Monday, May 13, 2013

Soap Suds

Mixing to Trace
Now I have made 3 batches of hot process soap.  I have also made one batch of cold process.  I made my first batch of cold process (Hereafter CP) at the same time as I made my third batch of hot process (hereafter CPHP). 
I got the batch of CPHP traced in the crock pot and then started mixing the CP with my immersion blender.  By the way, don't try to trace 2 batches one right after the other.  It gets the blender to hot to hold.  So I get the CPHP to trace and started it cooking while I got the CP to trace. 
Medium Trace

Bars all trimmed and drying
After I got to medium trace I poured it into molds, put the lids on and wrapped them in blankets.  This is supposed to help the soap "gel."  Well, apparently, if you use ice cream buckets as molds and don't fill them most of the way up, they do not keep enough heat to get to the gel stage.  When I unwrapped them on day 2 after I molded them, they looked almost exactly the same.  So since I had heard that you can put molds in the oven to accelerate the gelling process, I thought I would try to see if it would work to save my batch of soap.  I pre-heated the oven to 200.  Since these containers can handle boiling water, I figured that this temperature would be safe with the plastic.  I did not want melted plastic and raw soap all over my oven!  It worked!!!!  I put them in the oven and left it on for about 20 minutes and then turned it off, but I left the door closed and the soap inside overnight. 

All the scraps from trimming the soap.  I will
probably use for liquid soap later.
So at this point I was ready to get it started on the curing process.  (CP needs about 4 weeks cut and with air circulation in order to harden nicely.)  Well, I forgot one critical piece of the puzzle.  I forgot to line my molds with freezer paper or anything else for that matter.  Let me tell you, it was a huge mistake time wise.  I could not get the soap out for anything.  There was just no getting it to budge.  I had also read that you can stick the molds in the freezer to help them release the soap.  Well, of course this was for silicone molds and mine are plastic, but I tried it anyway.  An hour made no noticeable difference, so I left them in the freezer overnight.  It worked, of course I had used two ice cream buckets and I only had room in my freezer for one, so they had to take turns. 

So I cut the soap.  Not to self, next time try a wire!  Cutting bars of soap with a paring knife is not an easy task although trimming the soap is not a problem.  Now my soap is all cut into bars and I just have to be patient (anyone in my family will tell you that this is NOT my strong suit.) and wait for the bars to cure.  I definitely don't want all of my hard work to dissolve into a puddle and go down the drain.  However, I do have the soap that I made for my sister's shower and that is keeping me company until my new batch is ready.



13 comments:

  1. Tu trabajo me parece fantástico!!
    ♥♥♥

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  2. Great job! Soap making a tough process. :) I used to help my gran make soap a lot. We don't live very close now, so that don't happen any more.

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  3. Wow! I haven't ever made soap before this is quite a process! Thanks for sharing!

    Popping by from Weekend Wrap-Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello

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  4. So interesting! I have never made soap and see that it is a lot of work, but worth it I'm sure. Thanks for joining Diann and I at TTF!

    Linda

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  5. Those turned out awesome! I make my own laundry soap and cleaning supplies but haven't ventured to bar soaps! I made glycerin soaps a long time ago and had trouble getting it out of the molds as well! Smelled fantastic though! Thanks for sharing at the Friday Follow Along at www.FrugalFitfamily.com!

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  6. Wow! What a lovely sight your soap is. It looks like pudding and I'm sure it smelled delicious too. Great job! Thank you for sharing with us at my HOME and have a beautiful day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  7. I actually didn't scent this batch, but it is creamy and wonderfully moisturizing. Heather, this soap is really different than glycerin soap, but you do have to line the molds. ;) Linda, it isn't as much work if you have a submersible blender. Believe me it makes a huge difference. Thanks all for stopping by!

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  8. Hi Lois, I love homemade soap. It really is an art if you ask me. Yours looks so very lovely. I bet it makes your skin so soft. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup. Hope to see you often!
    hugs,
    Jann

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