Laundry Bar Recipe

Ingredients

• Coconut Oil — 400 g
• Palm Oil — 600 g
• Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide/NaOH) — 150 g
• Distilled Water — 300 g

Important: 150 g NaOH gives approximately a 5% superfat using commonly used SAP values. For a laundry bar, this is slightly higher than ideal because you generally want very little free oil. If you want, I can also calculate the exact 0% superfat version, which would be more suitable for laundry soap.

Method

1. Safety first: Wear gloves, goggles and long sleeves. Work in a well-ventilated area. Keep children and pets away.
2. Weigh 300 g distilled water into a heat-resistant container.
3. Slowly add 150 g caustic soda to the water, stirring gently until completely dissolved.
   • Always add caustic soda to water — never water to caustic soda.
   • The solution will become extremely hot and release fumes.
4. Allow the lye solution to cool to approximately 35–45°C.
5. Melt the 400 g coconut oil + 600 g palm oil together and allow them to cool to a similar temperature.
6. Slowly pour the lye solution into the melted oils.
7. Stick-blend in short bursts, alternating with gentle stirring, until the mixture reaches medium trace.
8. Pour into a suitable mould and tap the mould gently to remove air pockets.
9. Cover and leave undisturbed for 24–48 hours.
10. Unmould and cut into bars.
11. Allow the bars to cure in a cool, well-ventilated place for 4–6 weeks, turning them occasionally.

For a stronger, more effective laundry bar, I recommend using the 0% superfat calculation rather than simply reducing the water or increasing the caustic soda. Never increase the NaOH amount without recalculating the formulation.