and cut it whilst it is still warm (making sure to wear suitable gloves).
13. Many soap makers leave containers used for making soap, until the next day to wash – as most of the lye will have been neutralised by this stage. Use good gloves and hot water.
12. Place the soaps in a lined box, in a dry place, like a linen cupboard. Turn the soaps every so of ten, so that they dry evenly. Step 1: Add lye (sodium hydroxide) to cool filtered water. Mix well with a plastic chopstick or similar. If using a colourant, sieve it into your lye water now and stir well to incorporate.
Step 2: Melt coconut oil, remove from heat, and add liquid oils. Leave to cool to 90°F or 32°C (as this recipe sets up fast, soaping at a cooler temperature helps to slow things down and give you more time).
Step 3: When your oils and lye are roughly at same temperature, add the lye water to oils. Stick blend in short bursts, until it reaches a very light trace. Then add your salt (and essentials oil if using them).
Step 4: Transfer soap batter into a sturdy plastic jug. Stir frequently to prevent salts from sinking to bottom. Pour into your moulds. If the soap sets up very quickly (or starts setting in your pot), use less intricate moulds and/or a stainless steel spoon to pour/spoon the batter into your moulds. 17