I don't think it will be as high as 11 when dilluted. I made a clarity test, which of course did not come out clear because of the mica I added (and maybe also because of unsaponifiables and superfatting). I did test the PH with PH-strips. I had dilluted way more than 50/50 soap paste and water (which I understand is the proper way of PH-testing), and the PH were 8,5 approximately. I did a zap test as well, and no zapping. The soap had loosened up quite a lot, and was way more translucent. I think it is done. But I will give it two days more before I dillute.
I will test the PH after dillution. I have no clue how things work in liquid soap, but the rotting/sequestering time, wouldn't that make the PH drop further down, like it drops when curing bar soaps?
I will test the soap paste right now (without dilluting 50/50 because it is not easy to dillute, and I don't have an accurate enough scale).
Result: I did not manage to PH test the soap paste. It was too thick, didn't soak into the paper. I took some paste in my hand and washed with as little water as possible. But I had to make it thinner. I tested and it was around 8,5 again. But my PH paper is not of the fancy kind with 4 dots that should match up. It is just yellow paper strips. I know that it is not the most accurate. But if the test is somewhat accurate, it looks far from PH 10 and 11.
I have decided to use preservatives. It feels too risky not using anything. Especially since my "production facilities" aka the ordinary kitchen in an ordinary house, is not a sterile place, and will never be. And I know for sure that tap water definately contains bacterias, perhaps mould and yeast too, plus minerals important for building cell membranes of bacterias. So for this batch, I definately will need a preservative. Later I can go for distilled water, but I will preserve anyway. Maybe not use the max amount, but enough to kill off unwanted stuff that can grow into invisible dangers.
The scary thing is that products with dangerous amounts of dangerous bacterias don't show any sign of anything until the very last stages. No smell and no visible changes. So it's impossible to tell if a product is totally fine or very hazardous, without access to a microscope or other equipment. I will definately preserve, yes.
But I will not preserve sugar scrubs (which I have promised my sister to make for her), I will choose a container that eliminates the need for preservatives. Since I have soap paste, it will be a foaming sugar scrub
The commercial ones can have hidden preservatives. For example a preservative that also is a fragrance. Or adjusted the PH upwards, or something.
Isn't soap alkali salts of fatty acids? Salt, maybe that is the secret?
Let me know if you find something interesting
I will test the PH after dillution. I have no clue how things work in liquid soap, but the rotting/sequestering time, wouldn't that make the PH drop further down, like it drops when curing bar soaps?
I will test the soap paste right now (without dilluting 50/50 because it is not easy to dillute, and I don't have an accurate enough scale).
Result: I did not manage to PH test the soap paste. It was too thick, didn't soak into the paper. I took some paste in my hand and washed with as little water as possible. But I had to make it thinner. I tested and it was around 8,5 again. But my PH paper is not of the fancy kind with 4 dots that should match up. It is just yellow paper strips. I know that it is not the most accurate. But if the test is somewhat accurate, it looks far from PH 10 and 11.
I have decided to use preservatives. It feels too risky not using anything. Especially since my "production facilities" aka the ordinary kitchen in an ordinary house, is not a sterile place, and will never be. And I know for sure that tap water definately contains bacterias, perhaps mould and yeast too, plus minerals important for building cell membranes of bacterias. So for this batch, I definately will need a preservative. Later I can go for distilled water, but I will preserve anyway. Maybe not use the max amount, but enough to kill off unwanted stuff that can grow into invisible dangers.
The scary thing is that products with dangerous amounts of dangerous bacterias don't show any sign of anything until the very last stages. No smell and no visible changes. So it's impossible to tell if a product is totally fine or very hazardous, without access to a microscope or other equipment. I will definately preserve, yes.
But I will not preserve sugar scrubs (which I have promised my sister to make for her), I will choose a container that eliminates the need for preservatives. Since I have soap paste, it will be a foaming sugar scrub
The commercial ones can have hidden preservatives. For example a preservative that also is a fragrance. Or adjusted the PH upwards, or something.
Isn't soap alkali salts of fatty acids? Salt, maybe that is the secret?
but when I have time I hope to do a little more digging to see what I can come up that's specific to LS.
Let me know if you find something interesting
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