How to Make a Homemade Bar of Soap Using Bacon

Purify 4 cups of reserved bacon drippings by warming it with 8 cups of water. Bring to a slow boil and allow it to simmer for about an hour. Place the clarified mixture into the refrigerator to solidify again. After the fat solidifies for several hours, scoop the floating fat from the underlying water and residual granules. Reheat to a temperature of 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix the 4.2 ounces of pure lye and 2 cups of cold water together in a plastic bowl while wearing goggles and rubber gloves. The mixture will be less likely to fizz up and burn you if the water is cold, not room temperature. Try not to inhale the noxious fumes.

Pour the warmed fat into the lye mixture, stirring constantly for 5 to 30 minutes until it begins to thicken and look like semi-solid peanut butter. Stir in food coloring. Other ingredients such as perfume or flower petals can be added for different varieties of soap.

Pour the mixture into prepared molds. If making a large batch to be cut into squares later, place plastic wrap on the bottom and sides of the container for later easy removal. Some people use shoeboxes or unused cat boxes with good results. If using individual candy molds, pour into each mold. You'll have about 15 minutes to pour the newly developed soap before it begins to harden to the point it can't be further manipulated. Cover the soap molds with saran wrap and set aside to cure.

Remove the soap from the individual candy molds after 24 hours and set aside to further harden. Larger molds should be left intact until fully cured. The soap will harden and lose some of its color as it cures. Let it set for at least two weeks or longer. Remove the soap from the large molds and cut to the desired size with a sharp knife. Trim rough edges as desired and wrap in plastic wrap for storage. Add a decorative label and tie with ribbon or string if you want to give the soap as a gift. This will make approximately 2 dozen bars of soap.