Teach Soap

With around 6 pounds of molten foam pouring out of my pot all over my stove. This happened about 30 seconds after the KOH/water met the oils. It was instantly gobby piles of petroleum jelly consistency beautiful insta soap. Cost of failed shampoo batch:

coconut oil $40
jojoba oil $20
castor oil $2
distilled water $.50
KOH $10
new stove $3000

Oops? NO idea what happened. Any input would be sooooooo appreciated. I will try this again in the future, with a hotplate. No more stove for me!!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I'm sorry to hear that. Did you soap too hot? Used a fragrance that heats up?

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

My thermometer said 166*F. The book I have says around 160* is fine. But I just read online that anything over 160* will make a foaming volcano of stove doom. Guessing this is what happened. So frustrating Its very depressing when an entire batch is binned.

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

You soaped too hot.

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

Oh no! How awful! I'm glad you weren't hurt when that happened.
I made mine in a crockpot since I had an extra one. After reading this I don't think I'll ever make liquid soap/shampoo on the stove!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Liquid soap and shampoo is one of the things I REALLY want to make and eventually sell. I'm thinking of investing in a 12qt stainless double boiler and a hot plate. I have a crockpot for soaping too though, so I may see if I can use that and keep it under 160*. Basically I screamed "MOM HELP!!!" and quickly reached in to shut off the gas. Then we stood back and watched and waited until it stopped pouring out of the pot. Then we spent an hour cleaning the poor stove. The soap clogged the gas vents in the burners though, and ruined the flints. We have it working alright now but have to light the burners with a lighter. The stove is REALLY clean though! Good job they were planning to replace it soon anyhow..... oops?

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Whenever we use the stove the kitchen smells like soap! LOL

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Yikes!!!

My husband would probably throw all my soaping gear out if I did that!
(note to self...be careful with liquid soap...)

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Genny

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Yikes That's in a whole other league to me LOL!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I'm so sorry!

I use one of these: http://www.brookstone.com/portable-indu ... 4AodfRj1YA

It's a different brand, but same idea. Induction. Temperature control. It won't turn on if there isn't a pot on it, and it has an auto shut off after a certain amount of time--2 hours if you don't program it, I think, or you can program the shut off. I like that; if I get distracted, it could minimize the ugly.

I made mine in a double boiler, and I kept it at around 165 (according to my laser therm), with no issues. I wonder if it was a case of direct heat on the bottom of the pot rather than actual temp?

Oh, and just to spur you on, since you want to sell shampoo: my first batch is testing very, very well among the curly headed set. I just handed it out to tester #4. My little girl's hair isn't a snarled mess anymore, either--and that alone is worth all the effort!

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

Mellifera, I bet that little girl is also very happy when you go to brush her hair! Congrats.

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries