my first soapy failure

[rain_darned_owl]

Hi my name is Lori and I had a major soapy failure. I feel more like a real soaper now!! I am not sure if I should try to hot process it, grate it for laundry soap, or toss it.

I made a double batch and split it in 2 once I had reached (I thought) a medium trace. By the time I had added my colours to the first half and got it into my mold my remaining soap was already gelling in my plastic measuring cup!! I didn't know what to do (perhaps I should have just left it?) so I kinda spooned it into the nearest empty mold (individual silicone squares) and tried to mash it down so it would kinda form lumpy bars. I didn't miss any ingredients so it should be safe.

The recipe: aloe vera gel juice (instead of water) and lye, oils: 90% coconut and 10% shea butter. Can this be used for laundry soap? I am not sure what oils to avoid for laundry. I would rather not hot process as that would mean going out and buying a crock pot (I feel like I am already spending way too much money on soaping as it is).

 

[lenarenee]

Hi Lori,

I read your post twice, but can't find why you think your soap is a failure. You said you didn't leave out any ingredients. I'm not sure what time you made this but its probably too early to do a zap test.

You think because the 2nd portion started to gel and that is the failure? Do I understand that correctly?

 

[KristaMarie]

Is the only issue that your soap got really hot and gelled before you got it in the mold? It may not be pretty, but it'll be soap

 

[Obsidian]

You did the right thing by getting it into a mold. I've had soap gel in the pot before, just give it a good stir and get it molded while its still hot.

Thats not a failure in my book either, just a change of plans.

 

[lenarenee]

Did you know that gelling is not a problem (unless it overheats)? Many people try to gel their soap on purpose. :smile:

 

[gigisiguenza]

I dunno about others, but if a batch starts gelling on me even though I don't want it to, I give in and wrap it and let it go. I do all I can to prevent gel, but once I see it has started, I wrap it up tight and let it do its thing. I don't like partial gel, so I would rather help it along and get complete gel than partial, if that's where it's going, if I can't prevent it. One way or the other, it's gonna be soap, so the rest is aesthetics.

 

[shunt2011]

Your soap should be fine. I wouldn't use it for laundry soap though due to the shea in it. What SF did you use? That would certainly make a difference for laundry as well. I've had soap do the same thing and it's perfectly fine. The worst was when I was piping cupcakes and it decided to gel in the piping bag....darn did it get hot. Dang near burned my hands off.

 

[rain_darned_owl]

Thanks everyone. It was a fail b/c it didn't get into the old before it started gelling. I usually try to gel my soaps unless I use goats milk. The problem is it is a bit of a crumbly mess as I tried to mush it together when putting it in the mold but it didn't really work. I couldn't really stir it in the measuring cup as it was full to the brim. But I do have one of those mesh soap bag things for the shower so I guess if I put it in that it will still be usable and won't fall apart on me!!

It was a 20% superfat due to all the coconut oil.

 

[Wyredgirl]

If you are concerned with crumbling I would try felting your bars...it would be pretty, simple, and hold in all of the crumble bits.

 

[Susie]

Crumbling is a whole different issue than gelling in the cup. It could mean lye heavy. Could you possibly post your entire recipe in weights so we can help you double check it/