Making Soap on a Revolution-era Farm

[Music] foreign [Music] [Music] hi welcome back to the farm of the American Revolution museum at Yorktown my name is Carrie and I'm one of the farmers out here today we're going to talk about 18th century soap making foreign [Music] making is something that would have been done on the farm in the 18th century it's another one of those things that we could definitely buy in stores as well though when we talk about making soap on the farm we are talking about what we would call lye soap um specifically though we're talking about soap that would be made with lard when we talk about making the soap on the farm we are talking about something that would be used for lots of different things and by lots of different people a soap would have been used from everyone from George Washington to a middling farmer to lower class farmers and even the enslaved people on a middle class Farm like this would all be using soap and making soap for themselves when we think about people like George Washington he is probably purchasing soap or at least having Martha purchase soap but the enslaved people at Mount Vernon were probably using homemade soap that soap would also be used not only for cleaning people but also cleaning things um whether we're talking dishes or clothing we also know that people on middle class Farms like this would have been making their own soap as well now when we think about on a middle class Farm we're probably looking at the soap made on the farm being used for more of the cleaning clothes and and dishes and stuff whereas if they are purchasing any soap that would be used for cleaning the person cleaning yourself one recipe that we like to use when we're talking about 18th century soap making is from Mary Randolph's the Virginia housewife now that is from 1824 but it would have been used or something similar would have been used in the 18th century put on the fire any quantity of lie you choose that is strong enough to Bear an egg to each gallon add three quarters of a pound of clean grease boil it very fast and stir it frequently a few hours will suffice to make it a good soap that it is a thick jelly and no grease appear the Pizza in Salt and pint to three gallons let it boil a few minutes and pour it in tubs to cool should the soap be thin add a little water to that in the plate Stir It Well and by that means ascertain how much water is necessary for the whole quantity very strong lye will require water to thicken it after the incorporation is complete be done before the salt is added next day cut out the soap melt it and cool it again this takes out all the lye and keeps the soap from shrinking when dried a strict Conformity to these rules will banish the lunar bug bear which has so long annoyed soap makers should crack nulls be used there must be one pound to each gallon kitchen grease should be clarified in a quantity of water or the salt will prevent its incorporation with the lye soft soap is made in the same manner only omitting the salt it may also be made by putting the lye and grease together in exact proportions and placing it under the influence of a hot sun for 8 to 10 days stirring it well four or five times a day for more information on making soap in the 18th century come visit us out here at the farm but also at the Army encampment here at the American Revolution museum at Yorktown um be sure to like And subscribe to not only our YouTube channel but our Facebook Twitter and Instagram for more information on what we are doing out here thanks and have a great day does that sound weird when you find by cooling a little on a plate that it is it is as when you find by cooling on a little plate that it is as thick jelly God Bless America hold on I can't learn today [Laughter] yeah we'll we'll keep that one when you find my cooling a little autoplay that it is a thick jelly let me read that one more time oh talking to a stir when you find by cooling a little on a plate that it is a thick jelly okay I think I'm ready you're still rolling so whenever you're ready what is that can I touch that will that be okay to burn burn it Whatever It Is I almost killed myself when I was born in the cigarette pack like the the packet with the cigarette lighter not cigarette you know the long lighter the the plastic and the paper yeah plastic I thought was going to choke me into death I was like a terrible idea which is worse I put on the bench of the table bench bench bench don't put it on the table you know what I might light up

Channel: JYF Museums

Views: 5,974

Keywords: Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, JYF, JYF Museums, jyfmuseums, museum, history, history museum, living history, American history, Virginia history, Colonial history, Jamestown, American Revolution, Jamestown Settlement, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Id: JO2k-lZ9qhg

Length: 6min 36sec (396 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 04 2023