akseattle
Well-Known Member
New Question: 1) How do you store your CP soap during the curing process, and
2) then how do you store your CP soap after its 6 week or so of curing?
I've seen very mixed information. Usually, when I see photos of soapmaker's storage areas, I see soaps laid out on baker's racks. Sometimes on wooden shelving, with lots of space between the racks.
I understood CP was supposed to get really good ventilation, especially during curing, so I initially left my soap exposed to the air. On my fourth batch of CP soap (which I did using single cavity molds instead of a loaf), I got pretty serious soda ash. I then read (or I asked and was told) that CP soap should not be exposed to air during the initial curing stage as that can result in soda ash. So, since then, I cover the loaf (or single cavity molds) with a big microwave splatter cover – which has little vent/ holes- then I cover it with towels and a blanket. After I cut it, I’ve been putting it in a wooden wine box- the lid is slightly open because the wood is warped. And I put the towels and blankets over the box.
My wine box is out of space. My January/ February batches are cured. But, I’ve seen all sorts of mixed information about whether CP soap SHOULD have or SHOULD NOT have exposure to air. I know it should be stored in a cool, dry place. But ventilated or not ventilated?
A few places say “a storage cabinet” would be perfect. Some places say “not shoe boxes, but airtight plastic boxes.” Other sites (or books) say “not airtight, there should be some ventilation.” I read one post where a bunch of soapmakers had exchanged soaps as an experiment. A year later, one soaper reported the results. Although I think the experiment had to do with what did or did not make sudsy soap, she also noted that one year later, a few soaps had DOS and a few had no scent. She noted none of the soaps that were well packaged had DOS and that they had more scent. She didn't say HOW they were packaged or wrapped. But, I took her comment to mean that one should protect their CP soap from air.
So, is all this soap I see on soapmaker’s bakers racks with air circulating all around only their during curing? Only after curing?
As I was writing this post, it occurred to me that my sister-in-law (in Calif. East bay area) has had this gigantic bar of unwrapped Savon de Marseille sitting in her bathroom for at least a dozen years. It looks fine.
I downsized my office space and brought home some really heavy duty metal storage cabinets. I would LOVE to store my soap (during and after cure) in my dry, cool basement in shoe boxes in these heavy duty storage cabinets. They wouldn't be "airtight" but there also wouldn’t be much airflow.
I'd be super bummed if my CP soap got DOS due to improper storage.
But, I’m confused! Does CP soap need to be cured and stored with ventilation & airflow or without exposure to air?
How do you all store your CP soap?
2) then how do you store your CP soap after its 6 week or so of curing?
I've seen very mixed information. Usually, when I see photos of soapmaker's storage areas, I see soaps laid out on baker's racks. Sometimes on wooden shelving, with lots of space between the racks.
I understood CP was supposed to get really good ventilation, especially during curing, so I initially left my soap exposed to the air. On my fourth batch of CP soap (which I did using single cavity molds instead of a loaf), I got pretty serious soda ash. I then read (or I asked and was told) that CP soap should not be exposed to air during the initial curing stage as that can result in soda ash. So, since then, I cover the loaf (or single cavity molds) with a big microwave splatter cover – which has little vent/ holes- then I cover it with towels and a blanket. After I cut it, I’ve been putting it in a wooden wine box- the lid is slightly open because the wood is warped. And I put the towels and blankets over the box.
My wine box is out of space. My January/ February batches are cured. But, I’ve seen all sorts of mixed information about whether CP soap SHOULD have or SHOULD NOT have exposure to air. I know it should be stored in a cool, dry place. But ventilated or not ventilated?
A few places say “a storage cabinet” would be perfect. Some places say “not shoe boxes, but airtight plastic boxes.” Other sites (or books) say “not airtight, there should be some ventilation.” I read one post where a bunch of soapmakers had exchanged soaps as an experiment. A year later, one soaper reported the results. Although I think the experiment had to do with what did or did not make sudsy soap, she also noted that one year later, a few soaps had DOS and a few had no scent. She noted none of the soaps that were well packaged had DOS and that they had more scent. She didn't say HOW they were packaged or wrapped. But, I took her comment to mean that one should protect their CP soap from air.
So, is all this soap I see on soapmaker’s bakers racks with air circulating all around only their during curing? Only after curing?
As I was writing this post, it occurred to me that my sister-in-law (in Calif. East bay area) has had this gigantic bar of unwrapped Savon de Marseille sitting in her bathroom for at least a dozen years. It looks fine.
I downsized my office space and brought home some really heavy duty metal storage cabinets. I would LOVE to store my soap (during and after cure) in my dry, cool basement in shoe boxes in these heavy duty storage cabinets. They wouldn't be "airtight" but there also wouldn’t be much airflow.
I'd be super bummed if my CP soap got DOS due to improper storage.
But, I’m confused! Does CP soap need to be cured and stored with ventilation & airflow or without exposure to air?
How do you all store your CP soap?
