Do We Test the pH of Our Soaps?
I do not approach soapmaking as a craft--I am fascinated by the chemistry of saponification and respect the effect that an alkali heavy soap can have on our skin.
Very early lye soaps were often very irritating to the skin. Since there was no accurate way to measure the lye concentration, the old fashioned methods of soap making often resulted in harsh soap, which has given lye soaps an undeserved bad reputation. Early soapmakers often had to make many batches of soap before one was suitable to be used by their family. (See The Origin of Soapmaking)
We test all of our soap batches with quality pH paper. The pH of the initial soap batter is extremely high and shows a deep purple color on the pH paper. After 24 hours in the mold, the pH has dropped drastically. Many soapmaking books warn soapmakers to use gloves when working with fresh soap. When I take our soaps out of the molds after 24 hours, I do not use gloves and my hands are never irritated.
After two weeks our soaps test at 7 to 7.5 with pH paper. But we know the pH is really higher. The problem is that since soap is a soft solid form, pH test strips are not be the best choice to measure soap pH. Since the pH scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of solutions not solids, I need to add some liquid to the soap to take the reading and this, plus the natural surfactants on soap, affect the pH paper number. Although I would need a laboratory pH meter to be truly accurate, the pH paper allows us to compare the changes as the soap cures and we watch the pH decrease.
Today there is a heightened awareness of the possible adverse effects of many of the synthetic additives and chemicals in commercial soaps and shampoos. Commercially made soap bars often contain left over alkali, called Free Alkali. This free alkali helps increase shelf life, but is harsh and drying to your skin.
The most accurate test of a good mild soap is how it feels on your skin. We have received many emails, phone calls and testimonials from people who have seen dramatic changes in their skin, scalp and hair after just a few days of using our handmade soaps and shampoos. They have switched from their “pH balanced” synthetic soap, body wash, or shampoo and are finally free from itching, dry skin, eczema and other skin and scalp problems.
Do We Test the pH of Our Soaps?I do not approach soapmaking as a craft--I am fascinated by the chemistry of saponification and respect the effect that an alkali heavy soap can have on our skin. Very early lye soaps were often very irritating to the skin. Since there was no accurate way to measure the lye concentration, the old fashioned methods of soap making often resulted in harsh soap, which has given lye soaps an undeserved bad reputation. Early soapmakers often had to make many batches of soap before one was suitable to be used by their family. (See The Origin of Soapmaking)We test all of our soap batches with quality pH paper. The pH of the initial soap batter is extremely high and shows a deep purple color on the pH paper. After 24 hours in the mold, the pH has dropped drastically. Many soapmaking books warn soapmakers to use gloves when working with fresh soap. When I take our soaps out of the molds after 24 hours, I do not use gloves and my hands are never irritated. After two weeks our soaps test at 7 to 7.5 with pH paper. But we know the pH is really higher. The problem is that since soap is a soft solid form, pH test strips are not be the best choice to measure soap pH. Since the pH scale is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of solutions not solids, I need to add some liquid to the soap to take the reading and this, plus the natural surfactants on soap, affect the pH paper number. Although I would need a laboratory pH meter to be truly accurate, the pH paper allows us to compare the changes as the soap cures and we watch the pH decrease.Today there is a heightened awareness of the possible adverse effects of many of the synthetic additives and chemicals in commercial soaps and shampoos. Commercially made soap bars often contain left over alkali, called Free Alkali. This free alkali helps increase shelf life, but is harsh and drying to your skin. The most accurate test of a good mild soap is how it feels on your skin. We have received many emails, phone calls and testimonials from people who have seen dramatic changes in their skin, scalp and hair after just a few days of using our handmade soaps and shampoos. They have switched from their “pH balanced” synthetic soap, body wash, or shampoo and are finally free from itching, dry skin, eczema and other skin and scalp problems.
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