soap to properly saponify or cure. Liquid soaps require a curing phase, just like regular soap. > my hair was all sticky. This is not an unusual occurrence when using handcrafted soaps. They don't have all the chemicals that rinse out of your hair easily. It can also be caused by the type of water you have (hard water can create some problems for users of handcrafted soaps). To help combat the stickiness, use an acidic rinse after washing your hair. You can use white vinegar, cider vinegar, or lemon juice. You can also add essential oils or herbal extracts that are good for your hair. To use, mix 1 part acidic in 8 parts warm water. Blend in essential oils or extracts if using. Pour through hair then rinse with clear water. If you have someone to help you, or if you don't mind bending over, pour the acidic rinse through your hair and allow it to run into a bowl. Repeat the rinse, then rinse with clear water. > so i figure less lye and more oil. Not necessarily. One, use one of the online calculators to verify lye amount. Two, check your references (be they online or in a book) for the standard amount of water to use per pound of oils. For example, in regular soap, you use 6 ounces of water per pound of oils. Three, compare your recipe with other recipes. This can help you spot problems in ingredients (either type or amounts). Four, check the procedure instructions and be sure to follow them properly. One thing I've observed, especially with recipes found online, is that people don't always include clear or complete instructions. They know exactly what they mean and how to do it, but someone else may not. If the instructions seem to leave out steps or are unclear, beware. I'll check through my soapmaking books to see if I can find out anything else that may be of help to you. NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 >>> one more thing the recipe i am using calls for borax to thicken it but i have reservations about using borax... <<< Nothing wrong with using borax. It's a naturally occurring mineral and isn't harmful in the small amounts used in making bath & body stuff. I use it in making lotions (it reacts with beeswax to form a type of soap which then helps the oils and water emulsify). >>> it also suggested using xantham gum but a chemist told me that it will just give my soap a snotty feel... that is definetly not what i am going for. <<< Nope, don't want snotty soap. *grin* One thing you might want to do is go to Snowdrift Farms (http://www.snowdriftfarms.com) and go to the " Ask the Chemist " section. I believe you can ask Bill questions, and he may be able to help you. NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2001 Report Share Posted May 23, 2001 thanks for all your help guys!!! i've been having trouble getting people to talk about liquid soap. i/m glad someone finnally did! take care sunny > >>> one more thing the recipe i am using calls for borax to thicken it but i > have reservations about using borax... <<< > > Nothing wrong with using borax. It's a naturally occurring mineral and > isn't harmful in the small amounts used in making bath & body stuff. I use > it in making lotions (it reacts with beeswax to form a type of soap which > then helps the oils and water emulsify). > > >>> it also suggested using xantham gum but a chemist told me that it will > just give my soap a snotty feel... that is definetly not what i am going > for. <<< > > Nope, don't want snotty soap. *grin* One thing you might want to do is go > to Snowdrift Farms (http://www.snowdriftfarms.com) and go to the " Ask the > Chemist " section. I believe you can ask Bill questions, and he may be able > to help you. > > NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 24, 2001 Report Share Posted May 24, 2001 >>> thanks for all your help guys!!! i've been having trouble getting people to talk about liquid soap. i/m glad someone finnally did! <<< You're welcome. I hope you're able to work out your recipe so that you get the results you want. I don't make liquid soap yet, but hope to in the future once I can afford to buy ingredients again. Keep us up to date on your progress. NightShade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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