My soap caught fire!

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I made some bastille soap and, because I cut it too soon, it was crumbly. So, I had the bright idea to rebatch the crumbs in the microwave. I did not have too many so I put them in a little cupcake silicone mould. I have rebatched soap in the microwave before but I made the mistake of setting it for 1 minute this time. Normally, I melt the soap in batches of 20 or 30 seconds. Anyway, I was quietly drinking my coffee when I heard an almighty bang. I looked in the microwave and flames were coming out of the silicone mould. I quickly put the fire out, spent half an hour cleaning the microwave by which time my coffee had gone cold! The microwave still works thankfully.

I just wanted to use this story as a warning to others. I had no idea that soap could catch fire. So, beware!

 

[Confused_Penguin]

It's 1:23 Am here and I had to rub my eyes to reread the title of this thread to see if what I was reading was accurate. Woah! I'm glad you are okay and that the damage is minimal compared to what it might have been!

 

[reinbeau]

Yikes! Fire?? How on earth could that happen?

 

[BugSoap]

I have wondered if soap would burn, now I know I guess!
Glad you had no serious damage!

Most of the fats and oils used to make soap do burn when fats and oil, so is that how the soap burned, like fats and oils or wax? I never was sure if the process of changing fats to soap would change it's burn properties also or not and just never tried testing it.

 

[nframe]

Most of the fats and oils used to make soap do burn when fats and oil, so is that how the soap burned, like fats and oils or wax? I never was sure if the process of changing fats to soap would change it's burn properties also or not and just never tried testing it.

I don't know if that is how fats, oils and wax burn but there were a lot of flames in the microwave. I had to get a towel to smother them and put the fire out. After that, I had to clean the microwave: the ceiling and the top of the walls were black with soot. The kitchen was full of smoke. I had to leave the back door open for a while to get rid of it (and freeze too because of the cold outside!). I certainly got a big fright and will be careful in future! I did not know that I could be so stupid...

 

[pamielynn]

I can see how that happened. I just did that "experiment" that's been going around on facebook where they pop a Dove bar in the microwave to see it rise and expand. Works with handmade soap, too. But, if it was left in there too long, I was pretty sure it could blow up or catch on fire. Looks like you just confirmed it. Glad you and the microwave are both alright.

 

[SoapBro]

You know how if you put a sliced grape in the microwave it generates hot plasma? maybe something similar happened here..

 

[SplendorSoaps]

Good to know! I'm glad that you're okay and weren't hurt. I'm curious, was the soap that you microwaved scented? Maybe the FO or EO reached the flashpoint or something?

 

[nframe]

Good to know! I'm glad that you're okay and weren't hurt. I'm curious, was the soap that you microwaved scented? Maybe the FO or EO reached the flashpoint or something?

Yes, it was scented with peppermint EO.

 

[SparksnFlash]

I quickly put the fire out, spent half an hour cleaning the microwave by which time my coffee had gone cold! The microwave still works thankfully.

I just wanted to use this story as a warning to others. I had no idea that soap could catch fire. So, beware!

Thanks for the warning, and so glad you're okay. I did chuckle though as my eyes somehow focused on "my coffee had gone cold". A fire, a mess and cold coffee...! You deserve a medal.

 

[Rowan]

Glad you are ok too. Thanks for the warning. I was going to try a microwave rebatch. I'll make sure I take it slowly. I'm guessing yours overheated as it was such a small amount.