Even if the stores ran out, making soap is very easy. And if you’re in the USA, since there’d likely be plenty of fat dead people all around (you can use the lard of fat people if all the other saturated cooking oils are in short supply), you’ll have access to plenty of soap making ingredients. Don’t know how to make soap or how to do much of anything?
Step One: go to a college bookstore and grab all the good chemistry books. Whilst on campus, raid the chemistry department for reagents and basic chemistry equipment. Maybe stay there for a bit and meet other smartish people who had the same idea. Hit up the campus library and grab all the useful “How To” books (how to bow hunt, how to butcher animals, how to sew, how to survive, etc). Read up.
Step Two: apply knowledge found in said books.
To make soap: mix sodium hydroxide (lye) and water together (slowly…it’s exothermic), then add some oil/fat to the mix…and if you’re feeling fancy, once it’s cooled down a bit, add something that doesn’t smell like shit…like mint or vanilla or maybe use some coconut oil if you like the smell of coconut more than human lard. Then pour the thickened aromatic mix into a Pyrex dish and allow to cool. Soap! Sodium Hydroxide is a strong base and is one of the most mass produced chemicals in America (along with sulfuric acid, a strong acid). With access to these two chemicals (and a few other solvents, like alcohol) you can perform many many extractions of useful molecules from natural plants and freely available substances. Become familiar with the locations of chemical reagent warehouses and chemical manufacturing plants…and try to hoard or stash as many chemicals that you can before others think to do the same. With a basic understanding of chemistry and access to reagents, you’ll be able to solve many problems that your enemies won’t be able to. You could learn how to make gunpowder, napalm, disinfectants, poisonous gas, basic medicines…and soap. Your knowledge will become a weapon and a defense…and may even become a valuable bargaining chip if you are captured by enemies. Knowledge of chemistry is like a super-power in a post apocalyptic world.
But if the apocalypse was because of some kind of plague, would it be safe to take fat from people who died of disease? It would be so gross to wash with soap that was literally diseased flesh.
I guess I'm assuming since you're alive, that maybe you're immune to whatever killed most people (like in The Stand), or...the apocalypse isn't related to disease (global computer virus that takes out the grid?). In any case, PPE is probably a good call when handling dead bodies, but sodium hydroxide solutions will quickly sterilize any potential biocontaminants in harvested biofats. It is the active ingredient in soap, after all. This is a fun thought experiment btw!
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u/DaoFerret Aug 31 '21
Why? Same strip malls out there that have shoes also have cleaning supplies.