Thursday, January 6, 2011
Basic Soap Making
O.K so you want to make your own soap? over the next few days i'm going to tell you a little bit about the basics and maybe encourage you to have a go.
The process i use is called COLD PROCESS soap making, it involves the use of Lye aka Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hydroxide can be extremely dangerous if proper precautions aren't taken even deadly if ingested, so please be safe remove pets, kids, and inform everyone what you are doing and to not touch anything, make sure your lye water is labelled and don't use any container someone may mistake for a drinking vessel.
O.k now that i've given you the warnings hopefully i haven't scared you all off, if you are sensible about soap making it's all good!
Here is a list of Equipment you will need to start:
MOST IMPORTANT!
GOGGLES and GLOVES - Lye & Raw soap batter is to be treated with upmost respect, it burns skin and if it happens to go in your eye may blind you, ALWAYS WEAR THE GOGGLES! You can pick them up fairly cheap at hardware stores, the clear full eye cover ones are the best, DO NOT START SOAPING UNTIL YOU HAVE THESE ON!
Stainless steel container for mixing Lye - do not use Pyrex they can explode from the heat, and never use aluminium you will end up with a big black mess and potentially toxic fumes! Some plastics are safe not sure which grade, if you are going to use plastic (which i don't recommend) don't use it for any other purpose.
Stainless Steel or Heat Proof plastic for mixing Lye and Oils - I used to use those white buckets from Bunnings with the sealable lids, i have purchased SS stock pots from BIG W super cheap so use them now, if you don't want to use soap equipment (i keep everything separate) for other things try the local thrift stores, but remember SS not aluminium.
Double boiler or crock pot - the best way to heat your oils slowly without burning them/catching on fire, some people use microwaves, either way be careful not to overheat your oils, you don't want an oil fire! The crockpot i find is excellent for small batches.
Whisk - Useful to start mixing and adding fancy tops or swirls later on.
Silicone Spatula - if you can get the all-in-one moulded spatulas they are best as they don't fall to bits, useful for scraping every little last bit out of your container.
Scales - i use digital scales purchased from the supermarket, they need to be pretty accurate.
Mould - You can use: washed out milk container, pringles container, silicone muffin moulds (can't be used for food after though), any plastic that can survive in boiling water stay away from coloured plastic though as it can leech into soap, pvc pipes lined with baking paper, an old solid shallow draw lined with baking paper, basically you are only limited by your own imagination.
Vinegar - used to neutralize any spills, always keep a big bottle of plain white vinegar nearby when soaping.
Cats and Herbs
I found this link whilst reading through some posts on FB, i have a cat and he frequently eats herbs out of my garden, his most favourite is of course catnip lol, he eats it rolls in it and sleeps on it, (my other cat is not interested) i was beginning to wonder if he should be eating catnip and if it would harm him, so far it doesn't seem to have had any affect other than putting him into a state of euphoria lol, just to clarify catnip is not toxic to cats as i found in this list, anyway here is a list of toxic and non-toxic plants for cats.
Lillies are extremely poisonus and i have read of cases of people having indoor cats and lillies inside which has led to seriously ill cats and in some cases death, i believe it does damage to their kidneys, cats cannot process essential oils on their skin either.
http://www.cat-world.com.au/plants-a-other-chemicals-toxic
Lillies are extremely poisonus and i have read of cases of people having indoor cats and lillies inside which has led to seriously ill cats and in some cases death, i believe it does damage to their kidneys, cats cannot process essential oils on their skin either.
Toxic Plants
Acocanthera Aconite Alfalfa Almond (pits) Aloe Vera Alocasia Alsike Clover Amaryllis Amsinckia Angels Trumpet Angels Wings Apple (seeds) Apple Leaf Croton Apricot (Pits) Arrowgrass Arrowhead Vine Asparagus Fern Autumn Crocus Avacado (fruit and pit) Azalea Baby's Breath Baneberry Bayonet Beargrass Beech Belladonna Bird of Paradise Bitter Cherry Bitter Nightshade Bittersweet Black-eyed Susan Black Locust Bleeding Heart Bloodroot Bluebonnet Blue Flag Blue-Green Algae Boston Ivy Bouncing Bet Box Boxwood Brackenfern Brake Fern Branching Ivy Buckeyes Buddist Pine Bull Nettle Burning Bush Buttercup Cactus, Candelabra Caladium Caley Pea Calfkill Calla Lily Candelabra Cactus Castorbean Ceriman Chalice Vine Charming Dieffenbachia Chinaberry tree Chinese Evergreen Chinese Inkberry Christmas Plant Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cineria Clematis Climbing Nightshade Clover Cocklebur Common Burdock Common Privet Common Tansy Coral Plant Cordalis Cordatum Coriaria Cornflower Corn Plant Cornstalk Plant Cowslip Crabs Eye Croton Corydalis Crocus, Autumn Crown of Thorns Cuban Laurel Cuckoo Pint Cutleaf Philodendron Cycads Cyclamen Cypress Spurge Daffodil Daphne Datura Day Lily Deadly Nightshade Death Camas Devil's Ivy Delphinium Decentrea Dieffenbachia Dog Bane Dolls Eyes Dracaena Palm Dragon Tree Duchman's Breeches Dumb Cane Dwarf Larkspur Easter Flower Easter Lily Eggplant Elaine Elderberry Elephant Ear Emerald Duke Emerald Feather English Ivy English Yew Ergot Eucalyptus Euonymus Euphorbia Evergreen Everlasting Pea | False Cactus False Hellbore Ferns Feverfew Fiddle-leaf fig Fiddleneck Florida Beauty Flag Flax Fleur-de-lis Fly Agaric Four O'Clock Foxglove Foxtail Barley Fruit Salad Plant Geranium German Ivy Ghostweed Giant Dumb Cane Glacier Ivy Golden Chain Gold Dieffenbachia Gold Dust Dracaena Golden Chain Golden Glow Golden Pothos Gopher Purge Green Dragon Green False Hellebore Ground Ivy Groundsel Hahn's Self-Branching Ivy Heartland Philodendron Hellebore Hemlock, Poison Hemlock, Water Henbane Holly Honeysuckle Horsebeans Horsebrush Horse Chestnut Horse Nettle Horse Tail Hurricane Plant Hyacinth Hydrangea Impatiens Indian Rubber Plant Indian Tobacco Indian Turnip Inkberry Iris Iris Ivy Jack in the Pulpit Jamestown Weed Janet Craig Dracaena Japanese Show Lily Jatropha Java Beans Jequirity Bean Jessamine Jerusalem Cherry Jimsonweed Johnsongrass Jonquil Jungle Trumpets Juniper Kalanchoe Klamath Weed Laburnum Lacy Tree Philodendron Lambkill Lantana Larkspur Laurel Lily Lily Spider Lily of the Valley Lima Bean Locoweed Lords and Ladies Lupine Madagascar Dragon Tree Majesty Mandrake Marble Queen Marigold Marijuana Mayapple Mescal Bean Mexican Breadfruit Mexican Poppy Milk Bush Milkweed Milo Miniature Croton Mistletoe Mock Orange Monkshood Moonseed Morning Glory Mother-in Law's Tongue Morning Glory Mountain Laurel Mushrooms Nap-at-noon Narcissus Needlepoint Ivy Nephytis Nightshade Nutmeg Oaks Oleander Onion Oriental Lily | Panther Cap Mushroom Parlour Ivy Peace Lily Peach (pits and wilting leaves) Pencil Cactus Pennyroyal Peony Periwinkle Philodendron Pie Plant Pimpernel Pin Cherry Pinks Plumosa Fern Poinciana Poinsettia Poison Hemlock Poison Ivy Poison Oak Pokeweed Poppy Potato Pothos Precatory Bean Primrose Privet Quaker Bonnets Ragwort Red Clover Red Emerald Red Maple Red Princess Red-Margined Dracaena Red Sage Rhododendron Rhubarb Ribbon Plant Richweed Rosemary Pea Rubber Plant Saddle Leaf Philodendron Sago Palm Satin Pothos Schefflera Scotch Broom Scouringbrush Senecio Sensitive Fern Sheep Laurel Silver Pothos Silver Queen Singletary Pea Skunk CabbageSnake Plant Snapdragon Snowdrops Snow on the Mountain Soapwort Sorghum Spotted Dumb Cane Squirrelcorn Squirreltail Barley St. Johnswort Staggerweed Star of Bethlehem Stinging Nettle String of Pearls Striped Dracaena Sudan Grass Sweet Cherry Sweetheart Ivy Sweetpea Swiss Cheese plant Tangia Pea Tansy Mustard Tansy Ragwort Taro Vine Tarweed Thornapple Tiger Lily Tinsel Tree Tobacco Tolguacha Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves) Tree Philodendron Tri-leaf-wonder Trillium Tropic Snow Dieffenbachia Trumpet Vine Tulip Tung Tree Valley Venus Flytrap Verbena Virginia Creeper Walnuts Water Hemlock Weeping Fig West Indian Lantana White Clover White Hellebore White Sanicle White Snakeroot Wild Barley Wild Black Cherry Wild Bleeding Heart Wild Call Wisteria Wolfs Bane Wood Nettle Yellow Jasmine Yellow Jessamine Yellow Oleander Yellow Sage Yellow Star Thistle Yew |
Achira Acorn summer squash African violet Airplane Plant Algarroba Aluminium Plant Alumroot American Plane Tree Anthericum Comosum Antirrhinum Multiflorum Arabian Gentian Aregelia Artillery Plant Aspidium Falcatum Aubepine Autumn Olive Baby Rubber Plant Baby Tears Bachelors Buttons Ball Fern Bamboo Palm Bamboo Vine Bamboo Banana Banana Squash Barrel Cactus Beefsteak Plant Begonia Belmore Sentry Palm Big Shellbark Hickory Bitter Pecan Bitternut Hickory Black Haw Black Hawthorn Blaspheme vine Bloodleaf Plant Blooming Sally Blue Daisy Bluebottle Blushing Bromeliad Bold Sword Fern Boston Fern Bottle Palm Bottlebrush Brazilian Orchid Bride's Bonnet Bristly Greenbrier Brodiaea Pulchella Broom Hickory Bullbrier Bur Gourd Burro's Tail Buttercup Squash Butterfly Ginger Butterfly Iris Butterfly Squash Butterfly Tulip Butterfly Orchid Button Fern Caeroba Calathea Insignis California Pitcher Plant Callistemon Citrinus Callistemon Bradyandrus Callistemon Viminalis Calochortus Nuttalli Calthea Lancifolia Camellia Canada Hemlock Canary Date Palm Candle Plant Candycorn Plant Canna Lily Canterbury Bell Cape Jasmine Cape Primrose Carob Tree Carob Caroba Carobinha Carolina Hemlock Carrion Flower Carrot Fern Carrot Flower Casaba Melon Cast Iron Plant Cat Ear Cat Grass Catnip Cattleya Celosia Chamaedorean Humilis Chicken Gizzard Plant Chinese Fan Palm Chinese Plumbago Chlorophytum Chlorophytum Bichetii Chocolate Soldier Plant Christmas Dagger Fern Christmas Palm Christmas Orchid Cinnamon jasmine Cinquefoil Cirrhopetalum Clearweed Cliff Brake Fern Club Moss Cockscomb Coleus Common Staghorn Fern Confederate Jasmine Coolwort Copperleaf Coral Ardisia Coral Bells Cornflower Crape Myrtle Crataegus Phaenopyrum Crataegus Creeping Charlie Creeping Gloxinia Creeping Jenny Creeping Mahonia Creeping Pilea Creeping Rubus Creeping Zinnia Crepe Myrtle Crimson Bottlebush Crimson Cup Crossandra Cucumber Cushion Moss Cushon Aloe Cyrtudeira Reptans Dancing Doll Orchid Donkey Tail Dwarf Date Palm Easter Daisy Easter Lily Cactus Easter Orchid Easter lily Cactus Elephant Ear Begonia Emerald Ripple Peperomia English Hawthorn Epidendrum Episcia Fingernail Plant Fire Weed Forster Sentry Palm Fortunes Palm Freckle Face Friendship Plant Gerbera Gherkins Ghost Plant Ghost Leafless Orchid Giant White Inch Plant Giant Holly Fern Giant Aster Gibasis Geniculata Globe Thistle Gloxinia Gold Bloom Goldfish Plant Good Luck Palm Grape Hyacinth Grape Ivy Great Willow Herb Green Ripple Peperomia Greenbrier | Hagbrier Haworthia Haw Hawthorn Hellfetter Hemlock Tree Hen & Chickens Fern Hickory Hindu Rope Plant Holly Fern Hollyhock Honey Locust Honey Plant Honeydew Melon Honeysuckle Fuchsia Hoya Hubbard Squash Hypocyrta Ice Plant Imbricata sword fern Irish moss Iron cross begonia Iron tree Ivy-leaf peperomia Ivy peperomia Jackson Brier Jacob's Ladder Japanese Aralia Japanese Pittosporum Japanese moss Japanese holly fern Jasmine Jewel orchid Joseph's coat Jungle geranium Kaempferis Kahali Ginger Kenilworth Ivy Kentia Palm Kenya Palm Kenya Violet Kharoub King and Queen Fern King of the Forest King Nut Kuang-yen- pa-hsieh Lace Flower Vine Lace Orchid Ladies Ear Drops Lady Lou Lady Palm Lagerstroemia Indica Lance Pleumele Large Lady Palm Leather Peperomia Lemon Bottlebrush Leng-fen tu'an Leopard Orchid Leopard Lily Lesser Snapdragon Lily of the Valley Orchid Linden Lipstick Plant Little Fantasy Peperomia Little Zebra Plant Living Rock Cactus Living Stones Locust Pods Lou-lang-t'ou Luther Madagascar Jasmine Magnolia Bush Mahonia Aquifolium Malabar Gourd Malaysian Dracaema Manila Palm Mapleleaf Begonia Maranta Marbled Fingernail Mariposa Lily Maroon Mary-Bud Measles Plant Melons Metallic Peperomia Metallic Leaf Begonia Mexican Firecracker Mexican Snowballs Mexican Rosettes Minature Maranta Minature Marble Plant Minature Fish Tail Miniature Date Palm Mistletoe Cactus Mockernut Hickory Mosaic Plant Mosiac Vase Moss Phlox Moss Agate Moss Rose Moss Campion Moss Fern Mossy Campion Mother Fern Mother of Pearl Plant Mother Spleenwort Mountain Camellia Mountain Grape Mulberry Bush Musa Paradisiaca Muscari spp. Muscari Armeniacum Muskmellon Narrow Leafed Pleomele Natal Plum Neanthe Bella palm Neanthebella Nematanthus spp. Neoregelia Nephrolepsis Nerve Plant New Silver and Bronze Night Blooming Cereus Odontoglossum spp. Old World Orchid Old Man Cactus Orange Star Oregon Grape Ossifragi Vase Paddys Wig Painted Lady Palm Lily Pampus Grass Panamiga Pansy Orchid Paradise Palm Parlor Plant Parlor Palm Parsley Fern Peace Begonia Peacock Plant Pearl Plant Pearly Dots Peperomia Peltifolia Peperomia Rotundifolia Peperomia Fosteri Peperomia Sandersii Peperomia Hederifolia Pepper Face Persian Violet Pheasant Plant Piggy Back Plant Pigmy Date Palm Pignut Hickory Pignut Pilea Microphylla Pilea Mucosa Pink Polka Dot Plant Pink Pearl Pink Starlite Pink Brocade Pirliteiro Pitaya Plantanus Occidentalis Plantanus Orientalis Platinum Peperomia Platycerium Alicicorne Plumbago Larpentiae | Plush Plant Polka Dot Plant Polystichum Falcatum Pony Tail Porcelain Flower Pot Marigold Prairie Snowball Prairie Lily Prayer Plant Prickly Bottlebrush Prostrate Coleus Purple Waffle Plant Purple Baby Tears Purple Passion Vine Purpleosier Willow Queencup Queens Spiderwort Queensland Arrowroot Rabbits Foot Fern Rainbow Orchid Red African Violet Red Veined Prayer Plant Red Berried Greenbrier Red Hawthorne Red Palm Lily Red Edge Peperomia Reed Palm Resurrection Lily Rex Begonia Rhynchophorum Ribbon Plant Roosevelt Fern Royal Velvet Plant Rubber Plant, Baby Russian Olive Saffron Spike Zebra Saint Bernards Lily Sand Lily Sand Verbena Satin Pellionia Sawbrier Scabious Scarborough Lily Scarlet Orchid Scarlet Sage Sego Lily Shagbark Hickory Shan ku'ei-lai Shellbark Hickory Shiny Leaf Smilax Shrimp Cactus Silver Nerve Plant Silver Table Fern Silver Pink Vine Silver Bell Silver Heart Silver Star Silver Berry Silver-Leaf Peperomia Silver Tree Anamiga Slender Deutzia Small Fruited Hickory Smilax Tamnoides Vas Hispida Speckled Wood Lily Spice Orchid Spider Ivy Spider Plant Spotted Laurel Squarenut Squirrels Foot Fern Star Jasmine Star Plant Star Tulip Star Window Plant Star Lily Strawberry Striped Blushing Sugar Pods Sulfur Flower Summer Hyacinth Swedish Ivy Sweet William Sweetheart Peperomia Sweetheart Hoya Sword Fern Tahitian Bridal Veil Tailed Orchid Tall Feather Fern Tall Mahonia Teasel Gourd Texas Sage Thea Japonica Thimble Cactus Thorn Apple Ti Hu-Ling Tiger Orchid Toad Spotted Cactus Torch Lily Tous-Les-Mois Trailing Peperomia Tree Cactus Tree Gloxinia Tropical Moss True Cantalope Tu Fu-Ling Tulip Poplar Tulip Tree Turban Squash Turf Lily Umbrella Plant Urbinia Agavoides Usambara Violet Variegated Philodendron Leaf Peperomia Variegated Wax Plant Variegated Wandering Jew Variegated Oval Leaf Peperomia Variegated Laurel Velvet Plant Venus Fly Trap Verona Fern Verona Lace Fern Vining Peperomia Violet Slipper Gloxinia Waffle Plant Walking Anthericum Washington Hawthorn Water Hickory Watermelon Peperomia Watermelon Begonia Watermelon Pilea Wax Plant Wax Rosette Weeping Sergeant Hemlock Weeping Bottlebrush Weisdornbluten West Indian Gherkin Western Sword White Edged Swedish Ivy White Heart Hickory White Ginger Whitman Fern Wild Buckwheat Wild Sarsaparilla Wild Lantana Wild Strawberry Wild Hyacinth Willow Herb Windmill Palm Winter Cattleya Withered Snapdragon Woolflower Yellow-Flowered Gourd Yellow Bloodleaf Yerba Linda Zebra Haworthia Zebra Plant Zinnia sp. Zucchini Squash |
http://www.cat-world.com.au/plants-a-other-chemicals-toxic
My intro blog
In this blog you may find all sorts of things, i make soap hence "the squeaky cauldron" name, i am also studying naturopathy, i love herbs, funghi and taking photos as well as other wonderful things in nature. Anyway it's past midnight so i better get to bed.
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