Soap 101

 

Tomorrow is the spring soap giveaway. All my pretties are wrapped and ready to go, waiting patiently up on their drying racks over my Barbie collection. This is only one set of the racks. I have three more on top of other shelves in the sewing room. That's a lot of soap that's going to need a home.

Those of you who are old timers can ignore the rest of this post. I go over the same things every time but I always have several newbies who need to know what they are getting into. Let me explain....

Those little cards I include in your package are important soap 101 rules for safe usage. If you give a bar away, give the card away with it.

Don't forget this is real soap. The kind made with lye. I'm covered up in protective gear when I make it because lye gets hot-really hot and can leave a nasty burn. The fumes are no fun either. 

After sitting for 6 weeks that lye has gone through a process that makes it safe. I thoroughly test every loaf by taking an ugly end and taking a bath with it. I even wash my hair. I've got very sensitive skin and lots of allergies so if it doesn't bother me, it shouldn't bother you but you never know. If you have any concerns, wash just your hands and upper arms in the sink the day before you throw it in the tub with you.  Above all, keep it out of your eyes. Like any soap, it will sting. 

A bar will last a long time if you keep it dry. I sit mine up on a dry dishcloth on the edge of the tub.

Please take them out of the glassine bag it comes in when they arrive. They needs to continue "breathing" until you use them. They will get harder and milder the longer you keep them but I want you to use them up. They don't have any preservatives so they won't last forever-although I have some that are years old that I am still using and they seem fine. 

Finally, I get asked about postage all the time. I know it costs a lot to mail out all this soap but it's a part of my hobby budget. I live a very frugal life so this big splurge three times a year doesn't make a dent in my bottom line. The amount of fun I get out of all the making is worth every penny.

I have to say this is some of the nicest soap I have ever made. It's been a long journey to get to this point and I need to thank Cindy of Delighted Hands for getting me started. Without her push to get me over my fear of that whole lye thing, I would be missing a big chunk of happy time in my life. 

See ya'll tomorrow!