What happens if soap doesn't cure?

If you don't allow them to cure and dry then your bars will not last once you start using them. They can also have impaired lather. The cure time will reduce the amount of water in your soap over a period of 4-6 weeks. By the end of that time, your bars can lose over half of the water they originally contained.

Can you use soap without curing it?

It's safe to use—the lye is gone (transformed into soap!) and any remaining oils that are left in the bar help to nourish the skin or hair. But being saponified doesn't mean you should use it just yet! Soap can be fully saponified, but not cured.

How do you know when soap is done curing?

The zap test is when you stick a bar of soap to your tongue. If it zaps you like a 9-volt battery, your soap is still not saponfied. If it doesn't, it is probably done with the process. Again, saponification takes about 24-48 hours.

What happens if you use homemade soap too soon?

(A bar of handmade soap used too soon will "melt" more quickly than it ought.) Additionally, the pH will change slightly over time, with the resulting bar imparting a more gentle feeling to the skin. A bar of handmade soap is safe to use after just a few days, but it won't be at or near its best.

Why is my soap sweating while curing?

Glycerin in soap bases is a natural by-product of saponification and sometimes can be added as a moisturising agent. Humectants attract/absorb moisture from the air. Glycerin in soap attracts the moisture from the air which form on the surface of the soaps - this is so-called soap 'sweating'.

How to Troubleshoot Common Soap Making Problems

How do you fix soap that didn't harden?

If your soap contains a high amount of liquid oils that do not turn hard (such as rice bran, sweet almond, jojoba oil…etc.) then your soap will stay pretty soft. As it cures, it will harden a bit, but make sure you have coconut oil, butters, castor oil or olive oil to balance it out.

How long does soap have to sit to cure?

It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for a soap to dry and the lye to be totally transformed. The time we leave your soap to cure depends on the oils and percentage of water used in the recipe. When we use a recipe with discounted water, 4 weeks may be enough for the curing process.

What is the fastest way to cure soap?

Heating the soap cures it quickly, making it safe to use in only 3 days to a week or two. Heating the soap will create harder, more long-lasting bars.

How can I speed up the cure time of soap?

What temperature do you cure soap?

The temperature range of 120-130 ° F is a safe range that should not look cloudy, or lead to false trace. It's also important that your lye is an appropriate soaping temperature. Just like soaping oils, a great lye temperature for soaping is 120-130 ° F.

What does rancid soap look like?

Rancid soap, whether liquid or bar, will smell "off" or musty. Rancid bars may have a wet-feeling, slick surface. The bar may be entirely orange or rust colored or may have just scattered rusty orange blotches and spots. These spots are often called "DOS" or "Dreaded Orange Spots" by soapers.

How much money can you make selling homemade soap?

Yes, selling homemade soap is a profitable business. You can charge between $5 and $10 per bar and easily make an extra $1,000 per month.

Can you wrap soap while curing?

Let the soap fully cure before wrapping it, otherwise moisture can get trapped and cause rancidity. You can also opt for packaging that has openings to let in air, like medium and large shrink wrap bands.

Why is my homemade soap too soft?

Soft, squishy soap can be caused by several factors. One reason may be that not enough lye was used in the recipe. If the soap does not contain enough lye, the oils will not saponify. Another reason for soft soap is there was not enough hard oils or butters (such as coconut oil, palm oil or cocoa butter).

Does homemade soap go rancid?

When it comes to natural and handmade soaps, the expiration date is usually around a year. That's because natural ingredients can become rancid or moldy. When you buy soap from small soap makers, only buy as much as you can use within a year.

How long to leave soap in mold?

We recommend letting your soap sit in the mold to harden for at least 12 to 24 hours after pouring. The time depends on the size of the soap, but it should be completely hard to the touch before you try to remove it from the mold.

Where do you put soap when curing?

While curing, soap should be stored in a cool, dry and well ventilated space. If the moisture cannot escape while curing, the chance for dreaded orange spots increases (click here to learn more about DOS). Here at Bramble Berry, we use large bakers racks to cure cold process soap.

How long does homemade soap take to harden?

Soap can take anywhere from 1-15 days to harden in the mold, depending on a variety of factors. Two to three days in the mold is average. There are several factors that determine how long soap needs to harden. The first is the type of oils in your recipe.

How much weight does soap lose after curing?

These bars will lose approximately 12% of their weight as most of the water evaporates during the first 6 to 8 weeks of curing time. This means that an average fresh bar, at 6.8 ounces will weigh approximately 6.0 ounces after about 8 weeks.

How do you know if soap is lye heavy?

Normal pH is around 9-10. If the soap is 9-10 it will turn light green. If the soap is pH 11-14, it is lye heavy. The pH strip will turn a dark green or purple in that case.

Why did my soap get thick so fast?

Temperature is the main cause of super thick fake false trace. When cold or room temperature lye water is poured into the soapmaking oils, it can cause them to harden up. While soft oils like avocado are always liquid, hard oils are solid up to a certain temperature.

Why is my soap base not hardening?

Why is My Soap Not Hardening? If your melt and pour soap isn't hardening, then it could be due to adding too much oil. Whether the culprit is fragrance oil, carrier oil, or both, it is most likely that this excess oil is to blame.

Why is my soap not getting thick?

Some of the oils have not yet started saponification, and the mixture is not completely emulsified. These mixtures need more stirring and stick blending to reach trace. If the soap was poured into the mold at this point, the soap would not properly set up.

How long to wait between pouring soap layers?

If you can see any rippling in the soap, it needs more time to cool and harden before pouring the top layer. This tip does get a little complicated, because waiting too long to pour the next layer can cause the layers to separate. I recommend not waiting more than 90 minutes (max) to pour the top layer of soap.

Can you cure soap in the freezer?

To keep your soap cool, start with your lye and oils around 90-100°F. Once it's in the mold, put it in the fridge or freezer for 24 hours. You can also put the soap in a cool area like a garage or basement and run a fan over it. The third option is to leave your soap uncovered at room temperature.