how to reduce ash

[awi]

I sometimes have a layer of ash form on the top of my soap and was wondering if there was a way to reduce it in any way? I was reading through some information on the internet and came upon a site for beekman1802.com who sells goats milk soap. They have the following quoted on their site about their soap... "BEEKMAN 1802 soap uses the highest percentage of pure goat milk possible in each bar. You may notice a faint layer of ash on the bottom of the soap, which washes away with first use. This ash affirms the bar is made from pure goat milk using non-chemical methods."

Is this true? Does it hurt to leave the ash one there? I don't personally like the way it looks and if I were a consumer, I would put a bar of soap down that had that on it and purchase one that looked "cleaner".

 

[dagmar88]

Some people 'embrace' te ash; others use methods like polishing with panty hoses or toothbrushes, spraying with rubbing alcohol, covering the soap wile gelling or curing.
sometimes it happens anyway, it does not hurt to just let it be. Depending on your target group (when selling) you could actually prefer to leave the ash; so your soap looks more rustic.

the highest percentage of goatsmilk in soap is 100% of the liquid you use for your lye solution. Normally about 38% of the weight of your oils.
Don't think a goatsmilk soap NEEDS to form ash; it's probably a sales pitch.
Natrium Hydroxide (lye) is a chemical, so there is absolutely now way they're able to affirm their soap is produced using non-chemical methods...

 

[TessC]

Yeah, some of my non-milk soaps ash, so definitely sounds like just a sales pitch to me.

I'm personally not a fan of the way ash looks on most of my soaps, so I've started spraying them with alcohol. If someone is going for a more rustic look, though, the ash might suit their bars perfectly.

 

[awi]

Yeah, some of my non-milk soaps ash, so definitely sounds like just a sales pitch to me.

I'm personally not a fan of the way ash looks on most of my soaps, so I've started spraying them with alcohol. If someone is going for a more rustic look, though, the ash might suit their bars perfectly.

Do you have to wipe the alcohol off, or just spray them?

 

[TessC]

Just spray. I bought a little spray bottle just for alcohol and keep it with my soap supplies, picked up a bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol at the drug store and it wrks really well.

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[sduffin]

I do have problem with that,too. I still concern with this problem. It dosn't look good when they are on the shelf.

I will try the alcohol Seems like it's a good idea.

 

[gekko62]

That Beekman's soap was the one on Martha Stewart where the guy who RECKONS he makes it did a demo. Yeah right...so I wouldn't believe one single thing they claim.I never ever get ash on GM soap.

 

[awi]

That Beekman's soap was the one on Martha Stewart where the guy who RECKONS he makes it did a demo. Yeah right...so I wouldn't believe one single thing they claim.I never ever get ash on GM soap.

I guess I missed that! I have only watched Martha a few times and usually considered it more of a comedy than a craft show! I was doing searches on Gm soaps and came across this one. I bet they are selling like crazy if they were on Martha's show regardless of how good it is or is not! haha.

 

[amanda131]

So when you guys use the panty hose or tooth brush to remove the ash do you wet it? I have some bars that I bubble wraped and have whipped tops, they have ash and I want to remove it but not loose the texture....and tips??

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[amanda131]

Well now I spray with Alcohol just after the pour and have no problems. It's the ones I didn't. So you think I should spray them with alcohol now and just rub them a little with panty hose or a toothbrush?

 

[artisan soaps]

..

 

[donniej]

I have found that if my dehumidifier blows directly on my drying racks then those racks will all have ash. I'm not sure if it's because the air from the dehumidifier is very dry or because it has a lower temperature.

 

[awi]

Yeah, some of my non-milk soaps ash, so definitely sounds like just a sales pitch to me.

I'm personally not a fan of the way ash looks on most of my soaps, so I've started spraying them with alcohol. If someone is going for a more rustic look, though, the ash might suit their bars perfectly.

TessV-
Do you spray your bars with alcohol right after pouring into the molds, or do you do it after the soap has already set and the ash has appeared? I tried spraying some bars that I unmolded 3 days ago which had some ash and it didn't seem to make the ash go away, so I thought you maybe meant to spray it when you pour your soap into the mold.

 

[ohsoap]

I tried the saran wrap/cling wrap last night, and it worked well, except my mold was too full so I have imprints from the plastic. I'm definitely going to try the alcohol method next... up till now I've been trying to shave off the ash, but my soap looks quite deformed after I'm done with it.
I have a beveller/shaver on my xmas list but maybe I won't need one now!

 

[gekko62]

I have a beveller/shaver on my xmas list but maybe I won't need one now!

I made one of these bevellers

http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11439

Still working on a planer tho!

 

[ohsoap]

I would get my DH to make me one... but I have about 9 molds sitting on the porch outside still waiting for him to finish since May!