CP soap keeps sticking to my molds?!!

[Olive bubbles]

I am new to using molds and have been doing olive oil based CP soap, so far with the couple of molds that I have tried, the soap doesn't come out of the molds. I have tried putting them in the freezer, but to no avail, I have tried to let them dry longer...like months longer...still wet and sticking to mold when I try to pry it out. Any suggestions? I have some cute molds and would love to use them, but am afraid! The only mostly success I have had was using a silicacone mold for a one bar of soap. That one came out almost perfect. Any suggestions would be great...

Olive Bubbles

 

[panzerakc]

What kinds of molds? What are they made of?

Anita

 

[Guest]

Are u using those plastic type molds? I don't have much luck with those. Could only get them out after I put it in the freezer.

 

[Olive bubbles]

I have a couple of hard plastic molds and a couple of flexible plastic (not silicone) molds. I am afraid to try the hard plastic molds because I still have soap stuck in the sem-flexible ones! Maybe they were meant for pour soap and not CP? My husband has suggested putting lecithin in the molds first but I am afraid to alter the chemistry, plus that stuff is soooo sticky, really hard to spread, but it would work.

 

[Lindy]

Brush them lightly with mineral oil....

 

[Soapy Gurl]

I have yet to get it, but I am going to buy the food grade silicone spray. I have heard great things about it. But you can use mineral oil or petroleum.

 

[Tegan]

Are you lining the molds? What's your super fat %?

 

[busybee]

I found that I was having a similar problem but once I put them on the bathroom floor which has underfloor heating in it and gets rather hot then the problem went away. I leave them there wrapped for about 24 hours and then take them away and let them go completely cold before trying to removing the soap. Some how the heating seems to make them go harder. Maybe this will help you too.

 

[Maythorn]

I gave up on not lining molds with freezer paper and I have to with my wooden ones. Unless they are the Milky Way molds I have a few of and with those I have to put them in the freezer for hours before they come loose neatly.

 

[IrishLass]

I 'grease' mine with a very light coating of mineral oil. Mineral oil does not saponify, so you won't be messing up your soap formula or anything like that.

It would also be helpful to know how much water you are using in your batches, because using a 'full water' amount makes for more difficulties when unmolding. Using less than a 'full water' amount and/or adding a little sodium lactate to your lye water (I use 1 tbsp ppo) will help make unmolding tremendously easier.

I found that I was having a similar problem but once I put them on the bathroom floor which has underfloor heating in it and gets rather hot then the problem went away. I leave them there wrapped for about 24 hours and then take them away and let them go completely cold before trying to removing the soap. Some how the heating seems to make them go harder. Maybe this will help you too.

The heat is just forcing the soap to go through gel, which does indeed make the soap harder and easier to unmold (which is one of the reasons why I like to gel all my soaps). I stick mine in a warm oven to ensure gel.


IrishLass

 

[Olive bubbles]

So about the "gelling" process..you are putting them into the oven right after you put the soap into a mold? And at what temp, and for how long?

As to mineral oil, I am trying to stay away from petroleum products. Mineral oil isn't the best thing for skin.

I just made a new batch today with very flexible silicone molds..they are the ones that you can get at the grocery store for ice cubes, they come in all different shapes, so we will see how this goes!

Thanks everyone for replying!

 

[Lindy]

Mineral oil does not saponify and therefore doesn't become part of the soap when used on molds as a release.

 

[pure&simple]

Mineral oil does not saponify and therefore doesn't become part of the soap when used on molds as a release.

Good that you remind me of this. I just made a 2lb batch and poured it in my newly bought PVC pipes. Now, after 2 days, I can't get the darn thing out. I've tried freezer but it doesn't work. What do I do with my soap that won't come out? :x

I have to remember to oil the pipes next time.

 

[Fragola]

About gelling: I wouldn't put plastic molds in the oven. Silicone is ok.

 

[Tegan]

Now, after 2 days, I can't get the darn thing out. I've tried freezer but it doesn't work. What do I do with my soap that won't come out?

Freeze it again....then take it out onto a cement slab and drop it end first (the end with the head room, I assume you didn't fill it to the brim...) onto the cement from about chest height. Watch your toes....prepare for it to bounce. May have to drop it more then once but normally once is enough to jar it loose. Should slide right out after that!

 

[Lindy]

And if that doesn't work.......

The first time I soap with PVC pipe I had to replace the pipe after getting the soap out. I kinda threw it on the cement when gentle drops didn't work....

 

[IrishLass]

When using PVC pipes for my shaving soap I line them with freezer paper held together with tape. My hubby sawed my pipes into managable lengths so that it would be easy for me to line them in this way. My soap comes out of the pipes easy-peasy.

So about the "gelling" process..you are putting them into the oven right after you put the soap into a mold? And at what temp, and for how long?

Yes- that's what I do. All it takes to ensure full gel in my soap is to heat my oven to 120 degreesF, turn it off, set my covered mold (all made out of wood) into it with a few lightweight towels draped over the top of the cover, and leave it to sit there undisturbed overnight and into the next morning (usually about 12 to 18 hours or so). The lowest temp I can actually 'set' my my oven to is 170 degreesF, but it lets me see the progression of the temperature on the digital screen as it is heating up, and once it hits 120 degreesF I turn it off.

IrishLass

 

[pure&simple]

I finally got the soap out! I had to have my hubby cut a piece of wood to form the bottom for the pipe and I used a flash light handle to push the soap out.
The soap didn't come out smooth on the sides because I think it was still a little soft, so some soap got stuck inside.

Tegan, I filled mine to the brim so I couldn't employ your method. With my luck, I would probably break my pipe like Lindy did. Irishlass, I chose the PVC pipes because I didn't want the hassle with lining the forms

Tip to remember (at least for ME): GREASE THE PIPES!