Teach Soap

So...I now faithfully and religiously check my soap for "zap"...not addicted to it like some LOL...BUT I feel that it is prudent to do so because clearly I am no expert by any means...ESPECIALLY if I see any questionable spots in said soap. SOoooo....

Reading in another place online, I saw someone had posted this question: How soon after making a batch of soap can you check to see if the soap is lye heavy? Is that the tongue test?!

The reply was this: As long as you used a calculator, and a scale.. soap looks good... feels good. No reason to test because at this point your tongue will tell you nothing..

Now to ME that is a little misleading in being said....shouldn't you check questionable stuff? especially if you are a newbie (like me - AND the lady who posted the question....I know she is new too)

Also, is it true if there is nothing "questionable or concerning" then the zap test won't work? Because I swear I check EVERYTHING before I even wash my hands with it...so can I stop checking now?

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

I think this is where experience comes in play - once you've been making CP for awhile and know your recipe, AND measured accurately, etc., you won't need to test every batch. Only the ones that didn't turn out as expected. If you gel your soap, you can check for zap after unmolding & cutting; ungelled soap will take up to 3 days to saponify and checking before that could result in a zap even though there's nothing wrong with the soap - it's just not ready yet and will be fine in a few days.

If you're experimenting with new recipes, it would be a good idea to check for zap, just in case.

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

As posted above, once you are familiar with your recipe, have made it over, and over (and over and over) again, you are generally ok not to test. With experience and familiarity also comes the ability to spot and sense things that just aren't quite right. If in doubt, test.

Your tongue can tell if there is a problem with lye. They call it a "zap" test for a reason. Outside of lye, your tongue can help, but can't always pinpoint the problem. For example I had some strange spots recently, and while they didn't zap, they tasted gawd awful!! Like, gag reflex awful. My tongue was a pretty good tester there to let me know something wasn't right!

So yes, they are SORT of right. If it looks good, feels good and it acts like soap is meant to act. Then 99% of the time you're safe. IF there is something that makes you feel .... off, then you can check. But that really comes with experience and licking a few soaps in the beginning.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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Theresa

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Genny

Tell me this one thing very clearly then...if it is lye heavy, could it possibly LOOK normal, but still zap? Or will lye heavy soap always have something apparent to the eye that screams "Watch Out Danger"?

I told her she needs to switch forums she frequents anyways...not a lot of teaching going on there anyways...she may, she may not...we shall see....

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

The soap could still look ok, but be lye heavy.

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

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

LOL! I was putting "salt" on my roast dinner one Xmas. I love my salt. Mmm, salty. Sadly, I had picked up the pepper shaker instead. Poor grandma swapped dinners with me and sweated through her Xmas lunch so I didn't.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

If it was as easy as picking up and moving, I would be there tomorrow!!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I know right? Moving is HORRID! You think moving across oceans and countries is hard...try to coordinate just from one county to the next with a dozen goats, 3 horses, 2 cats, one dog and 40 chickens! In the hottest part of the summer! There are some things I REFUSE to do again voluntarily! So I don't blame you if it takes a while to get to Texas

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

My sister and nanna once made a carrot cake which they forgot to add the carrots to

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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