Another disadvantage for a Newbie

[sethkaylyn]

I recently made two batches of CP soap. One has been curing for two weeks and the other only one week.
Just realized I am on my last store bought "Irish spring" bar of soap. I am not too happy about having to purchase more store bought soap when I have about 20 bars in my laundry room. LOL

 

[Seawolfe]

Try the 2 week soap - it will give you an idea of how much better it gets at 4,6,8+ weeks

 

[sethkaylyn]

Try the 2 week soap - it will give you an idea of how much better it gets at 4,6,8+ weeks

Thanks Seawolfe!
I did try it a few days ago. I had a small end piece that I used to wash my hands but it felt kind of sticky after so I figured it still has much curing to do.

 

[Seawolfe]

I don't think theres a one of us who hasn't sampled early. Soon you will be just swimming in soaps

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

As Seawolfe said, once you have a couple of batches going you will always have cured soap to use up. The first wait is a killer, I know!

 

[Susie]

A syndet bar lasts about a month, which is about what yours needs to fully cure. Just buy one more bar, then the long, long wait will be over.

 

[neeners]

I give my bars a test run WAY before the 4 week cure time. I just cut a 1/4 chunk out of one, and keep cutting chunks out of it until the batch is ready.

I'm not sure of the sticky feeling though. Do you have hard water?

 

[sethkaylyn]

I give my bars a test run WAY before the 4 week cure time. I just cut a 1/4 chunk out of one, and keep cutting chunks out of it until the batch is ready.

I'm not sure of the sticky feeling though. Do you have hard water?

I would say that we do have hard water. It may be the reason for the stickiness?

 

[neeners]

can be. or if you're not used to using handmade soap, there could be a bit of an adjustment period.

 

[Seawolfe]

Hard water probably. If you search on the CP soap forum for "Hard Water" you will get a few ideas of the symptoms in regards to how the soap behaves when washing, and what people do.

 

[lsg]

I would start using from the oldest batch. Soap gets milder and harder the longer it cures, but after a couple of weeks, you can use it.

 

[LunaSkye]

Why not try to make a HP soap? Those are the soaps that you can use a day or two after they are made, though they can still benefit from a nice cure.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Why not try to make a HP soap? Those are the soaps that you can use a day or two after they are made, though they can still benefit from a nice cure.

I actually think that hp soaps are worse to start off with. Yes, you know they are safe from the moment you pour, but you use a lot more water and it shows. If anything, hp needs more of a cure. Water isn't everything, of course, but from the feel at one week old, hp seems to be generally softer than cp.

If I had to choose a week old soap, it would be a cp soap rather than a hp one

 

[jules92207]

I am going to agree with the gent here. I learned from a friend who only did hp and I bought the book she used to get started. It wasn't till I found this wonderful forum and tried cp that I saw the difference. I realized I really don't like hp and I have found the cure time is much longer due to all that water. Stick with cp for a while and give a good 4-6 wk cure before really deciding on if you like your recipe.

 

[shunt2011]

I agree with Effy......You could always find a Farmer's Market with a soapmaker and buy a bar from them to hold you over.

 

[sethkaylyn]

Thanks everyone! I'll give it a try in a few days. I'll let y'all know the results.

 

[jules92207]

Want me to send you some soap? I certainly have plenty...

 

[sethkaylyn]

Want me to send you some soap? I certainly have plenty...

That's ok jules92207. I really do appreciate the offer. That's very sweet.

 

[tiptongrange]

What about Cold Process-Oven Process? Can't you use that right away too? Is the result closer to CP or HP?

 

[Susie]

What about Cold Process-Oven Process? Can't you use that right away too? Is the result closer to CP or HP?

Good thought, right? But there is a difference between safe to use, and good to use. While CPOP would be safe, it would not necessarily be good. It still needs to cure. And I would hate for a newbie to judge his/her first batch of soap harshly because it is not yet good. Good is after a 6-8 week cure.