Dry, Dark and Cold ...what's TOO cold?

[bodhisoma]

I've finished up my first batch, cut it up (next time I'm trying a wire, the knife cut fine put stuck to the soap and caused chunks to rip out when separating) and now it's on racks to cure.

I've seen it stated that the curing area should be dry, dark and cold. We have a pantry which meets all three but might even hit freezing on some rare occasions.

Is this TOO cold?

Thanks much in advance!

 

[Soapy Gurl]

Personally I have never heard dark and cold. I cure my soap on top of my kitchen cupboards or in my spare bedrooms. I don't think the cold would be good. The light wouldn't matter. I am sure someone else will chime in.

 

[IrishLass]

Protecting the soap from excess humidity is always good, as is keeping the soap out of direct sunlight- but it doesn't have to be bone-dry or pitch black or anything like that. My soaps are cured in a room where it's out of direct sunlight, but an electric light is often on- and they do perfectly fine. As for cold.....I agree that excessive heat is probably not good, but it doesn't have to be cold- plain old room temp is perfectly fine.


IrishLass

 

[13dolls]

Hi, this is my first post!
It's a bit hard to avoid the humidity sometimes, living in Brisbane during the summer. I'm hoping that it won't affect the soaps down the track - make them more prone to DOS?
What about me getting a de-humidifier?

 

[Fragola]

I believe the technical denomination is cool, not cold

But I don't think freezing should affect soap, just it will slow down cure.

If you can do dark, it's better, because light promotes oxidation.

I just wish I had bone dry.

Humidity also causes a very annoying problem - sweating.

Right now, I have 2 choices: cold and humid or warm and drier. My bet is on the first one, I hope I'm right about that.

 

[Dragonkaz]

My soaps cure in a spare room in cardboard boxes. The temp in summer averages 35+ C (dry heat) and in winter it's around 20 C. There's no direct sun, but the room has loads of light coming into it during the daylight hours. My soaps cure beautifully!

 

[ToniD]

Ive never tested this...but I would be afraid of a freezing and thawing cycle. Freeze, get warm, get condensation on the soap.

I've cured in a quite cool place and it is fine.