Teach Soap

Moisture can be a factor for sure. If your lye has clumps in it, that is what the culprit is. Some lids appear air tight, but really arent. You can put your lye into a plastic zip top bag and place that bag down into an airtight container if you have any doubts about the container it is shipped in. I get my lye from a great, less expensive place now, but I also have noticed some clumps after using some out of a fresh bottle. I didnt have that issue from my last supplier, but for the difference in money, I am okay with finding my own storage container!

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

Tammy

My new container DID have clumps in it! I figured it was from moisture...so just putting it in a ziploc bag is good? Maybe I should buy a plastic box to put the ziploc bag in...

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

Actually tossing the clumps in the toilet or down the sink drains isnt bad at all, it helps to clean them out.
I have mine in a plastic zip lock bag and then that bag down in a plastic container with a lid. It is often quite humid here in the summer, so I like to be for sure, for sure. Lol

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

Tammy

I think I may have to try the plastic bag inside the container trick! I don't really have clumps but I have to wonder if moisture gets into the lye as the lye goes down and the container has more air in it. We live in an extremely dry climate (southern Alberta) but our house has a humidifier built into the A/C so there is moisture being added back into the air all the time.

Which makes me think my soaps take longer to get hard because of this! Grrr...

Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

Great, guys! Thanks!!

Another thing that helps is using a container of damp-rid near (not next to) where you store your lye. It will attract the moisture from the air.
http://www.damprid.com/

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

OMG Linda this might be a great solution ... I've never even heard of this product!

Another use for this product possibly: I'm concerned about the humidifier (it's built into our a/c system) in our house making my soaps take so long to cure. I mean they "cure" okay but they seem to stay a teeny bit soft/spongy in the center after say 4-5 weeks. I feel like they need like 8 weeks just to truly get hard.

Anyone else notice this in their homes?

Hmm ... this is interesting!! Thanks!!!!
Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

If there's humidity, it will take longer for water to evaporate out of your soaps.

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

The only time I have a problem with soft middles is if I use a lot of shea butter in my soap. I've been scaling back on it though b/c it was getting so expensive and so it hasn't been a problem.

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I soap therefore I am.

[I made similar post at the SMF as well. If that's a problem please let me know.]

I'm wondering what SMF is?
TIA

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

Soap Makers Forum

Karri

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I soap therefore I am.

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

how do you test a batch for undissolved lye or being lye heavy as you say? Is there an issue to be concerned about for soaping newbies if we reach trace as far as lye heavy or undissolved lye??