Curing soap in a cold garage/shed in winter

[SoaperMom]

Hi all, I've been looking through the archives but haven't found any information about this so I'm hoping someone here can help me with this problem.

When I made soap years ago I was able to cure my soaps in a closet with louvered doors but we've moved to a different house and my DH has taken in a ton of cats who have free reign all over the house. javascript:emoticon (':roll:') Our house has very small closets and they're all full of clothes. I can lock the cats out of the kitchen while I'm making soap but I can't keep them out for weeks while the soap cures and as anyone with cats can tell you, they won't leave it alone if I just put them on a open shelving unit somewhere in the house. So since I don't want "furry" soap or soap with teeth or claw marks in it, I'm thinking about putting my cut soap bars out in the garage/shed to dry (I hot process my soap so basically they only have to dry out).

With winter coming on, I wonder if the soap will dry when it's freezing cold outside or if they'll just freeze and not dry at all.

Eventually I want DH to build me an semi-enclosed drying case but it's not a high priority for him so there is no telling when I'll actually get it (if ever).

Have any of you cured your soap in an unheated garage/shed?

Thanks so much!
Kelly Dawn :roll:

 

[Dalziel]

i would be interested in a similar answer.

 

[carebear]

it can really slow the cure/drying (evaporation is slowed), and there are issues with temperature fluctuations - they can cause condensation and "oiling out". I know cause I tried.

oh, and mice eat soap. they LOVE soap.

 

[mjmccauley]

I don't have a lot of knowledge in soap making, but freezing temperatures...I do. I would expect that the same thing that happens to food that you take out of the freezer would happen with your soap. As soon as it would hit a warmer temperature the product will start to sweat and turn mushy. And if it is a big temp fluctuation, you could run into some possibly slimy soap.

 

[Deda]

oh, and mice eat soap. they LOVE soap.

A Yep - the place I used to work had to toss several 100 bars of soap a few years ago because of the little buggars.

Could you try under the bed storage boxes with airholes cut out and some wire racks inside to separate the layers?

 

[chrisinflorida]

I cure my soaps in a dresser.

Chris

 

[SoaperMom]

ACK! I hadn't thought about mice. I think I'd rather have cat hair on my soap than mouse droppings. eewww
So, I guess I'm off to the garage sales and thrift stores for a old dresser.
Thanks for all the help folks!!!
Kelly Dawn

 

[SoapyScrubs]

I guess the mice thought it smelled too yummy to pass up.

 

[heartsong]

storage

my dear hubby got some track and wire shelves for me from lowes-the kind for closet systems and put the up in my sewing/crafts room. i place the shelves close together -about 8-10" above eachother,and up high. about 5 feet. you'd be amazed how many soaps can dry on 4-6 foot lengths!

oh, i use the giant sized plastic needlepoint canvas on top of the racks, which keeps my soap from falling between the wire. the air circulation is great!

 

[Deda]

Re: storage

my dear hubby got some track and wire shelves for me from lowes-the kind for closet systems and put the up in my sewing/crafts room. i place the shelves close together -about 8-10" above eachother,and up high. about 5 feet. you'd be amazed how many soaps can dry on 4-6 foot lengths!

oh, i use the giant sized plastic needlepoint canvas on top of the racks, which keeps my soap from falling between the wire. the air circulation is great!

Great idea. I think I have some of that canvas!

 

[SoaperMom]

Excellent idea! That would work perfectly in the spare bedroom. I could easily drape the top of the soap with a sheet to keep anything from drifting down on them.
Thanks!
Kelly Dawn

 

[IanT]

it can really slow the cure/drying (evaporation is slowed), and there are issues with temperature fluctuations - they can cause condensation and "oiling out". I know cause I tried.

oh, and mice eat soap. they LOVE soap.

thats crazy!! why do they eat soap!?!