Coconut soap: see its benefits and recipes to make at home

Coconut soap is a popular product used especially for washing clothes and general household cleaning, especially in the bar version. In order to increase the yield and/or reuse cooking oil, many people choose to make it at home, which requires some care. Learn more about the benefits and particularities of this product:

Coconut soap benefits

It is important to point out that there are industrialized versions of coconut soap, focused on domestic cleaning, and other more natural options, designed for use on the skin and hair. Being aware of this difference between the versions of the product (more or less natural) is essential to correctly use coconut soap. However, in general, the following benefits of the product can be highlighted:

• Hair nutrition: beautician and cosmetologist Roseli Siqueira explains that, if the soap is made with natural coconut, it helps to nourish and strengthen the hair. It is worth mentioning that the only coconut soap that can be used on hair is 100% natural, which does not contain chemical components in its formula.
• Oil control: natural coconut soap can also contribute to the control of scalp and hair oil, due to its powerful cleaning power.
• Oil recycling: when making coconut soap at home, cooking oil is reused, removing it from irregular disposal and benefiting the environment. Even so, it cannot be said that all coconut soap is a sustainable option, because this concept requires a much more complex analysis, considering, for example, all the elements that were used in the formulation of the product.
• Versatility: coconut soap stands out especially for its versatility (in bar or liquid versions) and for its effectiveness for cleaning, and can be used to wash clothes, wash dishes, wash or mop rooms in the house, etc.
• Economy: homemade coconut soap, in particular, has the main advantage of being economical, as it yields much more.

Regarding the use on the skin, Roseli comments that the soap made with natural coconut has antioxidant and mineral properties that help keep the skin hydrated. Still, she doesn’t advise using it on the body and face, as it can take away the skin’s natural protection. One option would be to melt it and mix it with other products, such as skin-friendly oils and natural shredded coconut.

For Kate Koetz (CRM-SP 190494), a physician at the For All Group clinic in São Paulo and a graduate student in Cosmetology and Aesthetics, the use of coconut soap on the skin should be avoided.

“This is due to the pH difference between the soap and the skin. The pH of soap needs to be basic for its cleansing property to occur, while the skin needs to have an acidic pH to stay in balance. There are other skin care products, so the importance of consulting a specialist who will help you find the best treatment for your skin type”, he highlights.

How to make homemade coconut soap for different purposes

There are different ways to make bar or liquid coconut soap, which also helps to define its purposes. Some recipes, for example, use caustic soda and other chemical elements to bind, which requires care, such as the use of gloves and a mask. Others can be made in a more “practical” way, using the melted industrialized coconut soap itself. Check out the different ways to prepare it below:

Coconut Soap with Soda

1. Remove 1 coconut from the shell and hit the blender with ½ liter of water, to prepare a cream;
2. Transfer to a large bucket and add 250g of flaked lye (98 or 99%). Remember to wear gloves;
3. Mix everything with a large wooden spoon or broom handle;
4. Add 1.25 liters of sifted used oil, always stirring, for about 5 minutes;
5. Add 100ml of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of coconut essence;
6. Take the mixture little by little (as it fits) to the blender or mixer, until it has a dulce de leche texture;
7. Transfer to pots or shapes that will shape the bar of soap;
8. Cover and let rest for 24 hours;
9. Using gloves, unmold and place the soap in a cardboard box (or wrap it in newspaper) and let it rest for 7 days before using, to evaporate the soda.

Check out in the video how to prepare it taking all the necessary care:

This soap is firm and resistant. It is good for degreasing clothes, washing floors, whitening floors, whitening tiles, bleaching clothes and washing dishes.

Coconut Soap with Tallow and Coconut Essence

1. In a plastic bowl, dissolve 1 kg of Sol soda in 3 liters of water, stirring well until the soda melts and cools (for 10 minutes on average);
2. Put 3 liters of tallow already melted and stir;
3. Add 3 liters of hot oil used in the kitchen, always mixing;
4. Add 100ml of coconut essence and stir well, until cool (20 minutes on average);
5. When the mixture cools, add 4 liters of alcohol (from gas station) little by little and stir for about 20 minutes;
6. When it starts to thicken, pour it into a shape;
7. Let it rest for about 12 hours and then cut.

Check out the step-by-step video and the proper care to handle the soda:

In this recipe, you can use whatever essence you want, but coconut is ideal for washing clothes.

Homemade liquid coconut soap

1. Grate 1 Dove coconut soap and cut into pieces 3 bars of coconut soap;
2. Take it to the blender, in stages, with hot water (enough to beat), using the pulse function (do not beat to avoid foaming);
3. Beat and transfer to the bucket (in all, you will use about 2 liters of hot water);
4. Add 500ml of coconut detergent and stir with a wooden spoon;
5. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda, always stirring, for about 2 minutes;
6. Add 100ml of alcohol;
7. Add 3 liters of cold water and mix;
8. Let cool for at least 12 hours.

See the complete preparation in the video and how the texture of this liquid soap is:

In addition to being an economical and easy recipe, liquid soap has a great texture and is an excellent option for washing clothes (including white), kitchen and bathroom.

Liquid natural coconut soap

1. Boil 3 liters of water;
2. Add 200g of grated coconut soap and wait for it to melt, always stirring;
3. Once melted, turn off the heat and add 3 tablespoons of baking soda (it will boil, it is normal);
4. Add 50ml of water and stir;
5. Wait for it to cool down;
6. If desired, add essential oil when the mixture is completely cool.

Check out the step-by-step video and ways to use this liquid coconut soap:

This soap has a very thin consistency, but it works well for washing dishes, washing clothes and mopping the house. It can also be mixed with water and placed in a spray bottle, to be a cleaning spray and/or used as a soap for washing hands in the bathroom.

Coconut soap for skin and hair

1. Buy a ready-made bar and place in a bain-marie to melt;
2. Add 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil (moisturizing, healing, anti-inflammatory) or olive oil (antioxidant and anti-inflammatory sources);
3. Add 1 tablespoon of grated coconut;
4. Add 1 tablespoon of coconut water and mix everything;
5. Knead well and set aside to cool. Then you can use it on your hair and skin.

This is the suggestion of beautician and cosmetologist Roseli, who does not advise making coconut soap at home with caustic soda and other chemical elements used to bind.

Now you know why coconut soap is so popular and many people choose to make it at home. Enjoy and check out how to make other types of liquid soap.