Teach Soap

When using Soap Calc, The Sage or other online soap calculator, if the calculator gives you a suggested weight (Soap Calc) or range of weight (The Sage) for your water but you want to use beer, coffee, tea, coconut milk, goat's milk, etc, would you use a 1:1 ratio for the liquid substitute or should you be using a different ratio? I guess another way of asking this question would be what liquid percentage would be recommended for these liquids (Soap Calc)?

Also, if you have experience with these alternative base liquids, what do you feel are the advantages and challenges of each? I just tried goat's milk this evening and don't think that soap is going to come out white what no matter how much TD I use.

Thank you for your time.

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Michelle

Reminder to Self: "Cut No Soap Before It's Time!"

I sub any other liquid the same as if it was water on the lye calc. Goat's milk soap will never be completely white, due to the natural sugars in the milk.

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

I do what Soapbuddy does by replacing my liquids with goat's milk, coconut water, coconut milk etc.

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http://blissfulsoaps.wordpress.com/

Same here.

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

Are all of the alternative liquids going to make it difficult to color the soap? I've failed at coloring the base when using beer and goat's milk. Obviously tea and coffee will color the soap, but how about coconut milk? Can you color over coconut milk? With Micas? Clays? Lab colors?

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Michelle

Reminder to Self: "Cut No Soap Before It's Time!"

Some liquids will discolor your soap. Beer, coconut milk and milk goes anywhere from tan to brown. This will affect the final color if you are using micas, clays or Lab Colors. Any color added will end up more muted.

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

My coconut milk soaps are always off-white. Other milks turn tan, but I've never had coconut milk do that.

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