DIY
I’ve been on a bit of a do-it-yourself binge lately. For months I have been making my own laundry soap and appreciate spending less than a tenth on that than even generic detergent would cost. Now I’ve tried making my own lotion and regular hand soap.
The lotion turned out great and I’m very happy to have lotion that does not contain lots of chemicals or come in a plastic bottle. I’ve been reading about endocrine disruptors lately and, while I’m not one to get all panicky over unproven fears, I have to remember that it was once thought normal to eat out of lead-lined dishes. So lotion without possibly damaging chemicals is great. I also have a friend with very sensitive skin so anything we can find that doesn’t bother her skin is doubly good. I used the first recipe found HERE and look forward to trying her fancier “Cadillac” version soon. I think Christmas presents may be in the works…
The soap is still underway and will take at least a couple of weeks to fully “cure”. I hope to have a positive report on it. Other than being unpleasantly yellow-green, it seems to be acting normally. It took awhile to start setting up (or to get to “trace”) but since I used a high proportion of Olive Oil that was to be expected (and the olive oil also explains the unpleasant color). The instructions I followed were these. And here is a song my helpful friend Aimee composed to express the joy of making soap with me yesterday.
I Write a Song – By Aimee
In honor of hanging out with Mandi and the kids yesterday, I present to you a song, best performed to the tune of “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Slowly, slowly, slowly
Stir the soap so slowly
If it splashes, lye will burn
It’s way right through your skin
Burning, burning, burning
All your skin just rots off
Making you so painful
Why did we decide
to make this soap today?
Talking, laughing, whining
Oh, the soap sets slowly
I’m bored and you’re bored
Let’s just go home now
So it’s not perfect. But at least it’s not about bears.
My next DIY project will be wasp traps for my sister’s house. They have such an infestation over there. I found easy instructions HERE.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Well, I like my song and I’m honored that you posted it. It’s almost like being famous.