Teach Soap

One of the very first MP bases I bought to play with was an Oatmeal base from Brambleberry. I absolutely love it! But, after that first purchase I have found out that they don't have it for sale anymore I was looking at trying to make my own Oatmeal MP and was wondering if I could just use the kind of oatmeal that you buy for making oatmeal cookies (ie. Quaker Oats Old Fashioned from my cabinet) or if I had to find a different type of oat/oatmeal that's more suited for soap? I'm planning on buying a grinder so that I can grind the oats up and I have also purchased Oat extract for all of its oaty goodness ^_^ Thanks for any advice you can give me!

_________________
Tamra
New to soaping, long time crafter and artisan, avid learner of new things!

Hi tcmatteson,
I'm no expert; so please anyone else jump in here with suggestions for both of us.
This is what I do:

I buy Quaker Oats Old Fashioned (not the minute oatmeal). I grind them up in an old coffee grinder & then store them in a plastic container.

I add a heaping TBL to 1 LB of base. The oatmeal is so finely ground it suspends rather easily. Next time I may add more. I have read that some people add up to 1/4 cup per lb. I have not tried this. I sprinkle some whole oatmeal on the tops & bottoms of my soaps.

Coffee grinders really work well for this sort of thing.

Good luck!
einnoc

_________________
"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

I used "slow oats" - should be the same thing as the old fashioned. I just grind them up in the blender or food processor. They are probably not as fine as they should be - but it works out ok. Some of it stays suspended, but a bit of it sinks. That way - the soap bar has a softer side and a scrubbier side. It was an accident, but it worked out well

if you want your oats to suspend more.... here's a trick someone gave me

put some saran over whatever you have you melted soap in once you add the oats and let it sit for a few minutes.... then stir - repeat this process till you see the oats suspending....

works every time !

Thank you for all the advice and answers ^_^ I'm planning on doing a goat's milk and oatmeal soap with a little added oat extract for extra measure ^_^ Now all I need is the $ for the soap base, lol!

_________________
Tamra
New to soaping, long time crafter and artisan, avid learner of new things!

if you want your oats to suspend more.... here's a trick someone gave me

put some saran over whatever you have you melted soap in once you add the oats and let it sit for a few minutes.... then stir - repeat this process till you see the oats suspending....

works every time !
___________________________________________________________________________________

Oooops! I did this too and yes, it does work great! Sorry I forgot to mention it. Your recipe sounds wonderful!
einnoc

_________________
"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

I used to grind up my oats too ... now I buy generic brand Oat bran and find it works fine!

_________________
Soaper from Melbourne Australia
Founding member of Melt & Pour Soap Crafters ... find us on Facebook - we'd love to see you!