All soap cleans; all soap is antibacterial to some extent. My handmade soap does not contain synthetic detergents or preservatives. True soap consists of oils and/or butters, a liquid (usually water), and sodium hydroxide, also known as lye. While lye in its original state is caustic and when combined with a liquid can burn skin and eyes, when it is mixed with oils/butters and water, it undergoes a chemical reaction called saponification and after 24–48 hours, the lye is no longer caustic. Once soap has saponified, it is left to cure for a minimum of four weeks in order to obtain a stable pH and become a harder, more long-lasting bar. In some cases, depending on the ingredients, soap can take up to a year to fully cure! I use a variety of oils and butters; some of my soaps have lard, goat’s milk, and/or buttermilk as components. I also have vegan bars which contain no animal products whatsoever, and when I use palm oil, I rely on the manufacturer’s certification that it is sustainably sourced. Feel free to ask me anything about my soap!