How to make liquid soap is one of those pass time activities I did when I was expecting my first-born. It was one of my foremost considerations what I will use to clean my newborn. And because I have been making homemade soap for some time, my concern is not to use harsh chemicals on my precious little one. If I am not using chemical-laden soap to myself, why should I use it for my baby? And so I experimented on various formulations to come up with the best possible concoction for my baby's use.
The first thing that I researched on is what are the ingredients that are the purest and mildest best suited for a newborn. The essential oil is one of my concerns since based on my experience its aroma can be a little bit overwhelming at times. It's a good thing that a friend of mine who is an herbalist told me that a chamomile essential oil is the most suitable for newborn because of its very mild scent.
Immersion Hand Blender
I also had to find out what are the other ingredients that I can mix with my liquid soap. I don't want to use chemicals such as potassium hydroxide since this can cause some kind of irritation to my newborn, and so I had to check out what is the alternative. It's a good thing I learned from a fellow soap maker that in making liquid soap, you can actually avoid using lye or potassium hydroxide. It may not last very long, but at least you are assured of a chemical-free recipe.
And so I head on to my soap making area and mixed my very first liquid soap batch. I used the olive oil bar soap that a friend of mine gave me from Tunisia. She is married to this guy from this lovely exotic place in South Africa and apparently, one of the major products of this country is olive oil. So, because of its abundance, they make bar soap out of their purest most natural olive oil.
I grated the bar soap using my cheese grater and set it aside. I boiled some water and poured this onto my grated bar soap. The ratio I used is 2:1; meaning for every 2 cups of liquid, I mix one cup of the grated bar soap for each batch. I didn't want to make a lot since I am aware that its expected shelf life is shorter than the commercially made liquid soaps since I am not using any preservatives.
I mixed it using a blender to make sure that my liquid soap will be very smooth for my baby's sensitive skin. I decided to put a few drops of chamomile and lavender oil for soothing effect. And then I mixed it again very well. After which, I let it cool for several hours.
Another friend gave me this really cute hand soap dispenser and this is what I used to keep my baby's liquid soap. It is so soft and smooth on my skin. I even used some for a facial wash and it's just so refreshing and relaxing. I can't wait to use it on my baby.
How to make liquid soap is so easy and fun too. So, are you now convinced that making your own baby's liquid soap is the most wonderful gift you can give your newborn? Try it out and I am sure that you will also enjoy the same liquid soap for your own personal use.