I’ve been making and using homemade bar soaps for almost three years now. Don’t think you can call it self-taught because I learned it online. I learned it from lots of people! I did loads of research, and watched loads of videos before I even dared think of attempting it. When I was “ready” and found sodium hydroxide (not openly sold) I made my first batch on 15 October 2015.

Once I was more comfortable with the process I delved into colours and designs.

And once I’d tried them I went back to plain coloured soap because they didn’t have to look pretty because only @rpattwell, @branlee87, @reconstitution, Jack and I are using them. But what I wanted to learn was how to make soap with used cooking oil, and liquid soap. I did do some research on liquid soap but that involved cooking the ingredients in a slow cooker. I didn’t have a slow cooker for that and wasn’t ready to purchase one. I’m following a lot of soap makers and zero-wasters on instagram and that led to my discovering Green Ideal Cottage. They sell soap bars, soap making ingredients and they give soap making workshops.

I love that they sell their oils in bulk and we byob (bring your oen bottles) to fill. I bought 5 lires coconut oil for a very good price 😊

Their main store is in KL but they have a branch in Subang Jaya and it’s very close to where I live! Yay! And they had a soap making workshop today! Double yay!! And the workshop is on using used cooking oil! Triple yay!!! And the workshop fee was only RM65 and you bring back the 1kg soap you made! Quadruple yay!!!! Can you believe my luck? Since #1 (in the UK) is now into zero-waste too and wanted to learn to make her own soap I signed her daughter (who happens to be here on holiday) up too. We had a good time learning how the ingredients work together, and especially the hands-on part.

What impressed me the most was we didn’t need to use a hand blender. Every soap maker on the web uses a hand blender! This is a real bonus because I wanted to buy a new hand blender because mine is pretty old. I don’t think it’s right for me to disclose this method to the public. If you want to find out what it is you’ll have to sign up for her workshop 😉

I won’t be attending her next workshop on making soap for the body but I will be attending the next one on making liquid soap without the use of a slow cooker! Can I say “yay” again? 😁

[![20180516_002249_0001.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmT8D5Cwpr2iLDPrqDp5pAGGCfd4wBjuSCJRSz7NNyd2SE/20180516_002249_0001.png)](https://discord.gg/qfu4yRE)

Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://crazymum.vornix.blog/2018/09/23/homemade-soap-workshop-gratitude-72/