How to Make Lanolin Soap to Clean Wool Rugs
- 1). Put on the goggles, gloves and long-sleeved shirt. Sodium hydroxide, or lye, is extremely caustic.
- 2). Measure the lye on a digital scale in a glass measuring cup.
- 3). Pour the water into an enamel pot or saucepan.
- 4). Stir in the lye in small increments. The lye will react immediately and the temperature will rise quickly. Once the lye is all in, set the solution aside to cool.
- 5). Measure the oils individually on the digital scale and combine them in a pot or glass container.
- 6). Heat the combined oils in the pot on a stove, or in the glass container in the microwave, until the oils are just melted.
- 7). Check the temperature of the lye solution and the oils. When the temperature of both lowers to between 100 and 110 F, begin stirring the oils. Add the lye solution while continuing to stir.
- 8). Continue stirring the mixture as it thickens. The soap will turn dark, then lighter again. Test by lifting the spoon and letting the soap dribble off the spoon. When the trail remains on the surface briefly before sinking in, the soap is ready.
- 9). Pour the soap into a loaf pan or rectangular mold.
- 10
Set the soap in a cool dry place to cure for 24 hours. - 11
Un-mold the soap and set the loaf in a cool dry place. Allow the soap to harden for two or more weeks, then cut into bars.
Source...