Did using citric acid cause this?

[LynetteO]

DUPLICATE THREAD. Lesson learned. No replies required.

Recipe information & picture here: Did using CA cause this?

 

[ResolvableOwl]

I'm regularly adding two or three times that amount of citric acid, haven't noticed crumbliness yet. The only crumbly soaps were ones with too much sodium lactate, and one batch that had terrible false trace (ingredients that should better have been used in a HP recipe only).
Did you compensate the extra citric acid with increasing NaOH?

I'm usually also soaping at higher lye concentration (37% or higher). Low lye concentration, plenty of saturated oils (palm, CO), not pre-dispersed colourants, and an ill-behaving FO might be less than helpful. IME, hand-stirring instead of SB is possible, but can vary more in terms of smoothness of batter. I think all these points, plus an hour too long waiting, might well explain your chipping and crumbling. Not sure if you can blame the citric acid for it.

 

[Zany_in_CO]

I like what @DeeAnna said in that other thread.

When you give fats in percentages and other ingredients in weights, there is no way a person can check your recipe for problems or know if you did the math correctly. Give all ingredients all in weights or all in percentages -- don't mix. IMO it's best to provide the actual weights you used to make the batch.

It would be most helpful if you could please provide a screenshot of the lye calculator you used plus any particulars of the method.

 

[DeeAnna]

When a person posts two threads with the same question, the conversation gets really confusing. Please don't make a new post, even if it contains a link, as this one does. If you think a post belongs in another forum, ask a moderator to move the post.

 

[LynetteO]

When a person posts two threads with the same question, the conversation gets really confusing. Please don't make a new post, even if it contains a link, as this one does. If you think a post belongs in another forum, ask a moderator to move the post.

Thank you. I didn’t realize that was an option. I’ll be more careful where I am posting but will ask for thread to be moved, if needed. Again sorry .

 

[Zany_in_CO]

If you think a post belongs in another forum, ask a moderator to move the post.

Mea culpa @DeeAnna I asked that the post be moved from the ZNSC thread to the Recipe Feedback forrum.

 

[LynetteO]

@Zany_in_CO Your post literally made me . Between my multiple soap fails, multiple SMF post fails, saddest book club book ending EVER & MENOPAUSE I’m an absolute wreck. Forgive me folks
@DeeAnna Please don’t B2 frustrated with me. I’ll posting & read only.

 

[AliOop]

@LynetteO awwww sorry hun! We all have those times when it seems like everything is going wrong. Menopause on top of that is the pits (ask me, no ask my husband, lol... although he may have blocked it out from PTSD).

You are always kind and encouraging to others, so it is our turn to do that for you! Please do something relaxing and fun for yourself. Eventually the soap mojo will return, and when you are ready, you can make a basic soap with one color and a behaving fragrance. That's always the best way for me to recover from multiple soap fails, so maybe it wil work for you, too. Till then

 

[LynetteO]

Mea culpa @DeeAnna I asked that the post be moved from the ZNSC thread to the Recipe Feedback forrum.

Again. So . I found & edited to say thread

 

[LynetteO]

@AliOop Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Truly! They too made me cry, but I think EVERTHING is making me cry. When it rains 🌧 it pours 🌩 I guess.