My soap exploded

[CreativeWeirdo]

So... yesterday evening I made a batch of soap for my mom (the cavity molds). A few hours after I did that, my idle hands started twitching and I thought "Hey! I'll try a batch of dish soap for the first time!" Attached is my recipe; both the oil and lye-water solution were around 55C when I mixed them together, and the oven was around 70C by the time I put it in. No additives. I've been having a really hard time figuring out this whole oven processing thing!

I can still use this, right?

 

[artemis]

Yes. It's still soap in the end.

I am assuming 100% coconut oil with low to 0% superfat? If so, next time:
Use cavity molds and don't put it in the oven. And put your mold on a cookie sheet or something to help catch any overflow in the oven. A high CO soap will get plenty hot on it's own (as you can see). It will also harden up pretty quickly, so you can miss your window of opportunity for cutting it.

 

[TheGecko]

Your soap overheated and expanded...that's all. For a 'dish soap', I wouldn't use 10% SuperFat, that is going to leave your dishes with a 'greasy film'. I might at most, use a 1% SF to make sure all the NaOH was used up.

 

[CreativeWeirdo]

Yes. It's still soap in the end.

It will also harden up pretty quickly, so you can miss your window of opportunity for cutting it.

Yes! I cut it right after I took the picture.

For a 'dish soap', I wouldn't use 10% SuperFat, that is going to leave your dishes with a 'greasy film'. I might at most, use a 1% SF to make sure all the NaOH was used up.

I was trying to search for tips and all I could find was that people were finding 0% superfat was too harsh on hands without gloves. I use gloves, but I know people who refuse, so, was trying something.


I've been having problems overall with trying to Oven process, so I think from now I'm just going to try using it as an insulator without turning it on at all.

 

[TheGecko]

I've been having problems overall with trying to Oven process, so I think from now I'm just going to try using it as an insulator without turning it on at all.

You're not supposed to 'bake' the soap. You're supposed to preheat to the lowest setting (150F-170F), turn it off, put the soap in and let it hang out overnight.

 

[CreativeWeirdo]

You're not supposed to 'bake' the soap. You're supposed to preheat to the lowest setting (150F-170F), turn it off, put the soap in and let it hang out overnight.

That's what I've been doing, but I keep getting silicone rash. It's still early so I'm still in the trial and error phase.

 

[TheGecko]

That's what I've been doing, but I keep getting silicone rash. It's still early so I'm still in the trial and error phase.

So try...not preheating your oven. Just let the natural heat from saponification provide extra heat. Or cover your soaps and then set them on a towel and put another towel on top.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Hope the clean up wasn’t too bad, @CreativeWeirdo. Sorry that happened to you.

 

[CreativeWeirdo]

So try...not preheating your oven. Just let the natural heat from saponification provide extra heat. Or cover your soaps and then set them on a towel and put another towel on top.

Yes... which is exactly what I said I was going to do in the future:

I've been having problems overall with trying to Oven process, so I think from now I'm just going to try using it as an insulator without turning it on at all.

 

[TheGecko]

Yes... which is exactly what I said I was going to do in the future:

My bad

 

[CreativeWeirdo]

My bad

No worries my friend! I know you're trying to help, and I always appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge!

 

[user 56151]

No worries my friend! I know you're trying to help, and I always appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge!

I wrap mine in foil, unless it’s a particularly cold day. Then I CPOP it uncovered.

 

[Whillow]

for my dish soap I have to put it in the fridge to cool it because I totally get an erupting volcano. I use 4 inch PVC pipe and stand it up on its end. It still burbs up at the top though.

 

[AliOop]

I wrap mine in foil, unless it’s a particularly cold day. Then I CPOP it uncovered.

Please know that using foil around NaOH (including unsaponified soap batter) is very dangerous. NaOH and aluminum burn when they come in contact with one another, and produce a noxious gas. It would be better to use plastic wrap, or reusable silicone dish covers held in place with a rubber band.

 

[TheGecko]

I wrap mine in foil, unless it’s a particularly cold day. Then I CPOP it uncovered.

Agree with @AliOop. Aluminum and NaOH do NOT get along! Along with plastic wrap, you can get thin plastic or silicone 'cutting mats' and cut them down to size to use as covers or even some light weight wood. If you are worried about the wrap or cover touching your soap, go to the hardware store and some some weather stripping and put it around the top edge of your mold and then cover it.

 

[CreativeWeirdo]

for my dish soap I have to put it in the fridge to cool it because I totally get an erupting volcano.

How did I not find this information anywhere in my research?! I shake my head at myself

 

[cmzaha]

Overheating is what causes volcanos. Sadly, lye will ruin the finish of your oven just like it ruins cabinet finishes and flooring, so you do not want volcanos in your oven or anywhere for that matter. FYI it is also bad for Granite counter tops.

 

[user 56151]

Please know that using foil around NaOH (including unsaponified soap batter) is very dangerous. NaOH and aluminum burn when they come in contact with one another, and produce a noxious gas. It would be better to use plastic wrap, or reusable silicone dish covers held in place with a rubber band.

Thanks I am aware of that, that’s why I put cling wrap on before the foil.

 

[user 56151]

Agree with @AliOop. Aluminum and NaOH do NOT get along! Along with plastic wrap, you can get thin plastic or silicone 'cutting mats' and cut them down to size to use as covers or even some light weight wood. If you are worried about the wrap or cover touching your soap, go to the hardware store and some some weather stripping and put it around the top edge of your mold and then cover it.

The foil doesn’t touch the soap, I put cling wrap on first. The foil is to insulate it.

 

[dibbles]

@vivhalaska there was no mention of plastic wrap being used between the soap and the foil. @AliOop and @TheGecko were right to point out that aluminum and soap batter can create a dangerous situation. Even if OP knows this, someone who doesn't could easily read it and assume it is okay to do that.