I’m a huge fan of fruits and veggies of all types! From green smoothies to kale salads, I rarely meet produce that I don’t like. And of course, for me using soap to clean my veggies goes together like…peas and carrots (pun intended!). You’ve probably already noticed that many of your soap making oils are also common oils used in food preparation, and many can be found in your kitchen. Common fixed oils like Coconut, Palm, and of course Olive Oil are food-grade and often used in cooking. Sodium Hydroxide is even used in food preparation. True story! Pretzels, bagels, and lutefisk all have preparation methods involving lye. Sodium Lactate is also a food additive (FDA listing here). That being said, fixed oils from Bramble Berry aren’t meant for use in your food, because our warehouse isn’t certified for food storage and handling practices. But for a wash-off product like this fruit and veggie wash, the vegetable oils will do just fine!
RECIPE:
13.2 oz Coconut Oil
6.6 oz Olive Oil
2.2 oz Palm Oil
3.37 oz Sodium Hydroxide (lye)
7.26 oz Distilled Water
1.5 teaspoons Sodium Lactate
Click here to add everything you need for this recipe to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! Long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection are necessary when making cold process soap. Be sure that kids, pets, and other tripping/distraction hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.
If you’ve never made Cold Process soap before, this is a great recipe for getting your feet wet! However, I still highly recommend checking out our FREE four part SoapQueen.tv series on Cold Process Soapmaking, especially the episode on lye safety. And if you’d rather do some reading, Bramble Berry carries a wide range of books on the topic, as well as digital downloads for that instant gratification factor.
MOLD PREP: Line the Wood Mold with freezer paper shiny side up. In this tutorial, I used an early-release exclusive-to-Bramble Berry silicone liner for the 2 pound molds.
ONE: Carefully add the lye to the water. Stir until clear and set aside to cool.
TWO: Melt and combine the Coconut and Palm oils. Stir in the Olive oil.
THREE: Once both the lye and the water have cooled to 125 degrees F or below, add the Sodium Lactate to the lye water and stir well. (psst…I’m loving Bramble Berry’s Easy Pour Containers for lye water! They really are lye water safe!)
FOUR: Slowly and carefully add the lye water to the oils, pouring down the shaft of a stick blender or a spatula to prevent air bubbles.
FIVE: Stick blend the soap batter until a medium trace is achieved. What’s trace you ask? Awesome photo of trace and explanation here. Definitely review that document in full before undertaking this project. =)
SIX: Pour the soap into your lined 2# wood mold. Tamp the mold on the counter top to remove any air bubbles. Be sure to spray with 91% Ispropryl alcohol and let go through full gel phase.
SEVEN: Allow the soap to sit in the mold for about 24 hours. Unmold, cut, and allow to cure for 4-6 weeks. To wash veggies, just lather your veggies up and rinse cleanly away.
Hi, I’m new to soaping and was wondering if I could use fractionated coconut oil for this recipe or would Virgin coconut oil be more appropriate. Also I want to omit the sodium lactate, how long will I have to wait to unmould and would 6 weeks cure time still be fine. Is it necessary to insulate, my first and only attempt so far at cp soaping volcanoed on me, I wrapped it in two towels. I realise I probably messed something up but I live in Australia and I’m unsure if the temperature difference here could mean I don’t really need to insulate, thanks.
Hi Ranee!
Coconut oil is an oil that is solid at room temperature. It’s great for cleansing and making a nice hard bar of soap. You can use it up to 30% in your recipe.
Fractionated coconut oil is always liquid. It can be used in cold process soaps up to 30%, though it contributes to a more soft bar and does not have the same cleansing and bubbling abilities of solid coconut oil.
Also, if you do switch those oils out, make sure to run your recipe through the Lye Calculator again. 🙂
If you use fractionated coconut oil and leave out the sodium lactate, that soap will take a little longer to unmold. I would recommend leaving it for 5-7 days. If it’s still sticky, leave it in there a couple more days.
Also, what did you use in your recipe that volcanoed? I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Lye Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx
Free Beginner’s Guide to Soapmaking: Common Soapmaking Oils: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/
This recipe sounds really neat. Can you use the hot process method?
Hi Sandy!
You can absolutely use this recipe in a hot process method!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can this recipe be used as a body wash or shampoo bar. Sorry, I’m very new to soap making. In fact this is my first attempt at making soap
Hi Tereze!
You could certainly use this recipe as a body wash bar, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it for hair. This is a great recipe for a beginner! If you’re interested in making a shampoo bar, they are a little trickier, but you may enjoy this tutorial 🙂
Shampoo Bar Tutorial:
http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/sudsy-shampoo-bars/
I hope this helps 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
If i dont have sodium lactate can i use something else
Or omit?
Adelina,
If you don’t have sodium lactate, you can omit it. Just keep in mind that it will take longer to remove from the mold and will take longer to harden up.
You could also try using salt in a water mixture. I found a great tutorial that talks about using salt as a substitute. http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/palm-free-vertical-twist-tutorial/
I hope this helps. 🙂
~Kevin with Bramble Berry
Hi, I haven’t progressed to the CP soap yet and I’m still exploring melt and pour. Can the veggie wash be made using melt and pour or better still is there a recipe for a liquid veggie wash?
I love this web site and come to it most days to see what your talking about or making next.
chris
Hi Christine!
There is not a recipe for melt and pour or liquid veggie wash specifically, but you could certainly use our melt and pour soap bases to wash your veggies 🙂 The Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base for example contains Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, and Glycerin which are safe to use on produce 🙂
Clear Melt and Pour Soap Base:
ttp://www.brambleberry.com/Clear-Melt-And-Pour-Soap-Base-P3189.aspx
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Could you turn your bars into shavings and then dilute it into a spray???
Hi Mariah!
Unfortunately, you cannot dilute shavings of cold process soap into a spray, but you could make your own spray if you would like. I’d check out the Teach Soap Forums to see if any of the crafters and soapers have suggestions for you! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Teach Soap Forums: http://www.teachsoap.com/forum/
Thanks for the thorough answer! I will study that information and run a couple of test batches. I’ve only used palm oil twice out of the umpteen batches I’ve made, and both times in low amounts like this. But steering away from animal fats seems like the best bet for this type of thing. You would not believe the requests I have been getting for this soap (apparently my sister thinks each of her friends should be using it!). Thanks so much for all your interesting blog posts and your thoughtful answers! You guys rock!
Hi Sarah!
We can’t wait to hear how your batches turn out, and if you ever have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask — we are here to help you out! If you are able to get any fun photos of your soapy projects, we’d love for you to share them on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page.
Happy Soaping!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
https://www.facebook.com/BrambleBerry
Hi, I am wondering if the palm oil serves a purpose in the recipe … is there a reason for it being there? I would prefer to steer away from it, but I’m not sure of a great sub in this case — especially since it seems like a great recipe to steer clear of any nut product, common allergen, or non-food oil. Any help to define its purpose would help me pick something! I did make this recipe as it is (sans the sodium lactate), and it has been a huge hit. I’ve had to ration the rest of the batch, since people keep taking them (and giving them to their friends). And I LOVE using it on some little apples someone gave us a billion of. Mine soaped a little green, but the bubbles are big and white and beautiful on the produce.
Hi Sarah!
We use Palm Oil in our recipes because it is a great hardening agent and makes a really stable lather and consistency. Did you know that Bramble Berry’s Palm Oil is actually purchased from a sustainable vendor? To learn more about our Palm Oil and why Anne-Marie chooses to use it, check out this blog post:
On Palm Oil: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/on-palm-oil/
If you chose not to use Palm Oil in this recipe, you will still need a way to harden it up. If you don’t want to use the Sodium Lactate, you can also choose to do a salt-water solution which will help naturally to harden up your soap. You can find out more about salt-water solutions in this blog post:
http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/palm-free-vertical-twist-tutorial/
You could sub out the Palm Oil for a bit more Olive Oil or even Rice Bran Oil. Be sure to run it through the lye calculator again to make sure that you have the correct lye water amounts.
Lye Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx
Olive Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Olive-Oil-Pure-P5246.aspx
Rice Bran Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rice-Bran-Oil-P4971.aspx
I hope that this helps! Let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I made this and it’s just perfect! Lovely lather too, great for washing those veggies and fruits!!!
Forgot to add I forgot to add in the sodium lactate and it was still great!
Good morning!
We are so happy to hear that you had a chance to try this recipe out. It’s such a fun (and easy) one to make. If you were able to get any pictures of your soap, we’d love to see them on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page. =)
Happy Soaping!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Would it be appropriate to label this soap as all natural? I’ve found different evidence regarding the sodium lactate. If not, is it possible to leave it out of the recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Kristina!
Great question! Natural is not actually a term that is regulated by the FDA, but you will typically find that label on items that don’t contain any synthetic fragrances or colors like this soap. The Sodium Lactate is a liquid salt that is naturally derived from the natural fermentation of sugars found in corn and beets. In this case, I would definitely consider it natural. I hope this helps! =)
Sodium Lactate: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sodium-Lactate-P5127.aspx
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Thank you!!
Do you recommend spraying with 91% alcohol and insulating this recipe? I mixed the lye and oils around 100 degrees, spritzed with alcohol to help prevent ash, but I did not cover/insulate because it was such a small batch. My soap appears to have gone through partial gel (darker oval in center of loaf) and the exterior is crumbly with a thin crack line along the top. I would like to try this again…any suggestions? Thanks for our help! Ann
Hi Ann!
That thin crack lines sounds like it might be from heat cracking. Do you know what temps you were working at? Does it look like the soap in this blog post:
Successful? Coconut Milk Batch: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/successful-coconut-milk-batch-2/
Are the outer edges sort of an extra white and crumbly? IF so, it just sounds like it is a classic temperature variation issue and your soap should be just fine. But, just to be safe, always do a zap test on your soap. We always spray our cold process soaps with the 91% rubbing alcohol as well as letting it go through full gel phase and we haven’t had any problems with this recipe. I hope this helps! 🙂
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Thanks for the quick reply! My oils and lye water were both around 100 degrees, and I did not cover or insulate with a towel. Yes, the outer edges are sort of extra white and crumbly…this is even more pronounced than the hairline crack on top. I will check the pH just to be sure. Not sure what to chage for next time? Maybe just try insulating?
Hi Ann!
It sounds like your temperatures that you were working with are just fine. Did you follow this recipe exactly? The next time you make this recipe, try insulating and letting it go through it’s full gel phase. Keep us updated! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I love the idea for this bar! Any thoughts on adding GSE (grapefruit seed extract) to the recipe for it’s anti-bacterial properties? I love Bramble Berry!!!!!
Hi Karla!
You will just adore this soap, I’ve used it for the past couple of weeks and don’t think I will ever go back to not using it! You could totally add GSE into this bar and still have great bar of soap. The GSE has been known to help with antioxidant issues in soap. We’d love for you to try it out in this recipe and let us know what you think! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Did you superfat this recipe?
Good morning, Margo!
Almost all of our cold process recipes are superfatted at 3-5% (unless otherwise stated), and this one is at 5%.
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Forgot to say….sodium hydroxide is an ingredient listed on my mother’s prescription eye drops, so when people question why such a “harsh” ingredient is used in soap, I share that tidbit with them. I’m sure it’s used in a lot of products that we haven’t taken note of.
That is a very good point, Patricia! Some people don’t realize that lye (sodium hydroxide) is what makes soap…well, soap! =) In cosmetics, it’s used as a pH adjuster and a buffering agent (which is probably why it’s in your Mom’s eyedrop solution).
-Becky with Bramble Berry
sodium hydroxide is also in Johnson and Johnson’s Baby lotion!As well as petroleum. blah
Hi Laura!
If you don’t want to use lotions with certain ingredients, I’d suggest trying this kissably soft lotion recipe that A-M recently made that I just adore!
Kissably Soft Lotion Recipe: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/kissably-soft-lotion
And, if you are leaning towards making your own baby products, try out this all-natural baby oil recipe:
http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/natural-baby-oil/
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Great idea. I just got back from the store yesterday with lots of fruit I had to wash. I grabbed a soap I had at the sink and started using it. Later that day I saw this post on your blog. I am excited to try it. Thank you 🙂
Hi Connie!
We are so excited for you to try it out. Keep us updated on how it turns out for you. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Any chance some of these bars will be added to your Etsy shop? I would love to buy some! Thank you
Hi Melissa!
I just got the go-ahead that they will be added to our Etsy shop and I will let you know as soon as they are up! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Hi Melissa!
Just wanted to let you know that we finally added a listing to our Etsy shop for the Fruit and Veggie Wash Cold Process bars. You can find them here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/122083340/fruit-and-veggie-wash-cold-process-soap
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Shouldn’t this soap have any kind of essential oils? The liquid veggie wash I use from Trader Joe’s has lemon and orange oil in it.
Hi Maria!
We decided that we wanted this recipe to be as natural as possible without adding any extra essential oils. Some people have sensitivities to essential (and fragrance) oils in their soap and they definitely wouldn’t want to wash their food with it. But, you can totally add it to your batch of soap if you’d like. Let us know how it turns out for you. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
What is the purpose of sodium lactate in soap?
Hi Deb!
Adding Sodium Lactate to your cold process soaps actually helps to harden them right up. We added it to this recipe so we could get a nice, hard bar of soap to be able to wash our fruits and veggies with.
Sodium Lactate: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sodium-Lactate-P5127.aspx
-Becky with Bramble Berry
You don’t need it at least for me. I had to cut within a few hours because of the high coconut or they would be too hard to cut.
My batch did a number on me and completely cracked all the way down & deep, I’m so bummed. I did full water and lye water & oils were both at 100. Any help would be great!
Hi Jen!
Did you make this recipe? Could you tell me a little bit more about your process and I can totally help troubleshoot this for you. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
What a great idea. I never thought of a fruit/veggie wash made by homemade soap. I love it! And I love the
Easy Pour Containers you are using. That is so cool that they are lye-water safe. You have such great products! My daughter bought me the mini temperature gun and I use it all the time. Once you experience the ease of using one of these goodies you NEVER want to use the stick thermometer again!
Thanks, Anna
Aren’t the mini temp guns the best? I’ve started to use mine in more than just soaping. 🙂
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Thanks so Much for this recipe!! I was just getting ready to buy another jug of expensive produce wash!
You seem to have such great timing with your recipes. Thanks Again!!
I use it every day – love it! I have for years and never thought to share until a girlfriend came over and acted like I had invented s’mores. =)
I do this time to time with my regular bars but we have hard water. Would you suggest lowering the superfat if you have hard water?
You could go down to 2-3% and be okay but if you use it on your body, it will not be moisturizing =)
This is cool! I paid nearly $4 for a 16-oz. liquid fruit & veggie wash, but you only need a teaspoon in a sink full of water, so it lasts a while. It’s not thick like liquid dish soap, so it might be a dilution and they’re making a killing off it. I can see the money savings here in your recipe. Good one, A-M & Co.!
That’s interesting – a teaspoon in a sink full of water. I wonder what it is? No ingredients listing presumably?