Laundry stain stick
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Distilled water, soap flakes and coconut oil set in a loaf mold. Rub on stains before washing.
What You’ll Need
- 10 oz (283 g) distilled water
- 5.15 oz (146 g) sodium hydroxide (lye)
- 28 oz (794 g) coconut oil
- Optional: 18 to 20 g (abt 2 TBSP) essential oil
- Loaf mold heatproof container, gloves and goggles, immersion blender, wax paper
Equipment
- double boiler
- loaf pan
Directions
- Pour the water into a heatproof container, and put on gloves and goggles.
- Pour the lye into the water (never the water into the lye) and stir well; do not breathe in the fumes.
- Let the lye solution cool for 30 to 40 minutes, to about 100 to 110°F (38 to 43°C).
- Warm the coconut oil to about 90 to 100°F (32 to 38°C).
- Pour the lye solution into the oil and stir briefly, then use the immersion blender in short bursts until the mixture reaches trace.
- Pour into the loaf mold.
- Check after 2 to 3 hours; as soon as it’s firm, unmold and slice into bars (wearing gloves) — waiting 24 hours makes it too hard to cut.
- Set it on wax paper and cut each bar in half lengthwise to make sticks.
- Let cure for about 2 weeks.
Notes
Wet the stain with plain water, rub the stick on until it lathers, then launder as usual. Spot-test first. Laundry only — not for skin.
Safety: lye is caustic, gloves and goggles throughout, avoid the fumes, and wear gloves when cutting (lye can stay active for hours). Work with kids and pets out of the room; if lye touches skin, flush with plenty of water. This is an advanced soapmaking project.