| Author |
Cleaning Up:  any one making soap??  |
|
JeanP
True Blue Farmgirl
1284 Posts
Jean
Deary
ID
USA
1284 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 21 2020 : 11:46:40 AM
|
| Well, in the midst of all the coronamadness, this seems like a good time to start making soap. Got all my supplies together and will set up on the front porch while it's nice and warm. Masks and goggles required anyway to protect from lye splashes AND covid splashes. My good friend and neighbor can join me for a fun day of playing as we will be all "suited" up and can each have our own table. Anyone else making soap? Do y'all know about Cowboy Toilet Paper ???? :} |
 |
|
|
NancyOH1
True Blue Farmgirl
90 Posts
Nancy
Columbus
Ohio
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2025 : 5:10:45 PM
|
Hi everyone,
I am back on and catching up with the many postings. I ran across the one of making soap and I am about ready to try both ways of making it. Several molds have been bought and some other equipment. I have watched videos on Brambleberry and want to watch some on videos too! Want to catch up with everyone here to see everyone's input as well.
Nancy
Farmgirl # 2508
Nancy J Noble
Farmgirl No. 2508 |
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4557 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4557 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2025 : 03:45:04 AM
|
I still make our own soap here. I took a class to make shampoo bars, and will be changing my soap making equipment up. Going to use a small stainless steel stock pot for heating oils, and mixing. I will use a plastic tub to mix lye and water in, and a stainless wisk to mix everything. I do use an immersion blender if it is taking a while to trace.
Farming in WI
Michele
|
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4557 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2026 : 04:48:03 AM
|
Made two batches of tallow soap yesterday. Hopefully they will be ready to cut and put on my rack to dry today. I use tallow, coconut oil, and olive oil. I like to use some sort of pine essential oil. Since it is cold process soap, I do add a full 4 oz's of eo. I get 16 big bars of soap out of one batch. The day before I made some tallow balm, and I really like it. Tallow and jojoba oil was the only ingredients. While it does seem greasy at first, it soaks into your skin and keeps my hands, arms, legs and face soft and supple.
Farming in WI
Michele
|
|
|
|
ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4844 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4844 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2026 : 06:28:33 AM
|
Your soap sounds great Michele! Amazing how many big bags you made. I am sure the balm will be really nice to use during the winter months.
Dawn in IL
“It seems like everything sleeps in winter, but it’s really a time of renewal and reflection.” — Elizabeth Camden |
|
|
|
nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3567 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2026 : 11:54:40 AM
|
If you really like the tallow balm, you can also infuse it with dried herbs. I made some plantain tallow by drying the plantain then I add it to my tallow in a mason jar. Put in in the crock pot and add enough water to keep the tallow liquid. (for my crock pot I have to use pint jars not quarts) Put it on the keep warm setting for 3 days - making sure to check the water level and add water as needed. The plantain is great skin. This year I'm going to try adding some lavender buds when they're ready.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
|
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4557 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2026 : 03:05:21 AM
|
Thanks Dawn. Great idea Heather. I make a plantain salve for bug bites and burns that works great. Calendula would be a good one too, or rose petals.
Farming in WI
Michele
|
|
|
|
nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
3011 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
3011 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2026 : 08:10:51 AM
|
I love the tallow for my face. I get a whipped tallow from a local farmer, and she has the yummiest scents: vanilla, orange vanilla, cinnamon spice etc.
I have some unrendered tallow in the freezer that I got from some local farmers, but am not sure how to render it.
Any advice?
Thanks! |
|
|
|
nndairy
True Blue Farmgirl
3567 Posts
Heather
Wapakoneta
Ohio
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2026 : 08:47:25 AM
|
Lisa - there are a lot of ways to do it. Oven, crockpot, instapot, etc. You can also use the "wet" method or "dry" method as I've heard them called, depending on what you want to use it for. If you're going to use it on your face I'd try the wet method. It's supposed to help remove more of the beef smell. If you were going to use it for cooking and frying the beef smell wouldn't matter. I watched some youtube videos so if you want exact measurements just give it a little search. I use the wet method and I don't use exact measurements. First step is to get your fat into small pieces. I get my fat ran through the grinder at the butcher. Hopefully yours is already cut up. I learned my lesson the first time LOL! I don't have an instapot so I can't tell you about that. I use the crockpot. I fill it up about 2/3 of the way with fat, sprinkle salt on top of it (maybe about a teaspoon) and then add 2 or 3 cups of water. Cook it on low for a few hours. I stir mine occasionally. You'll know when everything is melted by looking at it. I don't know if the salt is necessary, someone said it helps to pull things out so I tried it and keep doing it. After it's cooked pour it through a strainer or some cheesecloth to get all the meat bits out. Put the liquid fat into a bowl that is a little flexible. I use my metal mixing bowls, the glass ones don't work very well. Refrigerate it until set. (Mine is usually in the fridge overnight because of my schedule.) Remove from the bowl but use caution - the water will all be on the bottom and not solid :) I press on one side and it usually pops up and out the other side of the bowl. Discard the water. You'll notice some brownish "junk" on the bottom of the tallow. Scrape it off and discard it. Then cut it up a bit and redo the entire process again. If you really want it white and pure you can do it a 3rd time. I usually only do it twice for my personal use.
~Heather
“I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.” — George Washington
|
|
|
|
nubidane
True Blue Farmgirl
3011 Posts
Lisa
Georgetown
OH
3011 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2026 : 08:53:31 AM
|
Thanks Heather! I need to try this, and I will likely just use it for cooking.
I have heard horror stories where it smells terrible, so I want to be able to avoid that if possible. |
|
|
|
MaryJanesNiece
True Blue Farmgirl
8101 Posts
Krista
Utah
USA
8101 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2026 : 4:44:08 PM
|
Heather, that is really neat! Thank you for the step by step process. I will have to give it a try!
Krista
Farmgirl Sister #528
Farmgirl Of The Year 2025 |
|
|
|
windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4557 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4557 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2026 : 03:26:42 AM
|
Thanks Heather, I never tried the wet method. I make it the dry method. Best advice like Heather said, grind it if you can. Melts much faster. I melt, strain and freeze my tallow. I don't notice a beef smell in mine, but never really paid attention. The very best fat to use is from around the organs. Try to get that if you can. The guy that field butchers for us, saves it for me in a 5 gallon bucket. 2 steers give me about a bucket full.
Farming in WI
Michele
|
|
|
|
Cleaning Up: any one making soap?? |
|
any one making soap??
