Solid dish soap is made through a process called saponification. Plant-based oils are combined with sodium hydroxide (lye) during manufacturing. The sodium hydroxide reacts with the fatty components of the oils and forms sodium salts of fatty acids — the soap itself.
Sodium hydroxide is used during the manufacturing process and is consumed as part of the saponification reaction when the formula is properly calculated and processed.
What Happens During Curing?
After the soap is made, the bar goes through a curing period. During this time, moisture gradually evaporates and the soap structure becomes firmer and more stable.
Curing is an important part of producing a solid bar. It helps the finished soap develop the physical characteristics needed for storage and everyday use.
Technical Note
Soap molecules have both water-attracting and oil-attracting parts. This structure allows soap to interact with oily soils and water during the cleaning process, helping the soils become suspended in the wash water and removed during rinsing.
