Teach Soap

These are my instructions and are NOT to be copied, pasted or partially copied into any other letter, e-mail or document. I came up with this method first in 2003. It has worked well since then.

Add no more than 4 teaspoons (about 20 mls) of water or liquid per lb. of soap to be rebatched. If the soap batch is new, you won't need any water. Don't use too much liquid as that will make the soap soft. It can also shrink unevenly as it cures. Liquids can be milk, distilled water or tea. Keep in mind that milk or tea might discolor the rebatched soap. If you're planning to add colors (soap colorants, oxides or ultramarines), adding milk or tea may affect the final results. Always add your fragrance or essential oils when the rebatched soap has cooled down a bit.

This method is less likely to burn your soap during rebatching.

Instructions:

1. Heat a 3-quart pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil.

2. Shred your soap base or cut the soap into very small chunks.

3. Place the shredded or cut soap into an oven bag. Oven bags (also called turkey cooking bags) can be found at your local grocery store.

4. Close the open end of the bag with a twist tie.

5. Fold over the top of the bag and tie with a rubber band.

6. Place the bag into a boiling pot of water.

7. Simmer for about 1 hour untouched.

8. Carefully remove the bag from the hot water. Using oven mitts, to protect your hands, place the bag of soap on a counter and knead it like dough.

9. The soap will turn to a mushy (think mashed potatoes) consistency. If at this point you have not reached this consistency, return to the bag of soap to the boiling water for 30 minutes.

10. Add fragrance and/or cosmetic grade soap color to the soap rebatch. Please no food coloring or crayons. Neither one is meant to be used in a soap.

11. Twist the bag and close with another rubber band.

12. Knead the bag to completely mix any colorants or fragrances.

13. Snip the corner of the bag.

14. Spray your soap mold with a light coating of an oil of your choice. I like Olive oil Pam.

15. Squeeze the soap out of the bag into the molds. Like the technique that pastry cooks use to decorate cakes.

16. Smooth the top of the soap as needed. A metal ruler helps with this method.

17. Let the soap sit until firm and cold or room temp. Unmold and cut.

18. You can use a knife or a soap planer to shave off the bumps or rough tops.

19. Let the soap cure until fully hard. I would give it at least a week.

20. Package and you're done!

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks for the steps SoapBuddy. I gave it a try and it worked great.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.