Teach Soap

So, I happened to notice this afternoon when I was cleaning up some of the soap stuff from yesterday I forgot about (i.e. one evil little stick blender that had turned into a soapsicle) that as the water ran over it in the sink I had a pretty good amount of bubbles in there. I, needless to say, was HIGHLY excited....but then I began to wonder...

I have read and heard a few times that adding a little SUGAR or HONEY helps make more bubbles - saw it here, saw it when googling, heard it from another goat person. But I am ALREADY using milk, which has it's own sugars naturally...not a ton, certainly not from my mostly swiss breed goats and their thin milk (which is a WHOLE other ball of wax), but some...

DOES THE NATURAL STUFF IN THE MILK COUNT? Is that why I had a sink full of lovely bubbles? All I used in the soap was milk, water, lye, shortening, sunflower oil and coconut oil...nothing froofroo...just stuff I picked up at good old Wally World. I honestly was NOT expecting it and was mentally preparing to buy a new blender when I had to chisel the stuff off, but I didn't have to! Because really, just the stick blender and running water had me at a near "I Love Lucy experience" of over flowing bubbles when I turned my back on it....

OR...is it possible I just MAY POTENTIALLY have made some pretty decent soap with beginners luck to back me up only?

Don't get me wrong...I am still being EXTRA CAREFUL and CAUTIOUS in my joy and all...gloves to handle EVERYTHING still...VERY VERY scared I may have a time bomb resting in my fridge....I dunno why but I keep expecting it to blow LOL...I know...one big nerd right here!

And sorry I tend to be wordy, keep in mind I spend my days mostly with farm animals...who do NOT talk...yet at least...I gotta talk to SOMEBODY ya'll!

Anywho, point being...since I am using my goat milk, can I for go fretting over needing to add stuff to get bubbles? I am not asking the "goat milk soap people" who also all raise goats because, well, honestly, they can be a little....well...less than truthful at times....trying to keep those secret recipes secret and all...but still...

All my soaps are 100% goat's milk and I don't add sugar or honey to mine. Even just a small amount of honey can cause the soap to overheat.

Have you tried / are you using Castor Oil? That's good for bubbles, but no more than 5% or it will make your bar too soft.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

The natural sugars in milks will contribute to a creamy bubbly lather. I've noticed some soapers adding powdered (confectioner's) sugar to all their recipes too for bubbles, but I haven't tried this personally. Castor definitely helps, as do palm, coconut, and palm kernel oils. Like Coolah said, honey can sometimes cause your soaps to overheat, but if you want to try it start with a small amount (1 tsp or less per pound of oils) and mix it with equal parts room temp water before adding it to your soap.

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Laura<3

In my experience, if you're using any form of milk, you don't need additional sugar. Goat's milk soaps lather beautifully. Additionally, a well-balanced recipe with respect to fatty acid composition doesn't need extras in order to lather well.

I'm glad your batch turned out well for you, congratulations!

Milk has natural sugars which helps with bubbles. Or you can try adding castor; up to 5%.

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

Awesome then it seems like I maybe DID do something right I guess the natural sugars in the milk MUST be doing their job! Good to know...good to know Nope, haven't gotten around to castor oil yet...just sticking with the LEAST amount of ingredients for now so I am the LEAST confused LOL....can't be going all crazy with it JUST yet...one day though...one day....

For me RIGHT NOW I will need the EASIEST thing that makes effective good quality soap to be pleased right now - complicated recipes and techniques are still far beyond my grasp I will admit....I'm also all about doing things the "smart way" (read lazy way as well) smart for me being starting slow and having a firm grasp on things BEFORE I let it overwhelm me....I want to have homemade soap...I want to enjoy myself in the process...but I don't want to make it over complicated a week into the game, as I tend to over think things on my own anyways...(could you tell a little bit?)

So...basically...for now...I am highly pleased that my goats can make milk for me that can do so many things in my soap making adventures And I am pleased that it APPEARS at least that I have soap...still haven't actually tested it out yet ya know...but soon...soon...

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

If you really want to know what difference the milk made, make another batch without the milk. Once both are cured, you can test to see the difference. Testing is the fun part.

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!