Teach Soap

I've spritzed the last couple of soaps with 91% alcohol, every 30 min for 90 min. I'm using distilled water. The soaps come out of the mold looking great, and then in a couple of days, they have ash on top. Any other suggestions?

I'm a newbie and don't have any experience, but since no one else has commented yet I have seen discussing soda ash. I had thought there was a Soap Queen TV episode that talked about it too, but I don't remember which one and couldn't find it.

_________________
"Effective questioning brings insight which fuels curiosity which cultivates wisdom"

Soaping 101 also has another video that covers tidying up soap, with a portion on soda ash

Also there was a recent post on the Soap Queen blog about it

Also, sometimes a thicker trace can help prevent it. Good luck =)

_________________
You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus – Mark Twain
My Blog-->

Thanks!

I have had really good luck spraying with alcohol then I put my soaps in a walk-in closet to cure. Then, I purchased a small dehumidifier a few months ago because I live in a manufactured home in a very humid climate and I put it in the closet running 24/7. Now, I hardly ever get soda ash, maybe the combination of the alcohol and the dehumidifier? Not sure, but, I hardly ever get soda ash, no matter what my recipe or what EO/FO I use.

_________________
If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane
~Jimmy Buffett

I tend to get more ash on soaps that are poured at super thin trace, and ones with certain fragrances (like lavender EO, holy ash!). I either plane it off, or spritz with alcohol and gently buff it off with some pantyhose (new ones preferably hehe).

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Interesting. This last one was lavender and poured at thin trace.

I have one where the ash settled into beautiful accents on the swirls. I wish I knew how to make it do that!

Lavender is a known culprit when it comes to ash! It just wants to be all wrapped up in a nice cozy ash blanket hehe

The alcohol and pantyhose trick works well, even with thick ash.

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I use 97%, and never have any problem with ash.

I use 97% as well. I only tend to get ash on floral soaps, which are a pain in butt in the first place LOL

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

_________________
Genny