Mushy soap

[Raha]

Dear Soap Makers,
People say that my soaps get mushy towards the end of using one of my bars--is it because it has only cured for 3 weeks before I start selling them?
Grateful for you feedback,
Raha

p.s. I make castile soap with olive, coconut and palm oils.

 

[emilaid]

It might be the length of time you're curing them for. The longer the cure, the harder and longer lasting your soap will be.

 

[Jezzy]

I would cure them longer too. Especially if it is cp soap. I heard that if you add bees wax it will make a harder bar... I am going to try that..

 

[Sunny]

I would cure at least 4 weeks if not 6 and make sure they are using a soap dish that drains VERY well.

My soaps that have cured 4 weeks, with a similar recipe, are still a bit sticky inside if I cut them in half. The longer the better.

 

[LadyM]

Isn't it funny .. I love mushy soap!
I do a shorter cure period than most people because I like it on the softer side, and I know a lot of people that like the mush

Of course a longer cure will produce a harder longer lasting bar for sure.

 

[Healinya]

I use soap early all the time (uglies or end pieces) Yes, they get soft and mushy towards the end, also a little transparent, and have occasionally had fun bending and twisting and smashing those flimsy pieces into new shapes.. I sure do love a six month cure.

 

[honor435]

what kind of oils or recipe are you using? my soap is hard as rock at 3 wks, use less water than called for and some hard oils, like palm, cocoa or shea. If you are using a lot of oo, it takes longer to cure.
I agree if you are doing cp, you shouldnt be selling it at 3 wks, esp if you dont have it "down" yet.

 

[Healinya]

I've never really paid attention to which recipes are worse than others. When I use a vanilla fo, the soap still has a lighter center when it's used early. I kept track of a batch, slicing a bar in half every two weeks until the bar was solid brown (took forever). I find that amount of time is the difference I notice between a fresh bar that dissolves fast, and a bar that lasts for weeks to the point where I get bored with it lol. I don't do a steep discount tho, I have recently made a few batches with 35% lye con, so hopefully I start seeing a little difference.