Teach Soap

I have read that salt can be added to a batch for hardness and sugar for bubbles. Do these really work and if so how much per pound and do you add them to the water before or after adding the lye?

MaryLou

You can try 1tsp of salt added to your lye water for a small batch.

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

If you add any sugar, add it to the water before adding the lye. It won't dissolve in the lye mixture.

_________________
Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Two more question about salt and sugar. Does either one accelerate trace? Does either one cause the batter to heat up or overheat?

MaryLou

Neither will accelerate trace but the sugar will surely cause the soap to heat up more than normal. If you are not gelling you should probably refrigerate the mold after you pour.

Thanks for the info Dave.

MaryLou

I do not refrigerate soaps that I add sugar too but I do not insulate them. That is for 1 oz sugar in 60 oz of oils. No problems with overheating or cracking but I don't add sugar in a batch with milks.

_________________
Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

LOL! "A spoonful of sugar..."

_________________
Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

You can also do a "salt bar" or "sugar bar" by waiting until medium trace, then dumping in a LOT of sugar or salt and mixing, then molding right away. This probably works best in a soap that doesn't trace quickly; I don't know, because I really only do olive oil only soaps.

The salt will make the bar very hard, and reduce substantially the amount of bubbles you get.

The sugar will make the bar fairly hard, and add to the amount of bubbles you get.

Both will be gorgeously scrubby/exfoliating, and will thus get your skin smooth and yummy-feeling.