A Soapy Problem

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 758, 29 January 1954, Page 23

A Soapy Problem

Dear Aunt Daisy, Could you let me know through The Listener what goes wrong with my homemade soap? I have made the same recipe many times, but the Jast three boilings have all gone the same way. As soon as it starts to come to the boil, the water, and other ingredients separate and go curdly. The soap cooks in the given time, but stays a brown liquid under the curds. As it cools, I keep on stirring the mixture until I get the liquid mixed in with the curds. I might add here that the soap lathers well, but is of no use to scrub or wash clothes with, as it goes into crumbs. I am enclosing the recipe for you to see and hope you can throw some light on the trouble: 6 Ib. fat, 1 Ib. caustic, % Ib. resin, 4% lb, borax, 13 Ib. water. Put al} in the copper and bring to the boil; boil 40 minutes. : "Just Soap," Marlborough. I hope some of our readers will be able to solve this problem for you. As you have generally had success hitherto, it can hardly be the recipe which is at fault. Perhaps the caustic soda was different. I understand that if there is water under the soap, you should re-boil for a little while. Perhaps your fat was not entirely free from salt! Here is a recipe from Riversdale: 6 Ib. fat, and 1 Ib. caustic soda, 2 oz. borax, 12 oz. resin, 12 pints water. Put all in a tin, keeping back 1 pint of water. Bring to boil on range, and as soon as it boils up, add the other pint of water. Bring to the boil again, then lift off. Stir often till cool