Soap Making

This is not yet a fully fleshed out article, but more more an invitation to join me as I make soap from scratch.

Soap is one of those things that has the potential to save many lives over. Before germs were discovered, surgeons didn't even bother washing their hands between autopsies and helping birth a child. This would obviously result in horrendously high death rates.

In a long term SHTF situation, once the soap runs out people will again start dying from common everyday injuries, or sickness. Small cuts, or even going to the bathroom could be deadly

Many soap making tutorials have you buy a couple of ingredients, mix them up and voila, you have soap.

Unfortunately because of the mandate here at SHTF Everything I can't really do this. Olive oil - nope, store bought lye - no can do.

One of my favorite preppers is City Prepping. While not exactly what I need, it's a good place to start.


I think we need to go a little old school. In our forefathers age soap making was just another chore you needed to do. There is an interesting book series






DIY Lye:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-lye-from-scratch-517124

some key takeaways: if the potato floats it's ready.
You need hardwood, and a lot of it. Can you combine a fuel forest, with your basic heating to make the ash?

Will the basic charcoal work that I buy at rabba? Burn a bunch of it at once, maybe with a hair dryer heating it up? (like a forge)
They suggest a wooden bucket... can I use double plastic buckets instead?



Use yarrrow in soap for antiseptic properties zones 3-9
https://practicalselfreliance.com/yarrow-witch-hazel-soap/#:~:text=Why%20would%20you%20put%20yarrow,its%20antibacterial%20and%20antiseptic%20properties.


Rendering Fat:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-render-tallow-517117#:~:text=%22Rendering%22%20simply%20means%20melting%20the,efficiently%20the%20fat%20will%20render.