One disaster after another...

[MsBien]

In early April I made a Mother's Day soap for my mom. She loves gardenia so I bought a FO for this soap even though I usually use EO. I also tried out my new downspout mold and was trying a little green swirl with parsley powder.

Well, as soon as I put the FO in it seized on me so I had to work fast to get parsley powder in. I practically had to scoop it out into the mold. I thought, "It's my mom, she'll understand if it's not perfect."

When I un-molded it I discovered that the inside of the downspout had some kind of paint that came off on some of the soap. The soap itself had a horrible "swirl" that looked like it was sick. And, there were spots of FO oozing out all over. I scraped off the paint and just set it aside for a few weeks.

After a month or so I started using a bar on my hands because I wanted to see if it was okay. It was fine, even though it looked horrid. So, I decided to grind it up and throw it in the crock pot and see if I could fix the color and get rid of the spots created by the FO.

It came out beautifully, EXCEPT that I used too much water and it's still really, really soft a week later. Yesterday, in a moment of pure genius, I put it outside to sit in the sun thinking that it might help get rid of some of the water. Instead, it started sagging. Luckily my husband saw it and I got to it in time to try to hand mold it back into shape.

So, on Wednesday I am going to finally see my mom (she lives 150 miles away) and I'm not sure what to do.

Is there anything I can do, short of buying a dehydrator - hmmmm, to make this right? Or, should I just go buy her some bon bons?

Thanks for reading,
Stacie

 

[Guest]

I think it will harden up eventually. Can you cut it and take it to her and just explain that she needs to let it cure a little. Mom's are very understanding .One of my first batches of soap I had to rebatch, I added to much liquid , it took about 6 weeks , but it turned into a very solid bar of soap.

Kitn

 

[Dixie]

I would do what kitn said, but if your not happy with that; is it possible to make a small batch of cphp?

 

[jarvan]

A dehydrator? Does that really work? I was dabbling with buying one for fruit slices...hmmmm?

 

[ChrissyB]

No, a food dehydrator won't work for soap. Apparently they make the soap all smooshy, must be because of the humidity.
If you do a search on "food dehydrator" you will find the thread from a while back.
I do think someone had success with putting a fan in her curing room. (Bearing in mind that not all of us have "curing rooms") I for instance have the top of the linen closet.

 

[Milla]

Remember, it's the thought that counts. Maybe you could still give her the soap with a really cute story talking about your adventure with this soap. Make it cute and fun, kind of like what your put in your post!

Call it "The Soap That Ruined Mother's Day" or "The Soap That Wouldn't Be". She will really appreciate how much effort you put into this soap and how you thought of her every time you had a disaster!

 

[MsBien]

Thanks for the great ideas. I was just kidding about the dehydrator, but I do think I'll set up a fan for this last 24 hours. I also think my mom will like a story, that sounds like her.

Hey Milla, I'm in Minnesota too, Winona. Where are you?

 

[Milla]

MsBien, I'm in Fridley. You are the second MN person I met so far! I almost went to Winona once after a trip to Lanesboro, but ran out of time. Have fun at your mom's!