So you’ve decided to start making your own handmade soaps at home. Hooray!!!But even before you can make your first batch of soap, it is essential to collect some basic tools & equipment needed for soapmaking.
And don’t worry, you don’t have to spend too much on it because you probably already have most of it at home. Just make sure that once you have used it for soapmaking, do not use it for cooking!
Some links in this post are affiliate links; The recommended products are what I personally use and enjoy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The importance of having the right tools & equipment for soapmaking
Consistency: When making soap, it is important to measure the ingredients accurately & mix them at ideal temperatures in order to achieve consistent results. Using the right tools for measuring ingredients & temperature will ensure that you make successful soaps on a consistent basis.
Safety: Soapmaking involves working with lye, which is a caustic substance that can be dangerous if not handled properly. Safety gear & using containers with the right materials can protect your skin and eyes from splashes and spills. Here is a post that covers safety measure while handling lye in detail.
Efficiency: The right tools and equipment can help streamline the soapmaking process and make it more efficient. For example, using the stick blender.
Quality: Using the right tools and equipment can also help you achieve a high-quality end product. For example, silicone molds can help you create beautiful and uniform soap bars, while a soap cutter can help you create clean, straight edges.
Now let’s look at the tools & equipment in detail.
THE INDISPENSIBLE 3
I call these the indispensable 3 pieces of tools because I believe they can make your soapmaking journey so much more efficient & help you achieve consistent results with your soaps. I also wouldn’t recommend skimping on or neglecting these tools EVER!
1. An accurate digital weighing scale
As much as soapmaking is an art form, it is also precise science. To make soaps that ultimately turn out well, ingredients must be measured in weight and not in volumes. This calls for an accurate digital weighing scale. I usually have 2 scales handy - one to measure out the oils & additives where precision can be relaxed a bit. And another to measure out lye & essential oils where accuracy is so important.
Here’s an example of a scale I use for oils & additivesAnd here’s a pocket scale I use for lye & essential oils
2. An immersion stick blender
Although soap can be made without this handy tool, it can save you hours trying to mix & stir it using a spatula or whisk & get the soap to the right consistency. You don’t have to invest in a high powered one. A basic stick blender between 300-450 W will get the job done easily.
This is what I used earlier on in my soapmaking journey and it served me well.
3. A thermometer
Keeping track of temperatures is essential in soapmaking and many newbie soapmakers do not realise that temperatures can actually be the difference between successful & failed batches sometimes.
This is the candy thermometer that I used when I started outAnd here’s an infrared thermometer that I upgraded to later on
Now that we have covered the indispensable, let’s move on the other tools, equipment or gear that you will need for soapmaking.
OTHER IMPORTANT TOOLS
4. Safety Gear
Since we use a potent chemical in soapmaking, it is absolutely essential to use protective gear every single time that you make soap. The most important pieces NOT to neglect are gloves & goggles
You can use disposable gloves from your local medical store or reusable kitchen gloves.And here are the goggles I use for protecting the eyes
5. Containers
There are 4 main containers to have for every batch of soap you make
Plastic cup to measure out the lye. Something like this could work beautifully.
Stainless steel cup/mug/pitcher to measure the water. This can also double up as a lye mixing container. You can also use plastic here but make sure it is heat & chemical resistant and has the recycle code #5 mentioned on it
A glass or stainless steel pot to measure & melt the hard oils & butters. This will also be doubling up as the soapmaking pot. So make sure to pick one that will accommodate your batch size.
A separate plastic cup to weigh out the liquid oils. Although you can directly weigh it into the soap pot, it helps to avoid excessive pour offs that can offset your recipe too much.
Additional cups to weigh out additives & essential oils. You can wither use paper cups, stainless steel mini cups or glass beakers for this purpose
ADDITIONAL USEFUL TOOLS
Stainless steel spoons to scoop out ingredients, mix the lye solution & also texture your soaps
Spatulas to mix & ensure every bit of your soap goes into the mold
A stainless steel strainer to strain out the impurities in your lye solution
A stainless steel whisk can come in handy to mix & incorporate ingredients thoroughly especially when you add ingredients attrace
MOLDS
You can either go for a loaf mold or individual cavity molds.
Here’s an example of a 1 kg batch size loaf mold that I useHere’s a soap mold that I recommend using for making small batches & testing recipesOr here’s an individual cavity mold that you can start off with
OTHER THINGS TO KEEP HANDY
Rag pieces of cloth or paper towels to wipe off spills from the countertops & molds
Having a cardboard box that can accommodate your mold can help with holding in the heat & fast tracking the reaction
Towels or blankets to hold in the heat
If you’d like more information on choosing & selecting each of these tools & explore more options of tools & equipment within your budget, snag my Essential Soapmaking Toolkit for Beginners for FREE!
Got questions on tools for soapmaking? Leave them below & I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.