Teach Soap

I recently heard of using 200 percent alcohol to get rid of ash. If the soap is spritzed this apparently does the trick.

1) Is this a wives tale or do people use this with regular results?
2) Where does someone buy this grade of alcohol? Must I crack open my moonshine stash? Hehe

Thanks!

DC
Flower of Lisieux Soaps

I spray my fresh batches of soap with regular rubbing alcohol and it helps keep the ash away.

Or do you mean after the soap has ashed?

_________________
Genny

I have never seen 200% rubbing alcohol but you can 91% at just just about any store or pharmacy and spritz that on top. It works but I don't like using it cause I get little indents on on the top of my soap. If I get soda ash I simple run it under cool to warm water and gently wash with pantyhose. I've never had a problem with it taking away my tops swirls or ruining any piping as long as I do it gently.

I meant to say after the soap has been demolded there might be a slight ash on the bar. Can this be spritzed? I've noticed that using water alters the pristine quality of a new soap. I've also tried very light 'scraping' with a knife (sounds sooo harsh!) and that works but it is time consuming.

If spritzing works that would be a real time saver indeed!


Thanks again.

DC
Flower of Lisieux Soaps

200% is usually ethanol or methanol and is available from laboratory supply companies. Not sure you can get it without a special permit of some kind. And I believe it also only comes in drums or 1/2 drums.

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

It is impossible for anything to be 200% as 100% literally means all or total. I believe what was meant is 200 proof which in EtOH speak is basically double percentage by volume. For instance, normal Dark or Select Bacardi Rum is 70 PROOF or 35% alcohol by volume whereas Bacardi 151 is 75.5% alcohol by volume. Whomever wrote whatever you read was probably talking about brands like Everclear vodka.

Most scientific supply stores that I know of list it as 200%, or 200 heavy alcohol. There is a reason they don't use "proof" on it, but I can't for the life of me remember why! I've even seen a 500% ethanol! Used to be used to shrink tumors for easier removal.

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I've emailed a friend of mine in cancer research to see if she can tell me what the 500% is, I've read about it in medical reference material and have seen it used in surgeries (I watch them online through a medical research website), but have never heard what it actually is. I tried to google it but I get nothing! Hopefully my friend knows!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I give my soaps a good spray with 91% rubbing alcohol, then again after 30 minutes, and once more at the ~2 hour mark. Keeps me ash free! Also sets glitter if you use any, seemingly fuses it to the soap surface!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

When I get ash on my soaps, I steam it away. Just boil some water on the stovetop or in a tea kettle and then hold the top of the bar near the steam for a few seconds until the ash disappears. I've also heard of people using the steam setting on an iron, too. You probably will want to hold the soap with a paper towel, though, as it can get slippery.

_________________
- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
Follow me on my

I've been getting ugly ash too, I'm going to try spritzing with rubbing alcohol I think I have 92% here.

_________________
Shari

Using 1% beeswax helps alot too, even with my Lavender soap. Thanks for that hint, soapbuddy!

_________________
Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!