The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SOAP

MOTHER ALWAYS MADE HER OWN SOAP, ESPECIALLY FOR WASHING
CLOTHES. WHENEVER THE MEATS WERE PREPARED, ALL FAT
WAS SAVED, AND GROUND UP VERY FINE, PLACED IN LARGE
COOKING VESSELS, PLACED IN THE OVEN UNTIL ALL THE FATS
WERE FRIED OUT AND IN A LIQUID STATE. THE CLEAN WHITE
FAT WAS USED IN COOKING AND THE LESS WHITE FAT WAS
USED IN MAKING SOAP, BY COMBINING FAT AND "LEWIS LYE"
WHICH IS A STRONG CAUSTIC, WHICH WHEN COMBINED WITH
FAT, BECOMES SOAP.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; PEORIA

Date learned: 11-01-1971