Teach Soap

Hi all! New person here!

I was wondering what your curing set up is like? I make my soap and keep it in my basement (which is dark and cool) and it doesn't get a lot of airflow. I was looking for advice when my soap is in the mold for the 24 hour period, should I add a fan to my area? I can't keep my soap anywhere else in the house due to room-sizes and cats, the basement is my only option (in the house) and it doesn't get a lot of light. I do have an enclosed breezeway attached to my house with a screen door and a window, it gets tons of airflow but it's almost like putting it outside. I live in PA and winter is coming so I don't know if that's a good idea.

Lastly, from your experience, are there issues with curing soap in an area that's dark and cool? I've made 4 batches of soap and all have developed soda ash even with the spritz of 91% alcohol when it's in the mold. My latest batch (canola, olive and coconut oil with a tsp of SL), which I made in a cleaned half & half container, developed major soda ash on the exposed area.

I get lots of ash on a lot of my soaps. It is the FO that causes it, because the recipe is identical in every case - except for FO or EO.
I have tried EVERYTHING that is recommended - all over the internet, to prevent or get rid of ash. Alcohol doesn't work, steaming it off doesn't work - the only thing that works is to cover the freshly poured soap with a layer of saran wrap - actually in contact with the surface. Then wait 2 or 3 dyas to remove it, and cut.

You will get lots of advice about ash. Maybe a diff technique will work for you and your recipe. I also cure in a cool basement - in winter, I add a small space heater to speed it along - a fan only if I am in a hurry

Soaps stored in my basement tend to get DOS.

If the basement is small, adding a dehumdifier might help.

Can you put the the soap in closed cardboard boxes? That way they can still breathe, but you can put them under your bed or in a closet.

I put saran wrap on the ones where the colours or designs would be obscured by the ash. And those that I know ash more than others.
I pour the soap, then go upstairs and wash the pots.
I put the saran wrap on after the soap has firmed to a soft pudding like stage , 15-30 min.
I pull out a long sheet of saran wrap, swear at it a bit as I untangle it, then lay it across the top of the soap. It rest on the to edges of the mould at this point. I carefully lift one side and oh so gently touch it with the flat of my hand so that it makes contact with the surface of the log. I work my wat down the length, and it adheres easily as it touches.

The next day, I remove the log from the mould, but leave the saran wrap on for a few days.

I do the same thing with guacamole... funny that should come up - we're having some tonight!

You could always put an oscillating fan in your basement to keep the air moving.

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

@Anakiya yes avocados forever!

@ljm1180 - My boyfriend didn't like the idea of a fan just running down there, maybe we can compromise and just have it running while I'm home and awake! I'm still curious about keeping it in my breezeway, I think I'm going to experiment and see what happens to it if I do that.

I have some really smelly stuff that I cure in the garage.
It does fine out there. If it's too cold, it just takes a little longer.