Humpy middle, scabby top

[grumpy_owl]

Hi! I'm new to CP and have two questions (out of eleventy billion):

1. I lay plastic wrap over my fresh soap before insulating and where the plastic touches the soap, it hardens with a top that looks like scabby skin. Am I soaping too hot or should the plastic not touch? Trying to avoid soda ash but the third-degree-burn look is worse.

2. How do you get that gorgeous, mountain-peak, whipped-looking humpy middle down the center of soap in a loaf mold? I imagine it has something to do with trace level but I'm still feeling my way around the stages of trace. My soap lies flat in the mold and I want it hump up.

Sorry I used the word "hump" so many times. More coffee...

 

[summerflyy]

Hello grumpy owl ! I understand what you mean. The first time I insulated my soaps with cling wrap, i had the exact same problem. Maybe the next time you make them, leave a little space so the plastic won't touch. It should solve all your problems.

As the the second question, I believe it can be done by texturing the top. There are a few youtube videos that shows how it could be done but I'm out right now so I can't show you links. I'll see if I can find it when I reach home

 

[Dorymae]

Soda ash is something most of us have to deal with sometimes. I'm not sure exactly what causes it in some recipes and not others but I think it has something to do with the evaporation of the water during the cure and the 'weather' (temp, humidity etc). I do not cover my tops because it never seemed to help anyway, even when I was careful to allow no air I would still get soda ask during the cure.

You can "wash" away soda ash. Some people dip their soaps in cold water, this will get rid of the ash and leave a sheen on the soap bars. Others steam off the ash, and some use alcohol. Really there is no right or wrong way, it is just what works best for you.

I do texture some of my tops and or pile them up. For those I take a bit more time if they get ashy. I may have to dip them and then use alcohol on the tops if I don't want to dip the tops because of decorations or such. Like I said - you do what works for you.

My advice is not to try to prevent it (I've never found anything that will) but to perfect a way to get rid of it.

 

[pamielynn]

I don't know how high up in the mold your tops go, but I use magazines to cover the tops of my small molds. They sort of "hump" naturally and stay in place if/when you insulate with a towel or blanket. I've never had one drop into the batter.

"Humping" the tops is pretty easy. I use a spoon and push batter from the sides of the mold in towards the middle and start smushing and twisting the batter until a peak forms. Search youtube for "peaked tops". You do need to have a nice, thick batter to get the tops to stay - but you don't have to pour at a thick trace; you can leave it in the mold for a few minutes until it starts to thicken - but no TOO long or it will be too hard to peak up.

 

[Susie]

I don't do fancy tops, but yes, it is a matter of how thick your batter is.

To prevent the towel/blanket/whatever from touching my soap top, I have a cardboard box that just fits over both my molds that I just pop over them before insulating. I tried the plastic wrap also, with the same results-icky top.

I vote with the learn how to get rid of soda ash group. Much easier than trying to prevent.

 

[Seawolfe]

You get the ability to hump your soap when your trace is thicker - like pudding. Then you just sort of scoop up from the sides to the middle. The trick is to know when to stop fussing it
I've given up worrying about ash. I have named it "magic soap fairy dust", and just wash it off the soap if it bugs me. Actually after curing in my house with the dust, the cats, the dog, the fan, its good for the soaps to get a little wash and shine.

 

[grumpy_owl]

Thanks so much, everyone! I panic while stick blending and when it looks ready I glop it into the mold and cover it and run away. It the top looks bad I fling a bunch of mica at it. Not sure where I got the idea that it all happens really fast at the end but I will slow down, work the spatula and try to create a beautiful peaked soap. You are all so encouraging. Hugs!

 

[pamielynn]

It the top looks bad I fling a bunch of mica at it.

I have a couple of soaps that ALWAYS ash - so that's what I do, too! "Oh, look how pretty this shiny white top is!" Yep. So pretty, ha ha.

 

[shunt2011]

When I first started I just used a box over the top. I would spray the heck out of it with alcohol and then put the box over the top and then put towels over that. I did get ash once in awhile. About 3 months ago I tried making my salt bars in cute flower silicone molds and I got ash like I've never had it before. I know partly because they didn't gel and I also didn't cover them. They even ashed once I unmolded them on the pretty flower part. I've tried steaming, washing and spraying with alcohol and the ash is so thick it just won't come off. Brushing with mica is the answer....thanks for the idea, I didin't think of that. I know what I'll be doing tonight. Maybe I can salvage them afterall and get them wrapped for my huge show this weekend.

 

[grumpy_owl]

Hugs and thank you! I love my Mocha Mint humpy soaps.