Thursday, March 7, 2013

Body Wash


I ran out of my body wash.  I loved my body wash.  It was hand made in Georgia and the ingredient-list looked pretty safe.  It was a butter consistency and with just one swipe of my scrubby, I had a luxuriously rich lather throughout my entire shower.

{Sigh} It's not something I can acquire up here.

So, I set out to make a wholesome body wash.  I selected a goat's milk soap which I would grate and melt into water with glycerin.  I knew that being goat's milk, it would be moisturizing, and I was glad that the label also stated, "sudsy."  I know that suds don't equal clean - but I really like the suds.





See how the cheesecloth is frayed? That's thanks to our transient residents, Mr. Little and/or Mr. Jingles. "Really, Fellas? It's not enough that I had to move my potatoes; you have to nibble on my soap, too?"  I'll be glad when it's Spring and they have plenty to forage outdoors!  Till then, I'll have to purchase more herbal deterants.  It smells mostly like peppermint... and they don't like it (until the scent starts to where off... and then they shred it, taste it, and generally make a mess with it)! {groan}  




That grated soap looks almost good enough to eat!  I grated the whole bar.




Then added it to 4 cups of almost boiling water and stirred frequently till it melted.  Then I added two T. of glycerine and another 4 cups of cool water and mixed it well.




Using a funnel, I filled my containers. 

I don't love it.  It doesn't lather at all, and isn't even really very sudsy.  Darn.  This will become hand soap and I'll try again.

I know it's going to happen eventually - I'm going to post a recipe for a personal hygiene product that is absolutely awesome.  In the meantime, I hope posting the results of my experiments isn't like crying wolf!



Linking with Clever Chicks Blog Hop, Homestead Barn Hop, Wildcrafting Wednesday

Recommendations for healthy, lathering, body wash recipes are welcome!


10 comments:

Mom said...

Wow...that is one BIG bunch of hand soap! Sorry it wasn't "sudsy", but you get an "A" for effort!! ;-)

Jennifer said...

I have been trying to make body wash as well. Mine never comes out sudsy, and usually ends up a little on the slimy side. But, then I end up putting it in a foaming hand soap container and use it for hand soap as you did. I think I have 3 gallons of hand soap currently.

kc said...

If I'm remembering correctly what my high school chemistry teacher said, it is detergents that make suds. I'm guessing you don't want detergents in your body wash since you're making it yourself. You may be out of luck on the suds.

Tammygrrrl said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Pam O'Brien said...

Thanks for the body wash recipe, Tammygrrrl! I'll definitely try it. Not sure where your comment went (glitchy?), but thankfully I have the ingredient list in my inbox.

Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick said...

I didn't know it was that simple, I'm ON IT! Thanks for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop, I'll be featuring you this week, so feel free to grab my Featured Button!

Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

Pam O'Brien said...

Awesome! How fun... thanks, Kathy!! I'll post that featured button with pride. ;-)

Teresa said...

I didn't realize it was so easy! No one uses bar soap anymore, and I have a cupboard full of them. Now I know what I'll be doing the next rainy day. Thanks for sharing.

Lisa Lynn said...

I bet the goat milk tasted good to the little mousies :) Looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing this on Wildcrafting Wednesday! Hope to see you again today!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/04/wildcrafting-wednesday-14.html

Claire said...

Goat milk is a good skin care soap, its cheap by price. so never waste its crumbs , you can make such type of liquid for hand washes.