The Scale
Possibly the most important tool that you will need for your homemade soap making is the scale. This should be digital, and should read ounces, preferably to the 1/10th ounce. The scale will be used to ensure that the chemical balance of your soap is accurate. You will use it to measure everything including your lye, liquids, oils, and additives. You can get a digital scale here.
The Lye Container
When measuring the lye, you will need to have either a clear plastic measuring cup, or bowl, that is used only for the lye, and is clearly marked “lye only”. Since lye is a toxic substance in the dry form that you will be measuring, it is imperative that this container is used for nothing else. A large measuring cup that will hold at least 12 ounces, depending on the size of the batches you will be making, or a clear plastic bowl, or container, can be found at most any local store. If you are working toward frugality, a check at your local dollar store would be a great place to start looking for this piece of equipment or you can start looking here.
The Mixing Vessel
Mixing your lye and oils together to create your soap requires a stainless steel pot to avoid the chemical reaction that could happen with other metals. One of the best things to use is a stockpot, generally of about an 8-quart size, depending on the size of the batch you are making. Using a stockpot allows you to work down inside the pot to help avoid splashing of the caustic lye substance, prior to saponification. Stainless steel stockpots can be expensive to purchase, but they can be found at a reasonable price at your local mass merchandiser or low price retailer. You can also find them here.
Safety
Make sure that you have a pair of safety goggles that cover all-around your eyes in case of accidental splashes. The solution is very dangerous prior to saponification and contact with the eyes must be avoided. Safety goggles can be found readily, and inexpensively, at most dollar stores, home improvement stores, or mass merchandisers.
Spoon and Ladle
Mixing, measuring, and pouring, can require either a stainless steel spoon or a stainless steel ladle (This is a good ladle to use) . Again, you want these items to be stainless steel to avoid any chemical reaction with the metal. Both of these items are easily found at local dollar or mass merchandise stores.
Stick Blender
This one item, along with the digital scale, is perhaps the most important piece of equipment for making homemade soap. While the mixture of liquids, lye, and oils, can be stirred by hand, the end product will be smoother, harder, and more professional if a stick blender is used. When mixing the ingredients together the stick blender is used to ensure complete integration of all of the parts to result in a timely trace, and ultimately proper saponification, and beautiful bars, of soap. Stick blenders range in price from fairly inexpensive to unnecessarily pricey. For the purpose of soap making, an inexpensive stick blender, which can be found here is sufficient.
Molds
What you use for a mold for your soap can vary greatly. Everything from dishwashing tubs, to plastic storage boxes, to silicone muffin cups, to candy molds can be used. You can also purchase specifically designed soap molds either online or at your local craft store. This is completely up to you, but the recommendation is that you find something that is squared off on the corners rather than rounded to avoid wasting and trimming of your bars. It is also recommended that you find a mold that can either be taken apart to expose the free-standing soap, or a mold that is flexible enough to “pop” the soap out upside down. Metal containers should be avoided for this step, with soft plastic, or silicone, being preferable. I have recently had the opportunity to try out some wonderful farm animal molds (my favorite is the sheep mold) from Milky Way Molds. The detail in these molds is terrific and I have had fantastic results using their product! If you have never tried detailed molds before I recommend you visit Milky Way Molds and look at their expansive selection. (A huge thank you to Milky Way Molds for providing me product to include in this post)
Miscellaneous Tools
The only other things you may need for your homemade soap making project will include paper towels, stainless steel measuring spoons for measuring scents and other additives,
and a few small measuring cups or bowls to hold ingredients prior to adding them to the soap mixture. These items may already be in your kitchen, or can be found at any dollar or mass merchandise store.
While it may seem like a long list of items that you need to make soap, remember that these are one time purchases that will allow you to make a lifetime of unique and creative soap. As with any craft or hobby, the tools you use will determine the quality of the end product. Don’t hesitate to set yourself up for success by having the proper soap making equipment.
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tom Kuettner says
As a long time natural soapmaker PLEASE update your section on safety, Lye is a very dangerous substance, I have seen many pictures of people getting severe burns on their arms and hands long protective gloves are a necessity. See here from a long time soapmaker https://www.facebook.com/WholesaleSuppliesPlus/photos/a.92205497394.77853.52362092394/10152691212757395/?type=3&theater
I’ve also seen a LOT worse a new soaper that spilled the lye solution on their hand arm…. they had burns that left permanent scaring.
I would also recommend a respirator (not just a paper mask) as the lye solution gets in the air and will damage your lungs. I know this from experience .Granted I make hundreds of pounds of soap a year but who wants even a little additional lung damage?
There are tons of good videos on soapmaking out there as well as good books just PLEASE be careful!!
One Ash Homestead says
Definitely some good advice, Tom!
Bobbie says
Thank you so much for the list of equipment needed along with your great articles.
I’m just about ready to venture into the soap-making world. I’m very excited! Your recipe will be my first attempt once I purchase all the equipment needed.
I’m new to your blog and am thoroughly enjoying it.
Bobbie