Dry white parts on soap?

[Smash]

I made my first batch of CP the other day, it's curing now. But I noticed on one of the bars ( I don't think any of the other bars have it...) the corners are white-ish and dry looking. I didn't inspected it too hard. (I'm afraid to touch it, lol.) Anyone know what this is? Is it bad?

 

[topcat]

Can you post a pic please? It could be soda ash developing or it may be un-gelled edges....? Really need to see it! :wink:

Tanya

 

[christellita]

if it is ungelled edges, what do you do?

 

[topcat]

Nothing.....once saponification is complete (somewhere from 6 to 48 hours usually) what you see is what you get! It won't affect the quality of the soap, just the appearance. I suppose if it really bothered you, you can cut the edges off.

If it is soda ash you can spritz the ash with isopropyl alcohol and it will disappear!

Tanya

 

[Smash]

Ugh, I was going to take a photo, but my batteries died. I will have to take one when I get back from vaca. It is only on one bar so...The others look fine.

 

[MsBien]

It sure sounds like soda ash to me. That is the same problem I've been having lately!

 

[Smash]

Aw no..I hope not. This is my firstbatch! lol, *sigh* But if I do the alcohol thing, it will be ok? And since it's only on one soap, are the other ones fine then?

 

[Ilovesoap]

smash, soda ash is not a real problem, it is strictly and appearance issue. The soap is totally useable. Ash is very common. If you aren't doing a sculpted, textured type top, try covering your soap during gel - that helps.

 

[honor435]

smash, soda ash is not a real problem, it is strictly and appearance issue. The soap is totally useable. Ash is very common. If you aren't doing a sculpted, textured type top, try covering your soap during gel - that helps.

I have a wood log mold and cover it and still get ash, i just cut it off or alcohol it!

 

[Smash]

Ya, Idid cover it, not that great I guess. As long as it is still usable, I'm not too concerned at this point. I've only just started. And it's only the one bar, so I'll just use it myself.

Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[andreabadgley]

Smash - don't worry about it. I often get ash on the corners of my end bars. Not sure why just the corners, but as everyone else has said, you didn't do anything wrong and it doesn't affect the quality of your soap. I'm going to have to try that alcohol trick, though!

 

[IanT]

what i will usually do is cover the top of the soap with wax paper as soon as it gets a little harder during gel, i will smooth it out real nice so the top is even and there are no air bubbles, this will minimize the soaps contact with the surrounding air and reduce the chance of the development of soda ash!

 

[Rah]

So soda ash forms because the curing soap comes into contact with the air?
I've heard that covering the mould in clingfilm after pouring the soap stops it from forming, is this true? Thing is, mine got soda ash while it was curing after I had unmoulded it - I had it curing in piles and the soda ash only formed on the bottom of each bar, where it was touching the one below... do you know why that was?