Title: Blowin' in the Wind Laundry Soap
Categories: Household *
Yield: 1 Batch

FATS AND OILS
		100øF
LYE SOLUTION
		100øF
INGREDIENTS
220	g	Sodium hydroxide
19	oz	Distilled water, minus 3/4 c to be used as described in spec
4	tb	Borax
1/2	tb	Salt
1	tb	Sugar
2	tb	Ammonia, optional
21	oz	Coconut oil
24	oz	Vegetable shortening
24	oz	Palm oil
3		To 4 tb baking soda, sifted through fine-mesh strainer

Immediately after thoroughly dissolving the sodium hydroxide in the water, dissolve the borax into the lye solution, stirring until well incorporated. Bring the 3/4 c reserved water nearly to a boil, and then add the salt and sugar; when both have dissolved, add the ammonia and blend well. When the fats and oils and the lye solution reach the desired soapmaking temperatures, warm the salt/sugar/ammonia solution to 100øF. Add the lye solution to the fats and oils, stirring briskly and continuously. Immediately add the salt/sugar/ammonia solution and continue a brisk, regular stir. As the soap mixture approaches the trace, add the baking soda and blend well (adding the baking soda at the trace does not allow enough stirring time for a more complete incorporation of the baking soda).

Note: The baking soda can be mixed with just enough water to dissolve the baking soda before adding the soda water to the still-hot lye/borax solution.

Laundry Gel: As soon as possible after the laundry soap's 18 hour insulation period, cut it into large bars, without worrying about form. Within the next few hours - before they become too hard - shred the bars using a hand-held cheese shredder. This is easy when the bars are fresh and firm but not yet rock hard. Place the soap shreds into a large stockpot and cover with 8 cups of clean water. Bring the water to a boil, turn the heat to medium-low, and let the mixture simmer for 10 mintues. Pour it into a heat-proof container and allow it to cool to room temperature before covering tighltly. Within a day or so, the soap mixture will solidify into a gel that melts perfectly into a load of laundry - even a load washed with cold water.

Liquid Laundry Soap: Follow the instructions for laundry gel, but add 2 cups vinegar to the 8 cups water in the stockpot. This formula creates a rich, white liquid with the softening properties of vinegar. If a slight separation occurs over time, stir the mixture before each use.

Homemade soap loses stain contests, but it does a beautiful job cleaning more average loads of dirty laundry. About 1 cup of soap cleans an average load of laundry; 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups may be needed for heavy-duty cleaning.

Source: "The Soapmaker's Companion" by Susan Miller Cavitch

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