Removing hardened soap from HDPE

[sperry]

Has anyone out there used an HDPE mold (the type with the “rough” surface… not the super smooth stuff) with both CP and M&P? Is it easier to remove M&P from this plastic than it is CP? Thanks.

 

[SmallThings]

I've never used this particular type of mold, but I do have a few plastic molds that have small intricate designs that can be tricky to wash. I hand wash all my molds, and I start by holding them under super hot running water. Then I take a clean sponge and scrub a little, then back under the hot water. The hot water melts the hardened soap and the sponge helps remove it. I also sometimes set my mold in the sink and fill it with hot water and let it sit to loosen the dried soap. That is for M&P soap though, I've have made any CP yet.

 

[sperry]

My wording was ambiguous. Sorry. You have two identicle molds made of rough surfaced HDPE. You put CP in one and M&P in the other. After the soap sets, which bars will be easier to remove from the mold. Thanks.

 

[lsg]

I would guess the M&P. I always coat my HDPE molds when using them for cp soap, which really sticks in these molds.

 

[sperry]

Thanks, lsg. I'm designing my own molds for my M&P, and have come up with a couple interesting ideas that I thought might work for CP... but I've heard CP is a lot tougher to remove. I am guessing that is why most people pour loafs and then cut? (Rather than use molds with dividers?) Are your molds the textured HDPE, or the super smooth? M&P comes off the textured fairly easy, whereas getting it off the super smooth is a bit of a battle.

 

[lsg]

Two of my log molds are textured, but the liners for my vertical mold are smooth and they stick also.