Soap Making with Sal Soda or Sodium Carbonate

[230gr]

Although is more likely most of us would be making soap using wood ash (K2CO2), it is possible that you may salvage Soda Ash which is another word for Sal Soda or Sodium Carbonate  [Na2CO³]. It is used by her RR car load in many industries and often in water softening (sold in 50 lb bags).  Like potash, it is a slow reaction with out added heat. It might be something you should practice since it is more difficult than with Lye (sodium hydroxide NaOH).  

Soap Making with Sal Soda or Sodium Carbonate  [Na2CO³]
•   The saponification and ageing are slower reactions requiring a much longer time to complete but safer to handle and store.
o   Ingredients: 10 pounds of fat, 6 pounds of sal soda and 8 gallons of hot water.
o   In a kettle or wash boiler, mix 10 pounds of melted grease with 8 gallons of hot water and bring to a boil.
o   For liquid soap, pour the mixture into the soap barrel, stirring daily then let the mixture stand until completely saponified. The soap should be ready to use in a few weeks.
o   For bars soap, saponification is slower requiring 5 to 8 hrs or more of boiling or until it exhibits a silky luster and will trail off in slender threads from the stirring paddle. Then poured into forms for bars and aging at room temperature for 1 to 2 months or using an oven at 275 to 300oF to speed curing up of the green soap bars.