Making Cold Process SOLID DISH SOAP w/ Essential Oils Recipe included | Ellen Ruth Soap

Today I'm making a super cleansing all purpose Solid Dish Soap, it's all natural, scented with essential oils. Works great on dishes, spot cleaning laundry, counter tops...
Basic Cleaning bar Recipe:
24 oz Coconut oil
4 oz Olive oil
4 oz Rice Bran oil
1 oz Stearic Acid
5.3 oz Lye
9 oz Distilled Water
Essential oil or Fragrance of choice (if desired)
Please use all proper safety precautions and gear for making cold process soap.
I love to create good for you, handcrafted soaps using the cold process method of soap making.
This video is intended for entertainment purposes. Any opinions or statements made are just my own, I'm not a health professional. I'm simply an artisan soap maker, inviting you to come along on my journey.
If you enjoy this video, please hit the like and subscribe buttons. Thanks!
I'm a Nurture Soap affiliate:
nurturesoap.com/?aff=170y
I'm an Amazon affiliate:
Stainless steel lye pitcher: amzn.to/3dkkqyw
Stick Blender: amzn.to/2R4l4HS
Rubber mallet: amzn.to/2OcTp66
Peeler: amzn.to/34Un7mm
Wire Racks: amzn.to/2Ob47Kv
Cutting Board: amzn.to/32Sgejs
91% rubbing alcohol: amzn.to/2QkUgUX
Spray Bottle: amzn.to/2Qi8oOU
Poly Mixing Pitchers: amzn.to/32JQiqo
loaf cutter: amzn.to/2LwcZbG
Soap Stamp: www.etsy.com/shop/Digital2Cre8
soap shop: ellenruthsoap.com
instagram: / ellenruthsoap
facebook: / ellenruthsoap
Music: erf by www.bensound.com

[@camsanders5756]

Love those packaging-free products! Great scent choice!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Me too! Thanks 😊

[@alteredLori]

I love your channel! You are so down to earth! Full of great ideas and teaching us all! Thank you!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thank you so much!🥰

[@beckyluvstoscrapnsew]

Great looking brush ...love the bars , no huge plastic bottle packaging to deal with

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes indeed🥰

[@oldethymesfarm62]

Great dish soap bar. Thanks Ellen for the recipe 🏵

[@Imaheretovisit]

I bought one of these. The smell soooooo good!! I had to try it as soon as I smelled it. Thank you for the recipe.

[@buttermilkbaysoap9416]

I make a dish soap with CO & lard, that’s it, scented in lemongrass. This recipe looked interesting so I gave it a go to compare and I loved how the bars came out!. Smooth pour and beautiful mold release. The bars were super hard, loved the stearic acid and I especially love the addition of eucalyptus with the lemongrass. Thankyou for sharing.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Lemongrass sounds wonderful for a dish soap! Thanks for giving the recipe a go, glad you liked it😊

[@jayne8169]

I love this Ellen! You're a genius!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

☺️💕 thanks

[@urbanohiogardener]

What a concept, very interesting!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

🥰 thanks, they work like a charm.

[@jenniferwertz6483]

Made this tonight omg..move over dawn...oh and I hot processed it it came out wonderful just have to move fast before it starts to set up

[@Bellessentials]

Love it! Those brushes are awesome too!😍

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks! I love those little brushes too 😉

[@connierobb2025]

Thank you!

[@cheryl739]

Very bubbly! That's me..... Camping heaven. Those pans that go over the fire. I cover some with foil, but you still get some soot. This looks good for that. Blessings 💕

[@EllenRuthSoap]

🥰 thanks! They’re great for traveling 😉

[@LittleIowaHomestead]

Lovely, Ellen. great job ❤️

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thank you ☺️

[@noorzainin]

Great. Good recipe. That scent will never go wrong isnt it. 😊like it

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks! Yes, I love this scent combo

[@madie7068]

❤❤❤❤ love it

[@kezru1581]

Awesome!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

🥰

[@maysoondakhil8165]

I like it 👍 well done 👍

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thank you 👍

[@laxminaiidu6745]

Thanks a tons for awesome video

[@EllenRuthSoap]

👍💕

[@thelakehouse206]

Fantastic! Does it do well against greasy pans? Thank you Ellen!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I think it cuts grease really well, I've been happy with the performance.😉

[@homeopathyforbetterhealth]

That soap looks great! Can you make a video on how to make a laundry detergent? I would love to cut down on that plastic as well!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks, that's a great suggestion 💕

[@leikemichelow7158]

Really love your videos Ellen!! Would you mind sharing a dish sopa recipe that could be done with melt & pour base? I’m a complete beginner and still afraid a little of the lye mix. Thank you!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻☺️

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thank you so much 🥰 I don't work much with melt and pour...

[@MyKitchenCorner]

thank you for sharing your recipe and gorgeous soaps. New subbie here. Christina

[@EllenRuthSoap]

You're welcome 💕 glad you're here 💕

[@peggywilliams1256]

@@EllenRuthSoap how much acid do you use and the amount of water

[@marybethburns8895]

Ellen, great idea, and I can't wait to try it. Thank you for giving out your recipe. Can I substitute anything for the Rice bran oil as I don't have that. Thank you for your help! Mary Beth

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks! Yes, you can replace with olive, or more coconut for extra cleansing... Just run it thru a soap calc to double check any time you change up a soap recipe.😉

[@suziq9053]

Hi Ellen! I love watching your videos and I’ve tried making a few bars of my own. I’m big into the idea of zero waste and this dish soap was something I wanted to love. Can you tell me if I can add something to the bar to get bubbles to sit on the top of my dishwater? I love to soak my dishes in a hot sudsy bath before washing and it may be psychological but I don’t like that murky looking dishwater. Also, can I use regular distilled vinegar in place of water in my lye solution? Or could this be a horrible idea?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Hi! The vinegar is a tricky one, because it will effect the sap values and neutralize some of the lye... You can add sugar to the water before adding the lye, and it will help create more bubbles.

[@MichaelCoates-nq6ey]

Thank you for this video! I had a bit of cracking on the bottom of my bars, and what seemed like oil sweating/leaking out - any idea what that could have been from?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

You may have gotten a "false trace" ? It's rare, but can happen sometimes..

[@charliharrison1533]

How do these do on grease? Excellent video

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks 💕 I think they do a really good job on grease.

[@KristiEhrenzeller]

Can I use goat milk instead of the water for the lye mixture? Also how much essential oil? Thank You! I love this idea!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Personally I would not use milk in a dish washing soap. The E.O. % is dependent on what you’re using..

[@annkinney2043]

Hi. I received my package today and everything is beautiful. I am anxious to try the solid dishwashing bar with the cute brush! I am curious regarding the recipe. I noticed some of the solid dishwashing soaps are made with SCI and really no oils. I was curious about the differences in these recipes. Thank you for your quick service.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Great! I'm glad you got your package💕 The SCI is just a surfactant/ bubbling agent, it's gentle and not a bad thing at all. I don't use SCI's or SLSA or other "pre made" ingredients, and prefer a more traditional approach with my soap recipes.

[@annkinney2043]

@@EllenRuthSoap Thank you.

[@nehajain-tu4yb]

Great!! Can I substitute rice bran oil with canola oil.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I would run it thru a soap calculator, and try a test batch😉

[@Koshka54]

Ellen - I tried this recipe, but the soap seized upon me even though I did not stick blend it. If I tried it again, would it help if I left the stearic acid out? My bottoms will be bumpy, but I’m hoping it’s useable! The smell is amazing!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I’m sorry it seized on you, that’s so frustrating 😣. Sometimes the essential oils can speed things along... I didn’t stick blend mine at all, and it went fast.. also, watch your temperature, that can contribute.

[@elizabethmichelin7451]

Hi Love your videos. Where can one order a stamp like yours?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

There's a link in the description box 😉

[@audreystar4868]

Thank you for sharing this recipe. Been looking for dish wash bar. What’s the percentage of the stearic acid to the oils?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks! If you run the #'s thru soap calc it will give you all the %

[@Stacey-uh7lv]

can you substitute the oils for others ones was long as the amount is the same?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

No, when changing oils in a soap recipe it can effect the lye ratio. If you want to change oils, run the numbers thru a good soap calc.

[@vivyh3395]

Do you find that the soap leaves any residue or spots on the dishes? The bar I ordered from another retailer leaves spots. Hoping to try my hand at making my own bars, and this recipe looks promising!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I have not notices water spots with this recipe. Although if you have very hard water, that may cause them?

[@meghamilton7007]

hi--thank you for this recipe, which i am trying this week. i was wondering tho---do you cover the soaps as they harden, as one would normally do? thanks so much!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I hope you love the recipe! I don't cover my silicone molds usually, unless my studio is very cold, then I'll throw a towel over them after they're hard on top

[@meghamilton7007]

@@EllenRuthSoap thank you so very much for the quick reply!

[@cindylawrence1655]

Love these bars, Ellen! Did you superfat these?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

No, for cleaning soap I don't use a super fat.

[@tonnyajuhnke4727]

Where did u find those fantastic scrub brushes

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Amazon, and I carry them in my shop 😉

[@Gingerbread1964]

If you’re using the lie calculator on SoapCalc what water ratio would you put in would you leave it at 38 or put less

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I do a steep water discount.

[@suzannesoto-davies3204]

ooh! one more question @EllenRuthSoap! Have you tried making HALF a batch by splitting the ingredients exactly in half? I'd prefer to try it without making a whole slew of bars... Any advice?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

If you half the recipe, I would still run the final numbers thru a soap calc, just to double check...

[@suzannesoto-davies3204]

@EllenRuthSoap - when i run your recipe through SoapCalc it says it should have 12.54 oz of water, not 9 oz? What am I doing wrong? I'm trying to figure out a HALF batch...? Thank you (again!)

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I do a steep water discount. 😉

[@Kalaliiah]

Have you tried your hand at solid laundry soap? Would be great for the environment and so much more convenient. Love your vids.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I've made laundry powder, and it was great

[@Kalaliiah]

@@EllenRuthSoap Are they available in your shop?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

@@Kalaliiah yes 👍

[@kimbucha1]

Looks like a nice simple recipe that I might begin with. I will be interested in seeing how long it lasts. I like that it will take up less space as well. With that said, you mentioned no waste …..but you left the water running for such a long long time. When I was a kid we were taught to turn the water off and save the water so that it wasn’t wasted. You are saving water in your soap bottles but then running the tap. I am generally not a Debbie Downer…just hoping you take this as constructive criticism….Keep up the good work of teaching!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes, I was aware that I shouldn't have left the water running, I was nervous filming and didn't think of it at the time..

[@kimbucha1]

@@EllenRuthSoap Truly I have never “nit picked” like this before today….I suppose because it is a PP of mine…Thanks for taking it well. Aside from that you did a GREAT job of presenting and your nervousness didn’t show at all. I do workshops ( fermentation/canning/pressure canning and many of forms of preserving) and seem to be able to do that well enough but I haven’t been able to bring myself to do what you do…so hats off to you and your courage. I would love to do the KZbin’s and would love a mentor

[@tamaraanderson4792]

Hi Ruth, than you for this recipe. I made it with Orange too. I tried to do a lather test the next day and it wouldn't lather much at all. Will it lather more once it is fully cured?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes, the cure helps. Plus this recipe lathers better with a cloth or brush..

[@tamaraanderson4792]

@@EllenRuthSoap Okay, yes I used a brush and a wash soap but hopefully once they are cured it will lather better. I can't imagine it wouldn't with all the coconut oil in them. :) Thank you!

[@camjasper4855]

What can you use instead of stearic acid?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

You could skip the stearic, just make sure to run the numbers thru a soap Calc.

[@301jules]

Great concept and recipe, thank you. What percentage of super fat did you use in this recipe?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thank you. It's about 5% super fat

[@dyaskriswardhani4908]

How much sugar & salt that you added in lye?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I added 2 teaspoons of each to the water and dissolved them before adding the lye😉

[@jacblades]

Why not 100% coconut? What does olive and rice bran add for dish soap?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Great question. I've done 100% coconut with no super fat, and it's a great cleaner! But it's a tad drying on the hands, so the amount of olive/rice bran just adds a gentler lather quality and it still cleans great. If you wear gloves for dishes, the 100% coconut would be perfect!

[@vc5898]

For dish and laundry bar do we need to cure it or can used it directly.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

They will last longer if you give them the full cure time😉

[@vc5898]

@@EllenRuthSoap Mam I have kept my window open at nyt to let the air pass but in the morning i found that all my soaps were sweating after curing for 10 days why is this happen so???

[@hol_9533]

Would I be able to replace the rice bran oil with the same amount of olive oil? I don’t really want to buy a whole bottle of it just for 4 oz

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes, absolutely😉

[@hol_9533]

Cool, thanks!

[@osheafrancis6572]

Hi, what temperature should the lye water & oils be at?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I like to soap between 70-90 degrees

[@osheafrancis6572]

@@EllenRuthSoap Thank you. I made a batch tonight that turned out well. Only hiccup was that the stearic acid wouldn’t blend with the oils. I can see dots in some of the soaps. Thank you for the recipe.

[@kathylee7843]

how many ounces of Lemon Eucalyptus essential oil did you put in?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I don't give out specific amounts for E.O's, you'll need to follow saftey guidlines and usage rates for the brand of E.O you're using, and the volume of batter..

[@suzannesoto-davies3204]

Looks good @EllenRuthSoap! What kind of lye did you use? Guessing Sodium Hydroxide? And have you ever added Borax to aide in the cleaning? Thank you!

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes, I use 100% sodium hydroxide. I've not tried borax...

[@annettemack-barnett795]

What could I substitute the rice bran oil with?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Olive oil is a good sub

[@annettemack-barnett795]

@@EllenRuthSoap so just use all olive oil and the coconut oil?

[@annettemack-barnett795]

I will be using my goats milk instead of distilled water since I have plenty. 😊

[@smegrowe09]

how does the sugar effect the soap?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

It helps to make a bubbly lather

[@smegrowe09]

@@EllenRuthSoap I had no idea, I've just started to learn about soap making. Do you use it in your hand soaps as well?

[@andreaszule1558]

What is in the essential oil blend? How much? Thank you.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I used a Lemon and Eucalyptus blend, and I would recommend going to a fragrance calculator for amounts, each one is different.

[@andreaszule1558]

@@EllenRuthSoap thank you

[@gcicciar]

How much essential oils did you use?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I usually use .5 oz per pound of oils, but always run it thru an essential oil calculator because they are not all the same.

[@mayaportland8805]

Hi, nice soaps, are you selling any?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes, I have a new batch coming out this week 😉

[@margekilkelly7449]

Is there a dish soap bar that uses goat milk?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I have not seen a goat milk dish soap..

[@Fridskan]

Did you do 5% superfat? Or not at all?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Not for these, I don't do any superfatting.

[@Skylightatdusk]

Why is a dish brush used? Is it because the cleansing is potentially too drying for bare hands?

[@EllenRuthSoap]

No, it's fine on hands, the brush is just extra scrubby for caked on dirty dishes..

[@rebeccadoherty3853]

Can’t find the recipe ???

[@EllenRuthSoap]

It’s in the description box

[@tinagalloway2383]

How much Essential oil please

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Each one is different, I would recommend using an essential oil calculator. But it's usually close to.5 Oz per lb of oils

[@jannahughes6021]

Ps, is there citric acid in this .i only ask bc i fpund your site and then came to your yt channel

[@EllenRuthSoap]

This one doesn't have citric acid, but I have a new video coming that does, and those are currently in the shop.

[@annastoyshich1815]

Are these soaps effective against bacteria on dishes or utensils that have been in contact with raw meat? I’ve made a similar soap but only used on dishes that had cooked food on it.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

That's a really good question. I think I would use a "bleach" type or vinegar product for raw meat surfaces, along with the lather...

[@jojolala6182]

Set to cure for 46 weeks? Thats almost a year! Do you have other solid dish soap recipes that requires less time to cure? Thx

[@EllenRuthSoap]

That's 4 to 6 weeks 😉

[@jojolala6182]

@@EllenRuthSoap OH!! hahahah sooo sorry!! Okay that sounds alot better. Thx so much!

[@gretchenperez7682]

it seems there are so many opinions about how much stearic acid to use. with your recipe its about 3% and i was wondered if you have ever reached false trace with this recipe and if so what can a person do to save the soap.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

I haven’t had a false trace problem with this..

[@mayaportland8805]

just think how many plastic bottles we throw into our lands ending up after a while in our oceans using the soaps in bottles instead we could use solid soaps, for body and dishes.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Amen 🙌

[@aurelia8380]

low waste would also bi to waste not so much wather

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Yes! I was nervous filming and forgot to turn it off...

[@normagonzalez2379]

Lovely recipe, next try not to use to much water for demo, kisses 😘

[@EllenRuthSoap]

Thanks! Yes, you're right. I was distracted by the camera, and left the water running... My bad 😞

[@susanmoyle8143]

Great idea, will definitely have to try... I must admit I was cringing and distracted by all that water running down the sink...I live in Australia where our water is one of our most precious resources, being such a dry country. I must admit I would be distracted too 😊

[@EllenRuthSoap]

@@susanmoyle8143 Yes, I cringed myself when I watched the play back 😒 but, I'm glad to report that I did have the plug in, and used all that water for the rest of the dishes...

[@susanmoyle8143]

At least it didn’t go to waste😊

[@bgjzam]

46 weeks? That’s almost a year 💀 I’m not waiting a full year to set them to cure

[@EllenRuthSoap]

It's 4 to 6 weeks😉 although after a year, they would still be good...

[@c3liaf]

Why leave the water running so long?! So wasteful... it's great to be zero waste, but defeats the purpose of being mindful when you're wasting such a precious resource.

[@EllenRuthSoap]

That's a really good point, and I was so sorry about that when I went back to edit the filming. I was nervous with the camera on, and totally forgot to turn off the water...