Help with soda ash?

[Nanooo48]

So I’ve done the spray with alcohol method.. And it’s just not working. Is there something else I can do to avoid soda ash? Please? It doesn’t happen on all soaps with similar or the same recipe. I just don’t get it Top photo is a goats milk soap, the bottom is not. Both have soda ash. I used alcohol spray for both. I can only find 90% alcohol. Could that be it? Lol

 

[Misschief]

Very pretty soaps. A little bit of steam takes care of ash. I kind of like the look of ash on your first soap.

 

[amd]

You could try changing liquid amounts or temperature. Otherwise, steam it off or learn to embrace it! It was a hard thing for my brain to accept, but I have eventually come to overlook ash on soaps.

 

[dibbles]

Pretty soaps! Sometimes ash can look nice on soap, but for the most part I hate it. Do you gel? That seems to help. Lye concentration can make a difference. Steaming will help. I've also found that spraying the ashy bits with distilled water, and then 2 minutes later with alcohol often takes care of it.

 

[Nanooo48]

Very pretty soaps. A little bit of steam takes care of ash. I kind of like the look of ash on your first soap.

Thank you. I have tried the steam method in the past but I was getting sweaty soap before getting rid of the ash, I was using a boiling water method though lol. Didn’t go over well. Could just be that I’m a spaz. I should try again.

 

[Nanooo48]

You could try changing liquid amounts or temperature. Otherwise, steam it off or learn to embrace it! It was a hard thing for my brain to accept, but I have eventually come to overlook ash on soaps.

Yea as much as I try to embrace it on some soaps, others I just wanted the pretty tops I had intended! Lol it’s the type A in my I guess haha. I may have to learn to embrace it if all else fails. The ash loves my soaps! Lol

 

[Nanooo48]

Pretty soaps! Sometimes ash can look nice on soap, but for the most part I hate it. Do you gel? That seems to help. Lye concentration can make a difference. Steaming will help. I've also found that spraying the ashy bits with distilled water, and then 2 minutes later with alcohol often takes care of it.

I do gel for the good portion of my soaps. I’m am going to try that distilled water method! Will that help still if they’ve cured 4 weeks already??

 

[Zing]

Good lord those are gorgeous soaps! Even with ash, I'd love my soaps to look like that! For ash prevention, after pouring into molds, I spray with alcohol, cover in plastic wrap, then cardboard and towels to gel. I don't get ash. Again, great job. Share more photos!

 

[dibbles]

I do gel for the good portion of my soaps. I’m am going to try that distilled water method! Will that help still if they’ve cured 4 weeks already??

I'm not sure, but it wouldn't hurt to try it. Follow the distilled water with an alcohol spray. I really think it's the alcohol that does the work. I've done this just spraying the alcohol and it seems to work about the same. I made soap 2 days ago that was starting to develop a bit of ash on it, so I just did this today - ash is gone. It doesn't always work and I don't know why. And if the ash is thick the results are pretty marginal.

I should also mention that I put my soap bars on two parallel skewers or straws as well to keep the bottoms of the soap elevated a bit.

Good luck - let me know if it works for you.

 

[Nanooo48]

Good lord those are gorgeous soaps! Even with ash, I'd love my soaps to look like that! For ash prevention, after pouring into molds, I spray with alcohol, cover in plastic wrap, then cardboard and towels to gel. I don't get ash. Again, great job. Share more photos!

Thank you so much!!! I will try I’m just never sure where I’m supposed to share the fun stuff besides questions lol.

 

[dibbles]

I’m just never sure where I’m supposed to share the fun stuff besides questions lol.

In the photo gallery
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/forums/the-photo-gallery.22/

 

[Lin19687]

I still say it has to do with Recipe, cure, where you live, time of year, humidity.
I gel and still get ash, tried it all....... as I have posted in other threads about Ash.