bars of soap versus squirty soap

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bars of soap versus squirty soap
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sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 11:28 am Post subject:
Yep, I've made liquid soap, usually I make a thick soap paste for my 'historic' range but its easy to use a similar recipe and just dilute further to give a liquid soap. It does take a bit of cooking out though, not quite as simple to do as cold process

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 11:30 am Post subject:
Sally, do you use potassium hydroxide for making liquid soap, or is it all done with sodium hydroxide?

tawny owl

Joined: 29 Apr 2005
Posts: 563
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 11:37 am Post subject:

[quote="Behemoth"]Part of the appeal of liquid soaps in marketing terms is that the product itself is clean, i.e. nice tidy bottle in your pristing bathroom or a scummy part used bar leaving soap marks on the sink where it sits./quote]

Exactly, and you can use the very last bits of it, rather than trying to shove bits of soap in a net bag or save them up to melt down.

Inspired to find a better alternative, I've come across www.ecotopia.co.uk, which sells liquid aloe veral handwash, and the Biosis site (www.ecolifeshop.co.uk/) sells organic handwash. Ecover also does a liquid hand soap, which they also do in 5-litre containers, so less plastic waste. I wonder why they don't do that with their laundry detergent? I'd much rather refill a 5-litre container less often.

As usual, of course, they're all much more expensive than 'normal' products, which is a pity.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 11:38 am Post subject:
I have liquid soap in the kitchen purely becasue it's easier to dispense with an elbow when I have really dirty/oily hands!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 12:17 pm Post subject:

tawny owl wrote:

I wonder why they don't do that with their laundry detergent? I'd much rather refill a 5-litre container less often

You can get laundry detergent, both Ecover and Bio D, which I've switched to, in 5 litre bottles from Suma. They supply a lot of independent health food shops (which often do refills) so if you have one nearby you might be able to get them to order one in for you and you could refill that - they're like oil containers for cars and a much more convenient size/shape to store than normal bottles. If you don't have such a shop nearby you could consider ordering direct although you need to make up an order of £250+ depending on where you are in the country...remarkably, depressingly easy if you have a liking for organic cider and beer

tawny owl

Joined: 29 Apr 2005
Posts: 563
Location: Hampshire

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 2:09 pm Post subject:
Thanks, Bugs - useful info. Funny Ecover don't mention that on their own site; they only show the small bottles. V. odd.

sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Mon Jul 04, 05 3:33 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

Sally, do you use potassium hydroxide for making liquid soap, or is it all done with sodium hydroxide?

Potassium hydroxide. If it was made with sodium hydroxide it would do its best to go solid as it ages, even with loads of extra water in it!

Daydreaming

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 291

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 11:46 am Post subject:

tawny owl wrote:

Sally, out of interest, is there a way to make liquid soap? I have to admit to sharing a certain amount of Bugs' dislike of other people sharing soap, and also I do find that since I've switched to liquid soap, the bathroom's easier to clean (no soap scum), so I guess using less cleaning stuff sort of balances out the handwash, but it would be nice to have a more environmentally friendly version. Failing that, is there a commercial brand that's better?

Tawny

There, you've said it. That's exactly why I use liquid soap, the bathroom is easier to clean. We live in a horrible hard water area and the bathroom is awful to clean anyway.

Daydreaming

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 291

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 11:49 am Post subject:
Sally - Bugs sells your soap very well. How might I get some? I'm sure dh would love it too as I have unable to convert him to liquid soap

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 12:43 pm Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

Potassium hydroxide. If it was made with sodium hydroxide it would do its best to go solid as it ages, even with loads of extra water in it!

Cheers Sally. Why does it make such a big difference? I haven't wrapped my head around the chemistry of that yet.

sally_in_wales
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Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 1:18 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

sally_in_wales wrote:

Potassium hydroxide. If it was made with sodium hydroxide it would do its best to go solid as it ages, even with loads of extra water in it!

Cheers Sally. Why does it make such a big difference? I haven't wrapped my head around the chemistry of that yet.

Its a sodium bond that does it- thats why the early soapmakers working with woodash lye used salt to convert the soft curds to hard soap if they wanted it to come out solid, must admit I don't fully understand the chemistry bit myself though.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 1:19 pm Post subject:

Daydreaming wrote:

Sally - Bugs sells your soap very well. How might I get some?
I'm sure dh would love it too as I have unable to convert him to liquid soap

Have a look at my website www.sallypointer.com and you will see the soap listed there- I can always send you a sample bar if you aren't sure whether you'll get on with it or not

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 5:51 pm Post subject:
Your website's fab sally - I just love that red dress (you don't fancy quoting for a wedding dress do you?) and I'm sure the pointy hat instructions will come in very handy (i'm not being sarcastic, lots of occasions I go cry out for a pointy hat - It would have gone down perfectly at the ascot fundraiser!)

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 05 6:59 pm Post subject:
Everyone needs a pointy hat in their life... would love to do a wedding dress but am seriously up to my ears in stuff at the moment, so best not to commit to anything!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 05 12:20 pm Post subject:
Damn - it won't be for ages anyway! Know what youu mean about the ears though!

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