Teach Soap

So - I made this terrific (what can I say I'm really happy with this design!)




BUT here is the problem that occurred. I poured the clear soap (using the blueing technique), put in the embeds, pour more clear then put on the white. After it was all done - EEEK -- 2 out of the 9 soaps in the tray had some peice of lint that found it's way in between the pouring and you can see it!!. It's awful and I've done actually a different design (same processs) and the same thing happened. I'm sure I will have some friends who don't mind a piece of lint for some free soap.

I cleaned the tray out, had my soap embeds on a clean cutting matt ready to drop in but this still happened. The first time I was wearing a fleece vest on that I thought might have been problematic so the second time I wore an apron and even covered my hair (it's very short - but thought okay maybe I need to do that too). I did not wear gloves to put the embeds in. It's hard to hold such tiny soap pieces and move quickly to get them in place. And if you need to adjust them quickly if they kind of float in a spot you don't want. Maybe I do need to wear the gloves instead? But even when I looked at each soap peice before I dropped it in they seemed fine. You have to spritz a little alchol on them which is also why I did not use the gloves so I would not drop them.

Soapylove suggested that I 'blow' on the tray before starting and also between the pour just to make sure but I still think something else is just happening. Maybe it is my towel I'm using to wipe the tray out? It's a clean kitchen towel.

Anwyay - if anyone can share their 'sanitary' approaches to where I may be missing the boat here I'd love to know. Or techniques on what to do in this process if you are using the trays to make 9 soaps at once.

Thanks
Hilary

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http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

It looks cute! I wonder if it's the lint from your towel.

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

Hi, Hilary!

I love your new soap design!

I'm sorry to hear a couple of your bars got lint or something in them. I know how frustrating that is -- I want each bar I make to be perfect, too!

I don't know if this will help, but before I pour, I always wet down a clean paper towel with rubbing alcohol and wipe out my molds. I read somewhere that it should pick up any stray dust, and it makes my molds extra clean.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
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I don't have any great advice - just wanted to tell you that I love the design!

By the way, what's the "blueing technique?"

~dawna

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Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera

That happened to me once. I had sanitized and cleaned everything in the morning. Then I had to go do something and when I came back at night , I started to make clear soap without cleaning everything again and when the soap cured it was very,very hairy!!! Ever since then I rinse everything right before I'm going to make them and clean with a wet cloth everything around because there's dust flying around and it sticks to it really easy. I hope this helps you!!!

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. I appreciate the 'brotherhood' in regards to me not being the only one with flying torpedoes of hair/dust particles/lint that is attracted to the soap despite our best efforts to clean everything.

One comment on the blueing technique - I have discovered the colorant "Blessing Blue" from TKB Trading to be a great choice of blue for this technique. I just had to put a plug in for that. Thanks Treesyjo for giving Dawna the link.

Thanks for all the compliments on the soap. I posted it on Etsy today so we'll see how it goes. I should have told you I called it "A Rose is a Rose" soap. Of course with Rose fragrance.

I'll keep you posted on the next batch tray that I do.
Hilary

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http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

Couldn't really say much more than everyone else but wanted to say that is a beautiful soap! <3 it :]

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Sarah x

I love your soap Hilary! And I'm not just saying that because it's my name and I'll buy one

Instead of lint for some odd reason I always find a black speck in my mp. I also prep my molds with a blast of alcohol and wear one of those cheap vinyl aprons.
Also, using the scraper tool from the Melt & Pour Tool Kit ( ) I use the hook part to catch any floaties.

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MissRhosie-
I've see those black specks on occasion - but somehow I seem to get them out of my pyrex cup before the pour. I think there is a conspiracy here!! Funny though I was using a wooden skewer and you've just raised a great point. The tool kit. I have it and kind of wondered what or how to use the various tools (LOVE the injector when I did the gingerbread man soap over the holidays)

That 'blast' of alcohol is something a number of you mentioned which I was not doing. And perhaps the vinyl apron would be better than a cloth one?

In any event. Miss Rhosie - I'd love to see that Etsy transaction order confirmation in my e-mail <tee hee> from you - but I undertand it's hard to buy soap when you have enough of it in your own home!!

Taking a break today from soaping and leaving to meet a friend in SF
Bye.

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http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

ASliceofDelight -

Oh I stopped using skewers when dealing with melt and pour. Sometimes but not always the skewer will start to splint off and very fine threads would be swimming in my pour...I stopped using them. I found old stainless steel spoons and I keep them just for soap now.

Oh and I got 2 of the soaps

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MissRhosie-
Skewers begone!
What a nice surprise to come back after my hop over to SF and see you nabbed 2 and not 1 soap. Thank you for your big time support! Karma will come your way.

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http://www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com

To:Asliceofdelight, If the lint or hair what ever went in your soap is in an area where you can take it out,once the soap is dry,you can also take a fine needle and pull it out,unless it's in the middle.