TO MAKE WHITE HARD SOAP

Name: TO MAKE WHITE HARD SOAP
Ingredients: 6 pounds Fat scraps (e.g., lard or tallow) (Originally unspecified fat. Use rendered animal fats like lard or tallow for best results.); 1 cup Hot water (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe)); 1 can Babbitt's lye (or modern lye) (Use caution when handling lye. Follow manufacturer's safety instructions. Modern lye is a safe substitute.); 1 quart Cold water; 2 tablespoons Ammonia

This recipe from the early 1900s details how to make your own white hard soap from scratch, utilizing rendered fats and lye. It's a fascinating glimpse into historical homemaking practices, offering a unique opportunity to understand the process of soap-making. The recipe involves clarifying fats, dissolving lye, and stirring the mixture until it sets, resulting in a simple, effective soap.

Ingredients

6 pounds Fat scraps (e.g., lard or tallow) (Originally unspecified fat. Use rendered animal fats like lard or tallow for best results.)
1 cup Hot water (Quantity estimated (not specified in original recipe))
1 can Babbitt's lye (or modern lye) (Use caution when handling lye. Follow manufacturer's safety instructions. Modern lye is a safe substitute.)
1 quart Cold water
2 tablespoons Ammonia

Instructions

1Collect fat scraps daily. Place the scraps in a frying pan on low heat on the back of the stove. Allow the fat to melt slowly without smoking or burning. Pour the melted grease into covered tin pails. Continue until you have 6 pounds of rendered fat. Prep time: 5 minutes. Perform time: 10 minutes. Waiting time: 0 minutes.
2Pour the 6 pounds of rendered fat into a dish-pan. Add a generous amount of hot water and place on the stove until the grease is entirely melted. Stir well, then set aside to cool. The clean grease will rise to the top. Once cooled, remove the solidified grease. Scrape off any impurities that settled at the bottom. Prep time: 5 minutes. Perform time: 5 minutes. Waiting time: 0 minutes.
3Place the can of Babbitt's lye in a tin pail. Add 1 quart of cold water and stir with a stick or wooden spoon until dissolved. The mixture will get hot. Let it cool. Prep time: 5 minutes. Perform time: 5 minutes. Waiting time: 0 minutes.
4Melt the clarified grease in the dish-pan. Slowly pour in the cooled lye solution, stirring constantly. Add 2 tablespoons of ammonia. Stir the mixture continuously for 20-30 minutes, or until the soap begins to set. Prep time: 0 minutes. Perform time: 30 minutes. Waiting time: 0 minutes.
5Let the soap stand until perfectly hard. Cut it into square cakes. Allow the soap to cure for several weeks in a well-ventilated area. Prep time: 0 minutes. Perform time: 0 minutes. Waiting time: 0 minutes.