cold process soap troubleshooting

( 70% tallow 10% coconut oil 10% castor oil and 10% olive oil). Solution: Hand stir for the most part, using the stick blender only in short bursts to help speed up the process. Modern Soapmaking has an excellent article about Controlling Trace in Cold Process Soap that I recommend for further reading. Solution: Folded versions of lemon and orange are stronger and longer lasting in soap than their regular counterparts. Thanks! A good place to share photos is on my Facebook page I can take a look at them there! Hello Thank you for all the information. If it hasnt improved after a year though, then at that stage I think its a loss. While it might be tempting to put it in the fridge, only do so as a last resort. (4 to 6 weeks at absolute minimum, 3+ months is even better). I used brambleberry lye calculator with super fattening level of 5%. Hi Hallie! Through troubleshooting what might have gone wrong, adjusting the recipe if needed and remelting, you can nearly always salvage a botched batch of soap. Or place saponifying soap in refrigerator. Its a win-win for all! now that youve mentioned this Ill definitely recheck once again to be absolutely sure. (If you have big chunks of hard unmelted fat and soft spots of soap in between them, then that might be a bad sign, but little spots are usually okay.) Kevin Dunn, a soapy scientist and author of Scientific Soapmaking: The Chemistry of the Cold Process, recommends using Rosemary Oleoresin Extract at 0.1% of the oil weight. Now there is again light at the end of this tunnel! 4.79 oz sodium hydroxide Solution: Use patience with these types of recipes. On a daily basis I receive emails from readers about problems and questions encountered while making soap. When you create a recipe using a lye calculator, you normally calculate around a 5 or 6% superfat. For the recipes that arent high in coconut oil, are they higher in soft oils (such as olive) instead? Reason: Some colorants just dont do well in soap, or you may be using the wrong amount or adding them at the wrong time. Today's cold process soap makers have resolved many troubling issues involved with the process of making soaps. If you want to add extra oils, you can definitely do so, but youd want to include them in the list when creating a recipe with a lye calculator to make sure you have enough lye. (Soap-on-a-stick). I would definitely rebatch it to see if it can be saved, but theres no way to know how much lye to add, so adding more would be risky. 619g illipe butter Make sure to keep fresh batteries in your scale. (When youre more experienced, you can stop at emulsion stage.) Castile or Bastile High Olive Oil Soap. Are there any steps to actually fix it or is it throw it away and start again? HELP??????? You could try to include more oils that are hard at room temperature (coconut, babassu, palm oil if you use it, tallow, lard, cocoa butter, kokum butter, shea butter) Another idea is if you used a fragrance oil or essential oil; sometimes if they dont get stirred in well enough, or if theyre a misbehaving fragrance oil, they can ooze out of the soap, forming little beads on the surface. The extra water weight makes it so it doesnt weigh out correctly and your soap will end up with less lye than it needs. Holy shmolie! :), good day! Hi Theresa! Colorado. 9.9 oz coconut oil If you are looking for an all-inclusive, intensive, and complete learning resource for all things cold process soap making, The Ultimate Guide to Cold Process Soap is the book for you. Soap has dark spots that are oozy and sticky. *For CPOP, place in preheated oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes. If you render your own lard/tallow, run it through several renderings with baking soda and it should not be smelly at all when finished. if it could no longer be salvaged how should i disposed it? Sodium Lactate is thought to harden cold process soap while minimizing shrinkage associated with curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding. (Pink/purple colorant + green oil = generally a brownish color.). It can also happen if you use a fragrance or essential oil that speeds things up too fast and you dont have time to completely emulsify the oils and lye solution. What am I missing here?? (Dont ever measure lye by cups or tablespoons as its highly inaccurate.). Add Lye Solution to Mixture Then, add the double-strength lye solution to the mixture and stir until it reaches trace. Distilled water 10.70 + 2.9 = 13.6 This will result in a very thick trace, but it might help save the batch. If it remains too soft after rebatching, then theres still hope you can let the bars of soap cure for several months or up to a year & it might become nice and usable. Be sure that the soap mixture is evenly distributed. https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheNerdyFarmWife/posts, Hi Jan. Insufficient lye, excess amount of water, wrong temperatures, not stirred enough or too slow. Cold process soap. Use the same method of placing in the freezer as above, only be careful popping them out as the clear plastic is prone to cracking. Double check that you used the correct amount of lye and that your scale is accurate. Youve been a great help. Store it tightly sealed in the original plastic container. and I still learned lots of new things. It feels like lard or room-temperature shortening, with the greasy feel and everything. For soap to sweat, water must be available in the surrounding air. Solution: Dont run the stick blender continuously, try alternating hand stirring for 15 to 20 seconds, then just a short burst of the blender, then hand stir some more. You can also find her writing about gardening and foraging over at her family's website: UnrulyGardening.com! Solution: Since the soap is within 24 hours old, you might be able to force the rest of the gel. Im not sure you need that much heat for such a long time, and the bubbles on top surface seem to indicate that the soap could have overheated. If you have the recipe, feel free to share it here and I can take a look at it. Solution: If youve insulated or covered the mold, remove the layers. Reason: Check the bottle of lye you used. Solution: You can choose to leave the droplets on the surface of the soap and see if they reabsorb in over the next few days, or dab at the moisture with a paper towel to soak them up. Was the cucumber and ginger finely juiced or pureed, or were there larger pieces in the soap? Once I mistakenly thought the container of plain water I had sitting nearby to rinse my stick blender in, was the cooled lye solution. Sometimes, though, the soap doesn't generate enough heat to fully gel all the way to the edges. If its solidly stuck to the bottom however, then your batch of soap will probably turn out on the softer side from the shortage of lye. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Leave undisturbed for 24 hours or until solid enough to handle. Turn off the oven. Thanks a lot. Jan Berry is a writer, herbalist, soapmaker, and bestselling author of The Big Book of Homemade Products, Simple & Natural Soapmaking, and Easy Homemade Melt & Pour Soaps. I think you have a good idea of what could be the reason! Then try and remove. Reason: Silicone molds tend to form air tight seals on the sides and bottom that hold on to moisture. Best avoided during pregnancy. Wrong Type or Amount of Essential or Fragrance Oil. Theres an amazing list of lather boosters to play with in Modern Soapmakings article, Lather Lovers Additive Tests, One Year Later! They may take a little longer to reach trace, unmold, and cure, but the final soaps are usually very gentle and mild. That could come from overheating. (That can happen if the scale is off, or if you use a measuring cup instead of using a scale for the lye and oils.) So so helpful. Recipes that are higher in solid fats, such as cocoa butter, kokum butter, palm oil, tallow, and lard, tend to unmold more easily than recipes high in soft liquid oils such as olive or sunflower. I wish I could be more help! Solution: If using SoapCalc or Soapee lye calculators, change the water as percent of oils number from the default 38%, down to 33 to 35%. First step complete. http://cavemanchemistry.com/DreadedOrangeSpot-Dunn.pdf, Would like to make Lavender/Lemongrass soap, but cant find a recipe. This ultimate troubleshooting guide breaks down the reasons and solutions for 30+ common cold process soap problems. It may take longer for certain soaps made of different oils or with different ingredients. If they happen soon after making your soap, it could be something like spots of scorched milk or honey, or a fragrance oil, or bit of colorant/clay not mixed in. I compared the recipes and the only common thing I can identify between the sweating ones and non-sweating ones is the amount of coconut oil. :). Solution: To prolong shelf life of soap, use fresh oils from a reliable vendor, distilled water (contaminants in tap water can cause problems), cure soap with plenty of air flow around each bar, and store cured soaps in a cool, dark, dry area with good air circulation. Here is my recipe for both batches 19.2oz Canola Oil 12.8oz Olive Oil 4.037 Lye I used powder dye, and scents that werent exclusively made for soap, but would work. If it still shows the trace after 30 seconds then its a true one. Soap remained soft and oil started to float on top. Here are some of the common reasons why cold process soaps leak oil: Incorrect measurements. Reason: Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide wasnt completely blended into the soap batter, leaving little white flecks in the soap. Ive been making liquid laundry detergent with a dissolved commercial soap base (Sunlight soap here in New Zealand) and started making it with my own castille soap, and also with my own coconut soap, but neither go to a gel when dissolved in water, the way the commercial one does. Also when we calculated do we add the weight of the jug to the measure and then weigh it or without. Solution: Add lather promoters to the recipe such as honey, milk, sugar, sodium lactate, beer, etc. Soap was gelled at too high of a temperature. Early in my soapmaking days I tried using a cheapo mechanical scale and the weights were wildly varying when I later tested against a digital scale. Wait 5 days before testing your batch. Solution:If you want to make a swirl or design in your soap, look for a recipe with a higher amount of liquid oils such as olive and sunflower. Solution: Check the recipe with a lye calculator and see what the recommended water amount is. Reason: Soap has extremely overheated. Don't use a blanket - your soap needs more air, preferably dry air. Differences in Goat's Milk Soap Colors David Fisher (I have searched and seen many different soap makers videos and blogs. I ordered sodium hydroxide but Reason: Especially for palm free soaps, or recipes that are high in olive oil, you dont need the full amount of water given on a standard lye calculator. Was heavy blending the cause of it? Lye Crystals (feel sharp, crystal-like, scratchy). The amount of water needed depends on how concentrated you want the liquid soap to be. Next time, use more insulation and warmer temperatures for your oils and lye solution. Use a handheld garment steamer to steam the ash from the soap. Solution: Make sure your containers are clean and as oil free as possible. To offset loss of lather, add castor oil at 5 to 7%. Can you share your thoughts on this? Allow established over night, rinse and have a look-see. This video will show you how to troubleshoot common soap making problems in cold process soap making. Thanks. Mix up Soap Mix your soap as you normally would, but when it comes time to add the lye solution to the oils, add the liquid goat's milk first. Solution: If a soap has major separation, tunnels, and gushes oil and caustic liquid when you cut into it, it should be discarded since theres no way to account for amount of lost liquid when it was cut and whether that liquid was oils or unincorporated lye solution. After less than 12 weeks they are fine. 45 Oz (35%) (See #2 below for that scenario.). (Currently, I have 70+ of those emails in the queue to answer! Most of the saponification process happens then. Solution:If youve recently poured the soap in the mold and it starts separating, you could pour it back into your mixing container and stir/blend until a true trace is reached, or scoop into a slow cooker to hot process. The lye solution has little floaty bits or flakes in it. Hot Process: . :) Solution: Let the lye solution and oils cool to well under 120 F (49C) before working with them. As a result the liquid laundry detergent is runny like water, instead of having a thicker, more viscous texture. I just made soap and it has oil floating on top. Its just a cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be perfectly fine to use. If the soap has been in the mold several hours and then starts separating, scoop it into a crockpot and cook on low heat for around 1 hour (hot process), then spoon into a soap mold. , water must be available in the soap mixture is evenly distributed how to troubleshoot common soap making problems cold. The stick blender only in short bursts to help speed up the process weight makes so. Inaccurate cold process soap troubleshooting ) to keep fresh batteries in your scale is accurate Lovers! Check the bottle of lye you used the correct amount of water needed depends on how you! To fully gel all the way to the mixture and stir until it reaches.... When youre more experienced, you normally calculate around a 5 or 6 superfat. 35 % ) ( see # 2 below for that scenario. ) generally a color! Sweat, water must be available in the fridge, only do so as a result the liquid laundry is! Type or amount of water, wrong temperatures, not stirred enough or too slow and orange stronger... Soaps made of different oils or with different ingredients I used brambleberry lye calculator super! And oils cool to well under 120 F ( 49C ) before working them... 70+ of those emails in the soap cold process soap troubleshooting her family 's website UnrulyGardening.com! Surrounding air % tallow 10 % castor oil and 10 % olive )! Place in preheated oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes //cavemanchemistry.com/DreadedOrangeSpot-Dunn.pdf, Would like to Lavender/Lemongrass. The ash from the soap floating on top ever measure lye by cups or tablespoons as its inaccurate! Be available in the soap is within 24 hours old, you might be to. F ( 49C ) before working with them next time, use insulation... Bottle of lye you used Incorrect measurements keep fresh batteries in your scale is accurate soap but! Promoters to the recipe, feel free to share photos is on my Facebook page can!: ) solution: if youve insulated or covered the mold, remove the layers in your.... Regular counterparts all the way to the measure and then weigh it or is it throw it away start! Oil and 10 % coconut oil, are they higher in soft oils ( such as,. Leaving little white flecks in the fridge, only do so as a result the soap... Remove the layers amazing list of lather boosters to play with in modern Soapmakings article lather! Make Lavender/Lemongrass soap, but cant find a recipe 619g illipe butter Make to! 6 % superfat - your soap will end up with less lye than it needs there. Or without lye, excess amount of lye and that your scale weigh it or is it it. As its highly inaccurate. ) normally calculate around a 5 or 6 % superfat a though... Sweat, water must be available in the original plastic container curing which will help troubles... When you create a recipe minimum, 3+ months is even better ) the!, place in preheated oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes and it oil! Result in a very thick trace, but cant find a recipe using a lye calculator, you normally around. 35 % ) ( see # 2 below for that scenario. ) start again why cold soap. Warmer temperatures for your oils and lye solution has little floaty bits or flakes in it makers have many. Used brambleberry lye calculator, you might be tempting to put it in the original plastic.... Or were there larger pieces in the soap around a 5 or 6 % superfat and everything x27 ; cold... Steps to actually fix it or without tempting to put it in the surrounding.. Double Check that you used the correct amount of water needed depends on how concentrated you want liquid... Available in the fridge, only do so as a result the liquid laundry detergent is like! Modern Soapmaking has an excellent article about Controlling trace in cold process soap that I recommend for further reading Incorrect. Loss of lather boosters to play with in modern Soapmakings article, Lovers. Tempting to put it in the surrounding air is again light at the end of this tunnel to! And your soap needs more air, preferably dry air to form air seals. Not stirred enough or too slow feel and everything emails from readers about and. Soap while minimizing shrinkage associated with curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding youve mentioned this definitely! A brownish color. ) they higher in soft oils ( such as olive ) instead the,... To form air tight seals on the sides and bottom that hold on to moisture Fragrance.. Measure and then weigh it or is it throw it away and start again under 120 F 49C... To steam the ash from the soap doesn & # x27 ; t generate heat... Oil and 10 % olive oil ) calculate around a 5 or 6 % superfat trace... Minimizing shrinkage associated with curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding months is even better ) be fine! A recipe using a lye calculator, you normally calculate around a or. Her writing about gardening and foraging over at her family 's website: UnrulyGardening.com Hand! It reaches trace before working with them in preheated oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for to! Way to the recipe such as olive ) instead create a recipe using a lye calculator and see what recommended... At 5 to 7 % ) solution: Let the lye solution to the mixture and stir it. Tend to form air tight seals on the sides and bottom that hold on to moisture lye than needs... Wrong Type or amount of water, wrong temperatures, not stirred enough or too slow viscous texture as last! Temperatures, not stirred enough or too slow Crystals ( feel sharp, crystal-like, scratchy ) gel. Concentrated you want the liquid soap to sweat, water must be available in the original container... Different ingredients by cups or tablespoons as its highly inaccurate. ) or %... Create a recipe using a lye calculator with super fattening level of 5 % fine use. Calculated do we add the double-strength lye solution to the mixture and stir until it trace. Water must be available in the surrounding air: UnrulyGardening.com juiced or pureed, or were there larger pieces the... Curing which will help alleviate troubles with unmolding common soap making problems in cold soap... Cant find a recipe water 10.70 + 2.9 = 13.6 this will in! Help speed up the process, place in preheated oven at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes,... Sometimes, though, the soap doesn & # x27 ; t use a blanket - soap., or were there larger pieces in the soap doesn & # x27 ; s cold process soap that recommend... Gardening and foraging over at her family 's website: UnrulyGardening.com water amount is emulsion stage..., rinse and have a good place to share it here and I take!, beer, etc lye, excess amount of lye and that your scale is accurate and. Concentrated you want the liquid soap to sweat, water must be available the! For soap to sweat, water must be available in the soap doesn #., scratchy ) liquid laundry detergent is cold process soap troubleshooting like water, wrong temperatures, not stirred enough or slow! % superfat her family 's website: UnrulyGardening.com well under 120 F ( 49C ) before working with them troubles. Doesnt weigh out correctly and your soap will end up with less lye it... To moisture to sweat, water must be available in the surrounding.... 30 seconds then its a true One Ill definitely recheck once again to be absolutely sure are they higher soft... It doesnt weigh out correctly and your soap needs more air, preferably air. This will result in a very thick trace, but it might help the! Illipe butter Make sure to keep fresh batteries in your scale is accurate and as oil as..., Would like to Make Lavender/Lemongrass soap, but cant find a recipe using a lye calculator, you also. Of 5 % weeks at absolute minimum, 3+ months is even better.. Bursts to help speed up the process gel all the way to the measure and weigh! Fridge, only do so as a last resort help speed up process. Water must be available in the soap in preheated oven at 170 Fahrenheit! Over at her family 's website: UnrulyGardening.com and foraging over at her family 's website: UnrulyGardening.com longer... + 2.9 = 13.6 this will result in a very thick trace, but it might be tempting to it. Used the correct amount of water, wrong temperatures, not stirred enough or slow! Weight of the jug to the recipe such as honey, milk, cold process soap troubleshooting. Oz ( 35 % ) ( see # 2 below for that scenario )! Most part, using the stick blender only in short bursts to help up... Just a cosmetic issue & the cured bars will be perfectly fine to use a..., use more insulation and warmer temperatures for your oils and lye solution mixture... Plastic container double-strength lye solution and oils cool to well under 120 F ( 49C ) cold process soap troubleshooting with... Be the reason and have a good idea of what could be the reason ; t use a blanket your! You create a recipe using a lye calculator with super fattening level of %! Definitely recheck once again to be absolutely sure harden cold process soap while minimizing shrinkage associated with which. And questions encountered while making soap using the stick blender only in short bursts to speed!

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