Bad soaping episode I must get off my chest

[Maythorn]

I had it all going good and then I tipped the little glass cup my essential oils were in. And so I tried to scoop up what spilled and gauge what I wouldn't be able to so I could add a little more to the pot. Then later on I backed the poured soap into the toaster which reasonably should not have been that near my work area on the counter but I was trying not to set stuff where I had spilled the scent oils I didn't want my wooden mold to forever and ever smell like lavender on its bottom. And now I'm worried about bread crumbs dislogdged into the soap now but that might not have happened at all. Then completely rattled, I dipped the spatula accidentally into the poured soap and made an uneven depression area which I hope to smooth out somewhere between the soft stage and completely set. All thumbs.

 

[Hazel]

It sounds like you had soap gremlins rampaging through your kitchen. I'm sorry you had such a rough time. Look on the bright side - it can only be better the next time you soap.

 

[Fullamoon]

Oh my. I feel for you. That's happened to me. Usually it begins with tipping something over like a plastic measuring cup filled with oil with the big yellow rubber gloves I'm wearing. Then you quickly snatch whatever you spilled and spill something else...like dominoes!

 

[Maythorn]

That's exactly it, domino effect. I had a couple of additives besides the EO's. I have to do the same batch tomorrow or maybe day after and that way I get a little break. But I had a break for like years before just recently. Out of practice I guess. Can only try to relax a little more the next time and use a bigger glass cup for the scent definitely! Filled up to practically the brim it was doomed.

 

[RDak]

Yeah, stuff like that has happened to me before.

Just three weeks ago I tried to make a batch of a recipe I use alot.

(I don't vary much in my oils, etc., and start making soap for everyone when summer starts to end. This was my first batch since last winter.)

It wouldn't saponify in my double boiler HP method. I tried for 2 hours.

Somewhere along the line I screwed up the amount of ingredients.....I'll never know.

Rebatched it with a bit more lye and used milk as the dilution liquid. Turned out ok, but I screwed up somewhere.

 

[dieSpinne]

Thankfully, the Gremlins were just mischievous and annoying...
I am glad you weren't burned.

 

[honor435]

rdak, what do you mean it wouldnt saponify? hp you just cook it til it doesnt zap, 2 hrs and it wasnt done? weird.

 

[JackiK]

I'm so sorry you had a bad day of soaping. It's better than a good day of work, though!!

Please lock up the gremlins as none of us want them at our house. :wink:

 

[Maythorn]

I statted wiondering about that void moon thing. I might look that up and see if that was going on. The gremlins won't get another chance at me today because I'm stuck in a quandry about what size bars to make next batch. So they'll just have to wait for when that gets sorted out.

That is weird about soap that never saponified, always sad when your ingredients are a write-off. That's probably what I grieve over most is how they could have gone into a predictable batch and made good bars. But you know what, it still is funner than a day at work. I shouldhave a bumper sticker that says "I'd rather be soaping." I don't think I've ever seen one.

 

[Hazel]

I'd like to have a bumper sticker with Jacki's comment: A bad day of soaping is better than a good day at work.

edited to correct typo

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Commiserations. It happens. :wink:

 

[ToniD]

Sorry you had a bad day of soaping. Always frustrating!

 

[ikindred]

Arrgh, I know and understand your frustration. I spent two days blending scents for my Tea Tree soap and forgot to add it into the soap before pouring it into the mold. Of course I didn't realize this until I had already made my swirls.....major fail! So now, I have a mint green looking soap with no scent.

 

[Maythorn]

Taht would be a good bumper sticker, too!

That's awful about forgotten scent but I can understand it happening when you try to do something beyond the plain just add lye water and scent. One thing I do that breaks the flow is when I'm done stick blending I try to remove the soap from it to add back to the pot. I think there must be about two teaspoons of soap lost if I don't. But what a pain. And I better hurry because the soap is traced by then.

 

[Lynnz]

Great idea for bumper sticker Maythorn keep an eye on the forum and wait for someone else to post that they are having a bad soaping day then rush and get your pots out cause you will know the gremlins are at play elsewhere!!!!!.