Safety First!
Caution, lye is a strong, caustic chemical, please ensure safety gear is always worn when making soap! Everything that you use in making soap must be kept as such, and never be used for any other purposes.
To start making soap you do not require all these items first hand, but they do come in handy.
This is what we use, apart from the stick blender, we started off with a Kmart one then purchased a Kenwood Triblade (which I absolutely love).
Soap molds/moulds
Boowan Nicole
Rectangular Silicone Loaf Soap Mold with Wood Box – all soap recipes bar the household soap are formulated to fit this mold, makes 8 – 10 bars of soap depending on thickness $26.00
OR
Beautyquip
2 x Soap Mold Reusable Rectangle x 6 – requires a tray or a board underneath to make handling easier. Does not require cutting, so perfect for quick and easy soapmaking.
E Hayes & Sons
2.5L Microwave Jug – for mixing soap batters.
Kmart
Stainless Steel Milk Jug – used for measuring lye.
Slimline Kitchen Scale – essential for weighing all manner of soap ingredients.
Stick Mixer – essential for mixing soap batter to come to trace (like cream soup).
Briscoes – (purchase when on sale)
Wiltshire Baking Mat x 2 or more – protects surfaces from lye damage.
Wiltshire Silicone Corner Scraper x 2 – mixing lye and water, and the second for mixing oils.
O Cuisine Borosilicate Measuring Jug 1L – to measure liquid oils into, before adding into solid oils.
Save barn
Stainless Steel Measuring Jug 1L – used for mixing lye mix in.
AVANTI Silicone Ice Cube Tray with Carrier 32 Cup – for freezing lemon juice and milks etc.
Labgeek
Low-Form Glass Beaker
500ml – measuring and weighing large quantity of oils into
100ml – weighing small quantity oils, Sodium Lactate and essential oils
Trademe
Digital Pocket Scale Mini / Jeweller scale 1kg – for accurate weighing of small quantity oils, Sodium Lactate and essential oils.
Misc
Safety goggles – local hardware store
Chux Disposable Gloves Extra Grip – from most supermarkets
Bamboo chopstick – assists pouring essential oils – see our Tricks of the trade page
750 ml – 1 litre Preserving Jar – macerating oils (used for Kawakawa soap etc)