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First Batch of Soap is Made

Yesterday I made my first batch of soap after having not made soap in at least 20 years. I had enough ingredients – all except for part of my brain it seems – to make soap. I did something really stupid so I will not be making more soap for a while.

For anyone interested in making soap, there is so much info on the internet. There are many good books on soapmaking. I’m not going to give instructions here because it can get very long . . though this is not hard. It can be overwhelming and as soon as you’ve made the first batch, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.

I use a stick blender for stirring the soap. I stirred it til I thought I was happy with the texture. I unplugged the stick blender. I use paper towels to wipe away as much soap (oil) as I can before sticking the blender in a bowl of hot soapy water. Then I stopped to get dinner heating on the stove. Then I looked at the soap and decided it needed a bit more stirring. I plugged the immersion blender back into the outlet, did more stirring, went back to check on dinner. Then, I totally forgot the stick blender was still plugged in, started cleaning with a paper towel with my right hand and the left hand was holding the blender and accidentally pushed the “go” button.

It happened so fast. I put the blender down and when I did, of course, my hand was off the “go” button and it stopped but I had a pretty nasty cut on one finger and a tiny cut on my index finger. Vince initially put a bandaid on it but before he could finish, there was blood dripping through so he put on a bandaid, wrapped it multiple layers of gauze and taped that and it was taking 2 or 3 minutes for the blood to start dripping again. We did that four or five times and the blood stopped dripping. I don’t think the cut is as deep as it would seem with so much blood but it is kinda long because it goes around my finger.

Vince got it all wrapped up. I stayed pretty calm.

I was able to sleep last night but when I woke up, it had bled some during the night so I called the clinic as soon as they opened, they wanted me to come in. They put 6 stitches in my finger, gave me a tetanus shot and antibiotics. No washing dishes or getting the finger wet til the stitches are out in 14 days.

The biggest problem – the dogs! They are determined something has attached itself to my hand and they want it gone. No gardening for at least 10 days; no dish washing for 10 days. I can take all this wrapping off tomorrow and put a smaller bandage on it and hopefully I can cross stitch with the smaller bandage.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Such a stupid thing to allow to happen! That’s what gets me — that’s how fast something can go wrong when we don’t pay attention to what we’re doing.

  3. Oh Judy, that is a very frightening accident. Every time I use my stick blender I think of something like that happening. I am so sorry it has happened to you. No washing dishes for 14 days, how’s Vince at doing dishes? Or maybe he will have to take you to all your favorite eateries!
    Take good care of yourself so you can get back to stitching and gardening.

    • I’m usually so careful about checking and re-checking to be sure that blender is unplugged but that’s a good reminder of what can happen when I’m trying to do too much at once.

      I’m quite sure we’ll be eating out for the next two weeks. Once the big bandage is off, I can cook if he will clean up but when I’m cooking, I wash my hands a million times so maybe I won’t cook.

      Thanks. I will take care of myself and get back to normal soon.

  4. Look for finger cots online or in the store. These are rubber finger sleeves that you might be able to put over your cut, once the huge bandage is off.

    I use them when I am sorting a bunch of paper since it grabs the paper. I also have some mesh ones to protect fingers on the ruler when using a rotary cutter. And, I’ve seen that there are silicone ones available that you can wear while trimming plants outside.

    Hope it all heals soon.

  5. So very, very sorry…….hope it heals quickly and that it doesn’t cause too much on-going pain/throbbing.

    • Definitely one of those freak accidents that you feel bad about afterwards…they happen to all of us at one time or another (and some of us do things like this pretty regularly!)…hope it heals quickly! Sounds like enforced inactivity…not fun for you at all!

  6. I purchased a stick blender several months ago, but still have not used it. Now I will be very careful to be sure it’s unplugged as soon as I’m done with it. Previously I’m sure I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. This has definitely got to be very aggravating to you, especially since you can’t cross-stitch with it like that. Prayers for quick healing and getting back to what you want to do!!

    • They’re safe if you don’t stick you hand in the blade and most people wouldn’t. My accident wasn’t the blender’s fault. Don’t be afraid to use it. I love them and will continue to use them.

  7. What a pain both actual and figuratively. We all do stupid things and it is hard when they impact you negatively. I hope it heals quickly. Perhaps you can wear rubber surgical gloves over your wound when the bandages are smaller. We wear the gloves when prepping food for the homeless shelter monthly. They are required by the State of Connecticut.

  9. A woman in the bible study group I was attending once showed up with a bandage on her right hand. We asked what happened? She said, there was something stuck in my vacuum cleaner so I turned it over while it was still on, to pull it out. It sort of pulled my hand in. I immediately turned it off and ran to the sink to run cold water over my hand, all the while saying to myself “STUPID!! STUPID!!”
    Take care of that cut. Six stitches is a lot, but very important for a finger injury. You might want to put that arm in a sling just to remind you not to use it. (Which would also remind Vince that you are injured, and maybe it would distract the dogs’ attention too.) Good Luck!

    • That’s a good idea (sling) but I’m the biggest wimp so I don’t think there’s much chance of me risking pain. A little dog may grab it but I’m being super careful. It’s sore but there’s no pain unless I touch it. I think it will be even better tomorrow, but I’m still going to be very careful with it. Vince has become an excellent dishwasher.

  11. First, I hit SPAM by accident. I “think” I corrected it. If not please let me know. Very sorry. 2nd, Oh my, I am so sorry about your finger. What a bizarre accident. Did they ask you what an emersion blender was? Hope it heals quickly and you are back to sewing and cooking. (Milk the no washing dishes part). Neuschie and Heidel would want to sniff and chew at the bandage also.

    • She knew what an immersion blender was (or acted like she did). It’s really healing nicely and not so sore – less sore than I expected it to be. Today is the 4th day and I’m very pleased with how it’s doing (and how much cross stitching I’m getting done!)

  12. The almost exact thing happened to me a few years ago. The tip of my finger is still numb from nerve damage. At first I threw the stick blender away but I saved it and still use it, carefully.

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