Teach Soap

Hey everyone! Since I'm new to making cp I had a few questions. One that I can think of at the moment is about packaging. Unlike, melt and pour do you have to shrink wrap it for freshness or can it be left unwrapped? Also, during the curing process how often do you rotate your soap so it gets enough air?

Thanks.

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"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it." - Bruce Lee
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Alicia R.

Hi Tiny Bubbles welcome to the forum! I shrink wrap all of my M n P but never my CP bars. I've always read that they need to breathe and that shrink wrap or plastic wrap can stifle them. So I usually just "wrap" them in cigar bands. I let them cure on a rack for a full 6 weeks-- usually turn them once after the first 2 or 3. Hope this helps.

I have racks that are like a cookie cooling rack (but not metal) so once I put them on the drying rack they are only moved if I want to stamp them after 10-14 days. I do make sure there is space between each bar so that air can circulate.

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

Thanks Mae and Bubbles2, that really helps!

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"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it." - Bruce Lee
More about me: http://aliciareardonsoapsnmore.wordpress.com
Alicia R.

Welcome to the soaping addiction!
I never turn mine, I have a stainless steel racks that allow plenty of air flow and make that unnecessary. But, if need be, I would turn them at least once a week. I cure 6-8 weeks usually. As for wrapping, cp soap needs air circulation and you need to cure it properly for the best bar, so unless you use the shrink wrap with holes or are just banding it, stay away from shrink wrap.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

I used to use shrink wrap for the stores that carry my soaps, but over time CP shrinks a little bit more. Those shrink wraps became loose and some of them fell off. It didn't look professional. I've switched to paper soap boxes with a cut out. My soaps are on stainless steel racks. They stay there til they are cured. I don't have time to figure out which soaps need to be turned. So I just leave them there, til it's time to package them. I haven't had a problem with not turning my soaps on a curing rack.

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

Sounds like a good set of stainless steel cooling racks would be a good investment!

_________________
"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it." - Bruce Lee
More about me: http://aliciareardonsoapsnmore.wordpress.com
Alicia R.

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

I have a large heavy-duty plastic shelving unit I got from Walmart and it works perfectly for curing soap. The shelves are not solid so there's good air circulation under the soap.

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

I use the helves everyone else has mention and I do not turn them. I don't have time to fiddle around like that.

Im also a newbie to this. I'm wondering if I can let my soaps cure outside in my garage. I live in Idaho so it is pretty cold right now. Is cold a problem???

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

Ahh, hadn't thought of that, thanks Irena.

I use the heavy duty plastic shelves as well but line them with needlepoint plastic canvas. They aid in good air circulation without having to rotate my soaps. I let my cure for 4 weeks.