I started this thread so long ago, so I wanted to post a little update. Back then, I only did cold process but for the last few years I've done mainly hot process, except for salt bars.
We use only my homemade soap in bathing, washing dishes, shampoo, etc. I like to use liquid soap in soap dispensers in the bathroom and kitchen and that's a bit of a different process. Today I made some more liquid soap, and thought I would post a picture:
Liquid soap is a hot process, and the paste is made and then diluted with distilled water. It's a bit different because the ingredients differ in how they act, and you can use far more castor oil (for example) but less saturated oils. It also uses potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) instead of sodium hydroxide. Homemade liquid soap tends to be very thin, almost like water, so my "secret" is to use a mix of both types of lye, to get a liquid soap with some body.
We use only my homemade soap in bathing, washing dishes, shampoo, etc. I like to use liquid soap in soap dispensers in the bathroom and kitchen and that's a bit of a different process. Today I made some more liquid soap, and thought I would post a picture:
Liquid soap is a hot process, and the paste is made and then diluted with distilled water. It's a bit different because the ingredients differ in how they act, and you can use far more castor oil (for example) but less saturated oils. It also uses potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) instead of sodium hydroxide. Homemade liquid soap tends to be very thin, almost like water, so my "secret" is to use a mix of both types of lye, to get a liquid soap with some body.