Hard bar of soap

[anya]

I've not sure if anyone else has experienced this in their soapmaking.
My CP soap bars just seem to melt away in the shower.
I've used two separate recipes and the soaps just don't last, even after leaving them up to 9 months.
The recipes -
1.
35% olive oil
30% coconut oil (76 degree)
20% palm oil
15% tallow
7% discount with 33% lye concentration
2.
30% olive oil
25% coconut oil (76 degree)
40% tallow
5% palm oil
again with 7% discount and 33% lye.

Both recipes make soaps that feel great and lather well.
I've never used HP before and know that the soap will be useable almost straight away.
Will I get a harder, longer lasting bar of soap if I use HP or are the recipes the problem.
Any help appreciated.

 

[Hazel]

Are you leaving them in the shower? I set mine outside the shower in a raised dish so they dry in between use. They've lasted a long, long time. Too long sometimes. I get bored and want to try a different scent.

 

[carebear]

Unless it's given a good cure period, HP doesn't last long. Long lasting has a lot to do with the amount of water still in the soap.

The only reason I can think of for a soap of those formulas to melt away fast is if they are left wet or damp. But remember, "fast" is a relative word - homemade soap has loads of glycerin in it, and absolutely will not last as long as commercial soaps with somewhere between much less and none.

 

[judymoody]

If my husband and I share a bar, it's usually gone within about 2 weeks. Assuming it's kept out of the spray and in a well draining soap dish. Which it is.

 

[anya]

The soap is usually left in the shower as it is easier for my husband that way. Although the soap dish does have ridges, there may be some water affecting the soap.
I guess I'll just have to persuade him otherwise as that is most likely to be the problem.
Many thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[SilverMaple]

My husband goes through a bar of soap in about 2 weeks. Takes me about a month.

I don't really worry about how long they last; the difference in our skin is worth it. Plus, we use the 'rejects' from those I sell--- single bars left over, end pieces, soaps I don't like due to color, etc. I leave them in the shower; but our shower is big so they really aren't in direct spray.

I had one customer who was hesitant to try handmade soap because she'd heard it didn't last too long. I sold her a bar and told her I'd buy her lunch if she didn't like it. She called me two weeks later to order more; said the price of soap was a lot cheaper than the bottles and bottles of lotion she'd been slathering on with commercial body wash...

 

[Soap Techniques]

homemade soap has loads of glycerin in it, and absolutely will not last as long as commercial soaps with somewhere between much less and none.

This!

 

[IrishLass]

homemade soap has loads of glycerin in it, and absolutely will not last as long as commercial soaps with somewhere between much less and none.

This!

+2


IrishLass

 

[anya]

homemade soap has loads of glycerin in it, and absolutely will not last as long as commercial soaps with somewhere between much less and none.

This!

Sorry.
I appreciate that homemade soap will not last as long as commercial soap.

What does 'This!' mean?
:?:

 

[Genny]

homemade soap has loads of glycerin in it, and absolutely will not last as long as commercial soaps with somewhere between much less and none.

This!

Sorry.
I appreciate that homemade soap will not last as long as commercial soap.

What does 'This!' mean?
:?:

It means she agrees

 

[anya]

Hi Genny
Thanks for the explanation.
I had never seen That! before and was confused as to what it might mean.

 

[brandnew]

I tried the recipe from my book with 16 oz lard
2 oz lye
5 oz water
and it turned out wonderfully!! My first batch! The recipe may not be exotic enough but the soap was great with a bit of mint EO.
I've tried an olive oil, palm sunflower mix and was surprised at HOW long it's taken to harden up to extract from my 'mold'. (use the term loosely as it's a cut up milk carton! But it's still looking very hopeful after a few days

 

[anya]

Hi Brandnew
First of all, welcome to soapmaking.
I really love lard and tallow in soap. My soaps are great as handsoap, but when used in the shower they just don't last. I think, from the responses, that the problem is leaving them in the shower and not giving them a chance to dry out between use.
Enjoy your soaping. Have patience with your current batch. It is very very addictive.

 

[brandnew]

anya thank you for the encouragement!! I have to ask...the photo you have, WHAT did you use to cut your bars? It's a lovely effect!

 

[new12soap]

Hmmm... My soaps always go faster than commercial stuff, but not nearly that fast. A bath size bar (4 to 5 oz) lasts as long as 2 months (that's with 2 people using it), a hand soap (2 ounces) that I keep by my kitchen sink and use frequently throughout the day lasts about 1 month. I keep them out of the water flow and put them on a dry sponge so the water drains off and they dry quicky and completely. I HP, but others with more experience have said that doesn't really make a difference. Here are my thoughts:

1. Your recipes seem to have a higher percentage of softer oils (I consider coconut oil soft since it melts at room temperature - at least it does where I live), would increasing the ratio of harder fats help?

2. I have started adding stearic acid to my soaps, that helps to firm up the bars quite a bit. A very small amount of beeswax will do the same thing.

3. I have read that adding a small amount of salt (like 1 tsp PPO completely dissolved in your water before adding the lye) makes your soap much harder.

And I agree that even if they are going fast they are still totally worth it! Good luck

Edit: I forgot to mention I have very hard water where I live. Does how hard or soft your water is make a difference? I don't know!

 

[MegaSoap]

Edit: I forgot to mention I have very hard water where I live. Does how hard or soft your water is make a difference? I don't know!

i also have very hard water where we live and have read elsewhere that it does matter whether your water is hard or soft, that the different minerals can affect your soap. i always use distilled water for soap making to avoid any problems with this.

 

[new12soap]

Yes, I always use distilled water for making soap, too. I meant that I don't know whether how hard or soft your water is makes a difference in how long your finished soaps last with regular use, such as in the shower.

 

[MegaSoap]

Yes, I always use distilled water for making soap, too. I meant that I don't know whether how hard or soft your water is makes a difference in how long your finished soaps last with regular use, such as in the shower.

gotcha, sorry about that. i don't know that either!

 

[IrishLass]

I've found that another factor that can cause soap to either last longer or disappear faster is how the soap is lathered (i.e. with your naked hand/directly on skin, or with a pouf or facial cloth). The more friction, the faster they get used up. Also- how tall, large, and/or hairy the person(s) are who bathe with it also figures in.


IrishLass

 

[new12soap]

I guess how dirty the people are would matter, too :wink: and by that I just mean that someone who works outdoors or partcipates in sports and such might need a bit more sudsing to get clean... so no offense meant!