How was soap made in the 1700?

Answer 1

Soap was made with lard and wood ash (to give it a pleasant aroma) and made in a giant mixer.

Answer 2

Early settlers to the Americas brought with them common soap recipes that were used in Europe at the time. The primary ingredients were potash, made from wood fire ashes and rainwater. The other key component was animal fats. It is believed that this concoction was accidentally discovered by women who cooked meat in large metal pots outside, where rain and ashes easily mixed with the residual fats. Most likely a realization was made that the pots with the residue came cleaner with the foamy deposits left on them, than those scraped clean before washing with water. Eventually, deliberate manufacturing of soap in colonized Europe is believed to date to around 700 A.D., though historical documents show soaps of some manner were in use for some 2000 years before by the elite. The soaps made today don't use potash, but instead use lye. Also, the animal fat has been replaced with other oils such as olive, soy, wheat germ and a host of others. Some form of animal fats are still available, though they typically come from milk fats of goats, sheep and cow. The process in both recipes utilizes saponification, a process where two compounds are blended together, which causes a molecular change in them both. If too much lye, the harshness will burn the skin. If too much fat, the soap will be soft and of poor quality. The soaps of today are typically milder than the harsh soap of our forefathers, and usually has colorant and scents added to make them pleasant to the eyes and nose. Recipes and kits are readily available online, and soap making as a hobby and an e business is gaining in popularity every day.

Answer 3

In the 1700s, soap was typically made by mixing animal fats or vegetable oils with lye (a strong alkaline solution). This mixture was then heated and stirred until it reached a thick consistency, after which it was allowed to cool and solidify into bars of soap. The process required manual labor and careful attention to the correct ratios of ingredients to ensure the soap was effective and safe to use.