Teach Soap

I'm going to be making Lotions, creams, Whipped body butter. I'm just sticking to stuff that doesn't require lye. Anyway, Tuesday I'm going to be making my first batch of whipped body butter. I have the ingredients and other things already. My question is:

What should I clean with?

I have Clorox clean-up bleach. What are the before and after instructions as far as setting up and cleaning up? What tools do I need for that?

If anyone has any links I will take that too.


I bought some F/O from Brambleberry.com a long time ago. Very end of 2010, very beginning of 2011. Are they still good to use or should I toss them?

Thanks!

If there is no date on your purchases I would call BB and ask them.
As for cleaning, you need to use a 5% bleach solution (5% bleach in water) and rinse each and every item you will use (bowls, spatulas, jars, bottles, lids, etc. the whole 9 yards) and all the work surfaces you will use, then lay out fresh paper towels and allow everything to drain dry on those. OR, you can spray everything with alcohol, whichever you prefer to use.
Have fun and enjoy your journey!

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I think alcohol is easier. Is this regular rubbing alcohol or another kind of alcohol?

Do I dilute with water or no need?

So I just spray everything including my surface ill be working on with alcohol?
Wipe everything down with a clean paper towel. Is there a specific process when using alcohol like using 5% bleach solution?

Thanks!

No, do not wipe down the alcohol, just spray it and allow it to air dry. You set your bowls and things on paper towels to drip dry when you use bleach, but really, if you spray your counters first with alcohol and allow to dry, you don't have to have the paper towels because the alcohol will evaporate, no dripping worries. So that is a personal choice. Either way, do not wipe your counter dry, just allow it to evaporate. You just use regular isopropyl alcohol, you do not dilute it. There are two strengths though and I always get the 90 some odd percent (the other is in the 80's). I pour mine into a spray bottle and keep that in the soap room.
Just make sure you get the inside of your jars/bottles and the outside lips too. And go up the stem of your utensils too because some of the handle gets into the batter and you touch the top.

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Do I spray items with alcohol and let evaporate a day prior or a few hours prior to me getting started?

Can I use newspaper to place underneath the paper towel for extra protection of my kitchen surface when spraying my supplies with alcohol?

Can I do this in my kitchen? I have two cats and I would rather do this in the kitchen.

Also, I want to give a special thank you to Bramble Berry.
Apparently their FOs are great quality. I called them today and asked them a bout their FOs and expiration. She said they are fine. She was also extremely sweet and helpful. Now I can use the FO of my interest.

Spoke to two other supplier's whom I also purchased from at the same time and the expiration date was there for a reason apparently. The other suppliers FOs were fine as well but I did not like the smell so I REALLY didn't want to use it.

Thanks Brambleberry!

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Ok I just made my first whipped body butter tonight.

Where do I begin?

Please be patient and don't bash me because this is my VERY first time at this.

Sanitizing and Cleaning. So I sprayed my workspace surface with alcohol 91%. I did wipe it but I sprayed more to let it air dry. Then. I sprayed ALL of my supplies and let them airdry.

I came back and everything was good to go.

I placed the large glass bowl on the kitchen scale. I turned it on and made sure it was at 0 WITH the bowl on the scale. Well... I scooped up the sheabutter, placed it in the bowl until
It read then number of oz it was supposed to read. But it never did. I think the scale might only ready increments of five because that was all I was getting. Nothing in between. So I did the same with my coconut oil and fragrance oil. I used Oatmeal Milk and Honey Scent from Bramble Berry. Spilled some of both oils. Okay that's fine. Afterward, I combined everything and then tried to use a hand stick blender to blend my items. That didnt work. So I got out the handmixer. Ahhhh much better. I start whipping. Then my whipper accidentally unplugged. Yea, I used a space a little to far away. I stepped over to plug the mixer back in and guess what?
Butter is flying all over the place. Yep. Wasnt too much butter. I get the whipping. My ego is kicking in and I'm like yeaaa, I'm finally doing this. Well... After mixing for 6 mins straight I stop. It's a nice fluffy consistency and I'm happy.

Cleaning up was a pain the behind. I accidentally sprayed alcohol first on everything so I had to wipe everything down then dump them in the sink. I used dishwasher and papertowels to wash everything with. I recleaned my surface, sprayed it then I place paper towels on it and placed all of my items on the surface dried with paper towel. I sprayed everything again with alcohol and let airdry.

I have a few questions:

How do you clean the handle of the hand mixer?
I used the yellow shea butter that was mixed with the palm oil because that's all I had at the moment.
It does have a scent, anyway it seems to be mixing in with my Fragrance. Plus I used Coconut oil so that seems to be blending in as well. I'm sure my FO lost a few notes which could be why I can smell sort of a sheabutter, cocoanut oil mixed with the fo. What should I do? Or is there any other reason why this is?
I used a 7oz Jar and my measurements and math was suppose to be 6 oz. I still have a lot left. Is there a reason why this is? Could be the kitchen scale that seems to be working in increments of five?
Any pointers on what I could have done better a far as sanitizing? This was all trial and error thing for me.

Here is my very simple recipe I used as a guide from Ann-Marie's website.
Sheabutter 60%
Coconut Oil 38%
FO 2%

It was less than 100% because I'm not getting the exact oz in conversion on the scale.
I got 3.6oz for the Sheabutter.
2.28oz for the coconut oil.
.12oz for the FO.
All add up to 6. How come I got more than 7oz?

Thanks. By the way I enjoyed this. I am just getting the hang of things and I am learning. I am looking forward to using more recipes I have come up
with using more things along with more oils, butters and scents. This was just a trial butter to see if I could really get this going. Now I am sure this is a definete for me. I am not looking to sell at the moment either. It's just for fun and for myself for now.

Thanks everyone!

Shea butter has a scent of its own; especially unrefined. I would suggest getting a more accurate scale. BrambleBerry has a good scale.
Anytime you make a whipped body butter, it increases the volume, as you are whipping bubbles into it. That's why you get more, but the weight will stay the same. I would clean your handle with a damp sponge that has some soap on it, then wipe down with alcohol.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Congrats on making it through! Don't consider anything here "bashing", it is not intended that way. Everyone was new once and we just try to help, maybe instruct and correct at times, but help, so it is all good!
Now, to answer your questions.

How do you clean the handle of the hand mixer? I just use a soapy rag and then a rinse rag. And yes, to make whipped butter, as you found out, you use regular beaters.

I used the yellow shea butter that was mixed with the palm oil because that's all I had at the moment. It does have a scent, anyway it seems to be mixing in with my Fragrance. Plus I used Coconut oil so that seems to be blending in as well. I'm sure my FO lost a few notes which could be why I can smell sort of a sheabutter, cocoanut oil mixed with the fo. What should I do? Or is there any other reason why this is?
Depending on the butter (refined vs unrefined) and how much scent you use, as well as the scent itself (some are heavier than others), you can sometimes smell the butter along with or maybe even more than scent. There is nothing to do now unless you can add more fragrance in and do that and re-whip your butter.
If you used too much plam you may end up with a hard butter instead of a whipped butter, so I hope that is not the case. Assuming it is not, just wait and see how heavily your butter smells after it sets up and sits a while. Often times it is stronger than you think, especially when you apply to a large area. You can always see how you like this and change things next time you make some! It is a learning experience and it takes time to get the nuances, so enjoy the journey!

I used a 7oz Jar and my measurements and math was suppose to be 6 oz. I still have a lot left. Is there a reason why this is? You whipped air into the butter so you increased its volume.

Could be the kitchen scale that seems to be working in increments of five? Usually they go by decimal point places, not increments of something, but maybe yours is different. Check the batteries though. When my battery begins to get low my numbers change from one to another a few times. When its really low it tells me, but I always see it first in the goofy numbers. If you scale is only reading out as you say and that is how it is supposed to be, I would suggest getting a new one. You can get a decent one at the big box store for $20-25$ that zeros, reads in oz, g, kg and pounds.

Any pointers on what I could have done better a far as sanitizing? This was all trial and error thing for me. You did fine. Trial and error is sometimes the best way to get your own rhythm down. I am a bit anal annie about cleanliness and germs, so I always spray and wipe with paper towels and spray again to allow to air dry, just like you did! Just next time, try not to unplug your mixer or send butter flying across the room! I think we have all been there and done that at least once, so you have now been initiated. Welcome to the club!:D

Here is my very simple recipe I used as a guide from Ann-Marie's website.
Sheabutter 60%
Coconut Oil 38%
FO 2%
Sis you use palm oil too, or palm instead of coconut, or was that a typo about using palm? No matter, just curious and what I said above may be a moot point. Lol So use it if you can or don't if not.

It was less than 100% because I'm not getting the exact oz in conversion on the scale.
I got 3.6oz for the Sheabutter.
2.28oz for the coconut oil.
.12oz for the FO.
All add up to 6. How come I got more than 7oz? The air being whipped into it added volume.

Glad you had fun and got your first one under your belt! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

eta: I began this and was called away for a bit, so sorry about the repeating of what Irena already explained!

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

Hello everyone and thanks again for all of the responses. I truly appreciate them.

I have to buy a new kitchen scale because it is still only working in decimals of 5 (sorry I meant decimals I keep saying increments lol). So I am going to buy a new one. The batteries are good. Actually while I was letting everything evaporate, I went out to get those batteries. The scale is pounds, oz and grams. Thats why I am not understanding why its working so crazy. Any ideas? I have another one which I am going to see if its doing the same thing tomorrow. Any ideas on good kitchen scales that won't break the bank?

I made a second butter this past Tuesday which I added a little more oils and a new Papaya Coconut Scent. I loved it. I just wish I had some cornstarch which I will be purchasing with my new list of things. I am not getting too much stuff in large amounts because funds are low and I want to make sure things work well before I go and buy a large amount of oils and things. I have soooo many ideas. I have a list of things that I am interested in purchasing, but I am going to just purchase little by little.

When I bought the Shea butter I was told that its mixed with Palm Oil. This was three years ago when I first started purchasing shea butter. I believe it was the refined one that I got mixed up with the unrefined.
The unrefined shea butter is the yellow shea butter. Am I correct? Thats the one I have and I was told is mixed with that.

This time I did better and was much happier with my butter. I do know that butters melt depending on the time of the year because a small amount of fluffiness went down in my first butter. Considering I only had four ingredients in my recipe not bad. I am working on a lotion and a cream. I believe that lotions have more water and creams have less water to make it creamier. Am I right?

I am also working on a hair products. Can I use preservatives in my recipe for the hair and if so which ones are skin/hair safe but cost effective?

@LavendarLady I am very honored to be apart of the flying butter across the room club!! Lol!!

_________________
Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy