Teach Soap

ok here is a question i have long wondered, might sound stupid but.... looking around the internet i have found many different answers to how long cold process soap should be cured for.. some say 8 weeks, some say 3 weeks some say 28 days.. now, i made a batch 2 weeks ago, and found that the batch i made i used a bar tonight just to try it and it was fine, lathered great, no reaction from anything, nothing... is there a rule of thumb as to how long you should let soap cure for? i mean i usually let mine sit ( the ones my husband has made in the past we let sit for 6 weeks) but is there a way to see if soaps are done quicker? i am just curious cause of all the different answers i have read... but never really truly known why i just let it sit cause thats what i was told to do, that it would be harmful if used before then.. thanks for the imput everyone!

Danielle

I'd say 4 weeks for cp, one week for hp...it's so true the longer soap sets the better it gets.

I prefer at least 4 weeks. That way the water has pretty much evaporated, so it will last longer in the shower. The longer you can wait, the better and harder the soap will become. Technically, you could use it after 3 days, but it will still be pretty harsh.

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

harsh as in the lye is still strong or it would dry your skin? like i said i was just letting them sit for 6 weeks because thats what i was told when i started to make them, but when asked now what is the earlier they are safe? and was told 6 weeks, to never, never touch them before that.. well that why i was just curious.. now that i know more lol i just wanted th truth on it.. what about hot process soap? i have heard it is ready right after? never tried tis way, but how is it?

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

Soapbuddy, thanks for all that info. Just to check--CPOP is 0-3 weeks, correct? So in that range, what would you go with?

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

I always give my CPOP 2 weeks and my CP 4 weeks at least. It hasn't failed me yet.

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Haven

Yep----- ditto the 4wks--- I only make goatmilk, cp, no problems!

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You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

thanks everyone this clears up a lot ;0)