Teach Soap

I am new to cold process.
When is the mixture safe to touch?
When is the mixture no longer caustic?
When is it safe to remove the soap from the mold and touch it?
Does a wooden sold mold or any other mold always need a cover?

Can you tell I'm afraid of the lye?

I saw a video where the soaper is mixing with a whisk. Does the whisk have to be stainless steel. Can a wooden spoon be used?

I know these are basic questions & I'm reading a lot. I ordered the cold process kit from BB; so I'm getting prepared.

Lots of questions!

Thank you,
Connie

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"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

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Genny

Looks like Genny covered it. Make sure that you are near the sink or have lots of water nearby in case you get some raw soap on your skin. Make sure you wear long sleeves, long pants, shoes, gloves and goggles for protection.

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

Also keep a bottle of vinegar handy. If you get the lye on you, just splash of vinegar on it, then rinse. The vinegar is acidic while lye is alkyline, they will off set each other.

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Dawn

Thank you so much Soapbuddy & Genny.

When is the mixture safe to touch? When there's no active lye left.
When is the mixture no longer caustic? When there's no active lye left.

How do I know When there's no active lye left?

Make sure that you are near the sink or have lots of water nearby in case you get some raw soap on your skin.

I thought I can NOT put water on lye, but to use vinegar instead. NO?

I'm sorry these are such basic questions.

The more I read & watch videos, the more questions I seem to have!

Thank you.

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"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

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

dsgemmill, thank you! We were writing at the same time

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"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

getting confused

NO VINEGAR!!!! RIGHT?

How do I know When there's no active lye left?

Thank you

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"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

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

NO VINEGAR!! (not shouting, just emphasizing.) When I was first starting out, I did the vinegar on lye burn thing and the pain was excruciating. Do not do it. Seriously. Don't even have your vinegar out.

If everything goes as it should, active lye should be gone within 24 hours or so. Sometimes it takes a bit longer. Do you know the zap test?

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Genny

I have heard of the zap test! I don't know what it is. Zap doesn't sound good!

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"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

The zap test is when you wet your finger with a little water, rub that finger on the soap. Then touch that finger to your tongue. If it zaps you, then there's active lye. If it just tastes like salty soap, then you'r okay.

Don't do it on soap that's 48 hours old or younger though.

Now you're wondering, "How will I know if it zaps?" Oh, you'll know when it happens.

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Genny

I taste it???

Wait 48 hours?

How will I know if a Lye pocket is hiding?

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"Soap is to the body what laughter is to the soul!"

Yes you taste it. Have some apple juice handy to rinse your mouth out with if you like. Don't swallow. Just spit it out. Then rinse your mouth out with water if need be. Zap is like licking a 9 vold battery. You would definitely know.

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

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