The type of tools needed will vary according to the type of soap making process you will be utilizing.

Here is a list of the all-important tools of the trade. Please select those that are applicable for the method of soap making you will be employing.

* Long sleeved shirt or lab coat to protect your arms from potential splashes.

* Rubber gloves to protect your hands from the caustic solution and mixture

* Goggles or some kind of protective eye wear to protect the obvious - your eyes. (Regular glasses do not count by themselves). Face shields work great.

* Face masks preferably with a filter to guard against inhaling the caustic fumes from your lye solution.

* Long pants and some kind of footwear to protect your feet from spills.

* At least 2 sturdy plastic, stainless steel or glass containers. One for measuring your lye (sodium hydroxide) crystals, one for measuring your liquid.

* A minimum of 2 sturdy plastic or stainless steel spoons for stirring the lye solution and the oils.

* Glass candy or candle/soap making thermometers.

* Plastic buckets or large stainless steel saucepans/pots for heating and mixing the soap mixture in.

* Newspapers, old blankets, quilts or sheets to help protect your counter space if you do not have a designated soap making area.

* Freezer paper, parchment paper, saran wrap or even sheets of plastic or plastic bags for lining your molds. (of course, this will depend on the type of mold you will be using. For more details www.greateducationonline.com If you will be using bar soap molds like the Milky Way type, then you will need a can of baking spray like Pam for easy release of the soap from the mold.

* Kitchen scale - perfect for the hobby soap maker, if possible try to obtain an electronic scale for more accurate measurements.

* Spice/coffee grinder - perfect for grinding herbs and other additives to incorporate into your recipe.

* Hand grater - great for melt and pour soap making, as well as rebatching soap.

* Molds of choice - can be anything from drawer liners (Rubber Maid type), to plastic bar or tray molds, or even wooden molds. For more details www.greatindustrialguide.com Plastic food storage containers work as well.

* Stick Blender - very useful for achieving a faster trace in cold process soap making.

* Rubber Spatulas - useful for getting that last bit of soap mixture out of your mixing container.

* Small glass or plastic containers to hold herbs, fragrance/essential oils, colorants or other additives until you are ready to use them.

* Paper towels or other pieces of cloth to help clean up spills as they occur.