Making Soap Washballs, 16th-18th century style at the Weald and Downland Museum

[@hossenfeffer8383]

Thank you Sally this was so informative. Your passion is evident! My Mom, like many generations of women before her, used to make her own laundry soap which seemed to work much better for getting out stains and dirt from work clothes in the hard alkali water on our farm. She called it “lye soap” and I vividly remember the process, and the by product, glycerin, which we would mix back in to some of the soap batch to make it easier on the hands. We actually learned how to make soap at school, from collecting water drained through wood ashes, to mixing in the fat, skimming and then hardening it off and slicing it into blocks. One year we even had a precious bottle of rose oil to add! Good work, Sally🇨🇦

[@GrainneDhub-ll6vw]

I could imagine the scents as you named them and what I imagined seemed delightful! I had to laugh when you said that a grater might be safer than a knife because in 60+ years in the kitchen, I've never cut myself with a knife but have sacrificed bits of my fingers and nails many times to the dread box grater.

[@artheaded1]

I may try this with my middle school youth group at church. They'd make terrific mother's day presents.

[@SallyPointer]

Get them to work in pairs to grate a bar of plain soap between two, that avoids chaos and grated knuckles, then use gloves for the squidging part. That helps with clean up as well as avoiding dry hands afterwards.

[@artheaded1]

@@SallyPointer Thank you so much for the advice!

[@josequins9099]

I love learning about how people used to do simple daily things before modern times. Will we see the second part in your soap making series using the wood ash lye?

[@SallyPointer]

That's coming soon

[@Beryllahawk]

Amazing!! This was especially fascinating because I've never really seen most of these items - like castille soap, which I knew was white, imported, and expensive but I had no idea it was such a hard soap, OR that it was taxed, OR that folks would have used it so thriftily. (Not that it doesn't make perfect sense: I just had the impression that only rich people could get their hands on it in the first place!) And myrrh! I sort of knew it was a resin but had never seen it in a state ready for use like that. I still don't understand rose water, but that's what research is for, isn't it? I also really, really want to know how anyone knew that these various plants were useful in these ways. Some stuff is obvious - a frayed stick as an abrasive to scrape the teeth clean is just practical, sensible. But how'd they know that sage was good for cleaning as well as eating, did they just...try stuff until they found something they liked? I guess? I am curious about this because I'm still very keen to experiment and figure out how to make all this sort of wonderful, useful stuff out of the things local to my own area. I'm slowly (very slowly) learning my way around the "weeds" and wild plants, the native things and the introduced-but-good things, and all that. But so much of what you're going to find in a suburban American yard is just...well, it's not great. I'm allowing the sorrel and clover to grow, hoping they out-compete the stupid crab grass and other "proper lawn" nonsense. I've even planted mint along my fence, in the hopes that IT decides to take over, even if it does get aggressive about it. At least then I will be enveloped in a cloud of nice smell when I mow, darn it! Perhaps I'll learn how to take some of the nicer smelling wild flowers and make soap with them?

[@MMacNicol]

I use natural bar soap a lot but then those end slivers are hard to handle and I hate to waste them. I had put them in a cup with water for a soft soap but the clump keeps drying out in an unusable, weird shape. THIS is a MUCH better idea! I'm so excited. Thank you!

[@AnnabelSmyth]

Thank you, Sally. I make my own soap - usually with either goats' milk, oat milk or lavender - and often have leftover bits which are not nice enough to give away. I do sometimes rebatch them (including odds and ends of soap we've used that have gone too small), but I think I might try making wash balls out of them, which I could also give away! Or use.

[@AnnabelSmyth]

Update: I have now made some balls as per your instructions, and they are lovely. And then I took it a step further - I melted down my grated soap with lavender and/or rose petals and rose water, and remoulded them, and now have 16 bars of quite lovely rebatched soap hardening off in the corridor. I can't post photos on here, but there are some on my blog: mrsredbootsfood.blogspot.com/2024/04/a-new-approach-to-soap-part-1.html and the following post.

[@juryrigging]

The lamb looked like it really wanted to take you up on the tour offer.

[@SallyPointer]

They were so sweet, even with loads of visitors around they were interested in everyone

[@debbiej.2168]

​@@SallyPointerEverything is still very new to them, probably.

[@kleineroteHex]

I just recently made a strong tea with cloves, woolly lambsear and yarrow for a mouthwash, very pleasant. Thanks for a new interesting video!!!

[@avalontampsett5023]

Love visiting Weald and downland museum. The first time there it was only a few buildings fifty years ago. My dad used to demonstrate on the woods side. As he made sheep hurdles.

[@mikado_m]

When i was younger at our grandmas we'd sometimes make soap balls and bars similar to these. Tho much less historical.. I was just plain storebought soap and things like garden lavender and rose oil or something? I still have a box full of grated soap in my loft (probably 7 years old now) but i seem to be alergic to soap so i dont have very much to do with it But it was pretty fun. One of the bigger memories ive got to the place too

[@artofescapism]

This was super cool- I always love learning about historical hygiene and makeup, it's so fascinating! Thank you for showing us!

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

I'm looking forward to your book on soap.

[@blackflare]

Yay new sally pointer vid

[@edgeeffect]

Woah... I thought rapeseed oil was a fairly recent thing.... late 20th century.... even. Learn something new every day.

[@historybuff7491]

I like it: the house and the handy hand soaps.

[@yetanotherentity]

Thank you so much for another brilliant video! I so look forward to each one, and throughly enjoy each andbevery one!

[@schnauzpig]

When I heard out ancestors washed in ashes, it gave me a very negative perspective of their cleanliness, until I witnessed how awesome and effective ashes and water were at cleaning and tackling greece so much better than modern soap.

[@AnnabelSmyth]

Modern soap is basically cooking oil and drain cleaner!

[@my-name-is-Roxanne]

I made these 30 something years ago at Godolphin House in Cornwall! It was a primary school trip and I loved it. Thank you for bringing back those wonderful memories by making this splendid video. I can't wait to make these again! P S I have the same Pestle and Mortar! 😍

[@bradlafferty]

Thank you, and what a beautiful setting in the fields! I could almost smell the soap’s fragrance from here in the States!

[@cathcolwell2197]

Amazing, not a dolled up shabby chic interior, but probably very close to the way people really experienced and lived in their homes.

[@nanettebromley8843]

Thank you Sally for an interesting video. Saved to try.

[@kaygee301]

Great video, as always. Thanks Sally

[@jannhebrank]

adding clove into the toothpaste is a good thing as it is antibacterial

[@mcRydes]

Beautiful cottage! Thanks for sharing!

[@AntiCliche]

I'll make some of these soon!! I'd love to do some soft soap as well

[@fyrecraftedgaming]

I've spun Southtown! Beautiful babies

[@kasie680]

What a beautiful place sally!

[@crazytimes9989]

May I say I just love you and what you do. I love learning from you.

[@SallyPointer]

Thank you!

[@MoniqueAO888]

Thank you so much for posting this video... ...I am always glad to see what you are up to and which informations you can share with us !!! 💚💚💚

[@lisascenic]

This looks like a fun thing to try!

[@Addicted2Yarn1]

Really informative as always Sally. I really enjoy learning about all of these processes, you have a way of making it extremely interesting!

[@crazytimes9989]

I wish we had sites like this here.

[@Kayenne54]

3:50 Cinnamon is amazingly anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Kind of "hot" in the mouth though. I've used sage and salt as a tooth/gum cleanser, it worked pretty well.

[@mainerockflour3462]

That was fun😁💖

[@FrauWNiemand]

This was informative. I definitely need the recipe for making the soap itself. I will mix it with my pharmacist friend. I stopped the video at 6:05 and tried to translate but some of these ingredients are untranslatable with nowadays dictionaries. Sad.

[@szbyzan]

Looks gorgeous.

[@Nyctophora]

Thank you! I do want to try this :)

[@furlizard]

Thanks for this. Interesting and helpful.

[@kimdodd6677]

Thank you 🌹

[@robertgross1655]

🎩Hi. I find that frankincense is very good for your tenth as it is antiseptic. Though it is an acquired taste. If you get large lumps it’s a bit like chewing gum.

[@lavendersoap]

The real deal I love it.

[@melinaz3385]

Have you a modern botanical reference for the Orace, Calamus Aromaticus, and is this washing ball for washing person or clothing? Making a paste of the flower/plant product?

[@SallyPointer]

Orris is Iris florentina or germanica, Calamus is also called sweet flag root. Mostly used for hand washing

[@annettemcardle2173]

Thank you for your work ❤️ did you notice any irritation on your hands forming the soap balls? Do you think you would need a tallow/soft fat/oil to add oils back into your skin after working the soap?

[@SallyPointer]

It's not a bad idea to wear gloves for the mixing part if doing this at home purely because soap is drying when used in quantity. Saying that though, I have super dry skin and mine is fine after this, but a dab of salve or hand cream after washing up is always a good plan.

[@lauramcmahon602]

Love it ❤

[@fjolliff6308]

I have to make this. I wonder if eucalyptus would be nice?

[@redwolfdarkmoon5326]

Think vicks vapor rub as soap

[@addictedtotreasuretrash108]

Hej I have missed your vids. Hope you are doing well.

[@metamud8686]

Speaking of soap and lye from ashes .. how's the ashes-to-lye project going? It's been an awefully long time since update 🙂

[@northumberlandacres]

Thanks so much for the video. Do you have a video on how to make soft soap?

[@SallyPointer]

It's being made very soon

[@northumberlandacres]

@@SallyPointer fantastic!

[@cathcolwell2197]

My goodness I don’t know how I found this, but I absolutely love it. I would have to use a food processor because I’m too old and tired to do it the traditional way.😂 also, I didn’t understand how much of the ball, the soap ball would be used for various uses or chores - is half of it used for washing dishes, etc.?

[@SallyPointer]

Washballs are for things like hand washing, plain soap for laundry or household cleaning, scented soaps like washballs for personal hygiene

[@crazytimes9989]

Questions. Would it had been so dirty or would it have been painted?

[@SallyPointer]

A lot of houses would have been whitewashed annually

[@kellydynes9147]

Hi Sally, do you know of any supplier they sell thus traditional type of soft soap and castilled hard soap. You said it's widely made in the UK but I have really struggled to find castille soap bars that aren't scented or ridiculously priced. Many thanks Kelly

[@SallyPointer]

Yes, I sell it on my website. I have had several of my recipes certified so I can legally sell them. The shop is shut whilst I'm in Borneo but reopens at the start of September

[@kellydynes9147]

​@@SallyPointerwonderful, I will keep an eye on your website. Many thanks 😊

[@kellydynes9147]

​@SallyPointer I made the washballs, which was so much fun. I can't wait to use them.

[@rachelmolina3995]

What kind of accommodations did they have for the participants? Such as sleeping, bathing, meals etc.. Would like to know how you survived it. Thanks for a good video.

[@SallyPointer]

If work sees us staying in the houses (we can stay off-site too) we cook, eat and sleep in them. There are modern toilets as part of the site visitor facilities. Nothing to 'survive', it's all perfectly comfortable.

[@rachelmolina3995]

@@SallyPointer thank you for your response. I was just curious.

[@wildfireswildfires6792]

What I want to know is, aye they better, safer, then what industry makes today ?

[@SallyPointer]

Depends on your definitions of better and safer! They are certainly simpler, just saponified olive oil and herbs, but whether that is 'better' depends on your criteria

[@catherineleslie-faye4302]

Ah, can you tell me where I might get reprints of those two books on soapmaking? I would love to have them as references.

[@SallyPointer]

Google Books should sort you out

[@catherineleslie-faye4302]

@@SallyPointer nah no google books for me I need hard copies. I will see if Powell's Books can find copies for me... they have a rare book search and who knows? They may have reprints stuck in their inventory that I can pick up tomorrow when I go by there.

[@dianetheone4059]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@debbiej.2168]

Have you finished your degree, yet?

[@SallyPointer]

Yes, there's a short video about graduation further down the feed

[@jillatherton4660]

😄👍

[@222mmax]

WONDER WHY IS THERE CASTILE SOAP AS ONE OF THE INGREDIENTS IN THE 16TH CENTURY RECIPE WHEN MAKING SOAP BALLS? WHY NOT JUST USE CASTILE SOAP INSTEAD OF MAKING THE SOAP BALLS? THANK YOU GOD BLESS YOU MARANATHA

[@SallyPointer]

To make an expensive soap go further and add texture and scent

[@maxwelltaylor6799]

People in this agehsd healthier teeth than we do now thanks to lack of sugar..Also people who could afford to have 5 children had mobdy..