Melting Concerns (Soap left in truck)

[Carl]

There is an upcoming farmer's market where we want to set up shop. Due to some logistical reasons, if we do this market, we would have to leave our soap in my truck overnight and during an entire day, and then overnight again. The soap would be in my truck for 2 nights and 1 day. It would be in the bed of the truck under a truck bed cover.

It would be Memorial Day weekend. Do I have to worry about it melting? Any other concerns?

 

[bookreader451]

Could you pack it in coolers instead of boxes? That way it is insulated from the sun's heat.

 

[Carl]

Could you pack it in coolers instead of boxes? That way it is insulated from the sun's heat.

No, I don't have a cooler large enough. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[shunt2011]

That may be way too hot for it. I don’t think it would melt but may cause other issues over time like DOS. I pack mine in baseball card boxes then in large plastic totes for my weekend shows. They have stayed for a night a time or two but I generally just store them under my tables inside my tent. I only do 2 day outdoor shows.

 

[Primrose]

My CP soap doesnt melt in the heat, in fact I've had a a couple of bars sitting in my car as an experiment for about two years now. Temps in our summer, inside a car parked in the sun, which mine sometimes would be, can apparently reach 167'F. The bars havent melted, they also havent developed DOS but as shunt said above I would think it is more likely that it would increase the chance of DOS rather than melting.

I guess if it was a MP bar it would probably melt lol

 

[Carl]

Thanks! I guess my only option then is to carry everything in the house for the two nights. Lots of extra loading/unloading, but there are 3 of us so maybe won't be too bad.

 

[shunt2011]

I should add I have a couple customers who toss one under their car seat as a freshener. Said they last longer than other car scents.

 

[Rsapienza]

I live in Florida and I have definitely left soap overnight in my car during summer months and the soaps were fine. Once, a whole tray was left in a trunk for a week and almost all of the bottoms were beginning to soften/melt. I tossed them. I've never had DOS issues.

 

[lucycat]

I think your answer partly depends on the temps you expect. I would think under 90-100 and covered wouldn't be an issue. How hot could it get in the day in the truck bed?

I keep soap at outdoor fairs in plastic bins under tables at night. I sometimes have issues with my cigar labels getting loose. I think the contrast from day to night temps and change in humidity causes it. I just have to rewrap part. High humidity in early morning can make my goat milk soaps sticky when they are sitting out. Soap in tight plastic bins don't have the issue so making sure you have a good tight storage in the truck would be important.

 

[Carl]

That may be way too hot for it. I don’t think it would melt but may cause other issues over time like DOS. I pack mine in baseball card boxes then in large plastic totes for my weekend shows. They have stayed for a night a time or two but I generally just store them under my tables inside my tent. I only do 2 day outdoor shows.

@shunt2011 I love the baseball card box idea, but my bars are a little too big for those boxes. I would have to make all new molds or change the size of my bars in order to be able to use them.

 

[Megan]

I should add I have a couple customers who toss one under their car seat as a freshener. Said they last longer than other car scents.

Why do I love this idea?

 

[Megan]

I use plastic underbed totes and can maybe fit 80 ish bars per tote. They fit one layer of soaps standing upright, and can fit all of my high tops (though I don't make many of those any more). I don't know about the amount you are transporting, but it works really well for me. Be advised, 80 bars of soap in a box doesn't weight that much but because of the odd box size, you might want to take care in picking it up/ setting it down.

 

[shunt2011]

@Carl you must make some big bars. mine are 2.5 x 3.5 x 1.25 and weight 5.5 ounces.

 

[amd]

Ditto what shunt2011 said. I use the underbed storage totes to transport my boxes - I just made sure that I ordered boxes that were the correct length for the tote. The boxes also perfectly fit my 9 bar batch (or two boxes for an 18 bar batch).

Although I am wondering about this...

Due to some logistical reasons, if we do this market, we would have to leave our soap in my truck overnight and during an entire day, and then overnight again.

Do you mean that your soap will be in your truck for 2 nights and 1 day before you even do the show? Because if you're counting the 1 day as day 1 of your show... consider that your soap won't be in the truck bed during the show, it will be on your tables, or under the tables as over stock.

I generally don't worry about my soaps in the vehicle overnight as temps are typically cooler during the night (where I live anyways). During the day would worry me, but if your 1 day is actually your show day, i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Carl]

Ditto what shunt2011 said. I use the underbed storage totes to transport my boxes - I just made sure that I ordered boxes that were the correct length for the tote. The boxes also perfectly fit my 9 bar batch (or two boxes for an 18 bar batch).

Although I am wondering about this...

Do you mean that your soap will be in your truck for 2 nights and 1 day before you even do the show? Because if you're counting the 1 day as day 1 of your show... consider that your soap won't be in the truck bed during the show, it will be on your tables, or under the tables as over stock.

I generally don't worry about my soaps in the vehicle overnight as temps are typically cooler during the night (where I live anyways). During the day would worry me, but if your 1 day is actually your show day, i wouldn't worry about it.

No, the one day is not at the market. We wanted to visit my parents on the way to the market since their house is on the way.

 

[Carl]

@Carl you must make some big bars. mine are 2.5 x 3.5 x 1.25 and weight 5.5 ounces.

@shunt2011 With ours they would fit, but it's some of the peaks in the center that would not.

 

[amd]

but it's some of the peaks in the center that would not.

Turn them the other way in the box.

 

[cmzaha]

My truck is never unpacked and my soaps stay just fine. Granted they are not under a metal truck cover where your heat could rise substantially. I would say during the summer under my shaded carport temps could hit 100º F some days. During summer market days I know they can hit 100+ at times. Melt & Pour soap will Melt that is a guarantee, along with scrubs, butters, and natural deodorants. Lotions should be kept at safe temps for your preservative and be aware plastic bottles can heat up very quickly if sun hits them even if the day is not real hot. My lotions and deodorants are brought in the house in hot weather.