Soap Stuck in PVC mold

[namastecreations]

Hi I just made soap for the very first time last night ~It went really well ~ but now 24hrs later I am trying to unmold the soap and it won't budge. I used pvc pipe and sprayed with cooking spray ~ probably should have used the vasoline huh???

So I am wondering if I just keep waiting and eventually the soap will shrink more to come out of the mold? I tried the freezer method, still won't budge ~

Or could I do a double boiler with the molds, melt the soap out and re poar in a different mold ~ if so how long do I leave soap to cure stuck in the pvc mold before I can melt and pore it into a different one. Any suggestions or help would be great ~ thanks so much!

 

[reallyrita]

There are a number of factors here that could be causing you this problem. First of all, the vegetable spray probably saponified along with your soap and is your major problem. You can get the soap out though...with a little patience. Let your soap just rest for a few days in the mold, it will start to shrink a bit and harden up too. If you did not take a water discount, your soap will need a big longer to shrink. Then, freeze the soap again and when you pull it out of the freezer go around the pvc pipe with a warm hair dryer. Have something at the ready that can fit inside the pipe and that you can push the soap out with. Depending on the diameter of the pipe this could be a wooden dowel or a small can. I use a bean masher!!! The soap might be a bit raggedy when you finally get it out as some of the soap could pull away and be stuck to the inside of the pvc, but you can clean it up and slice it. Next time you can use a piece of freezer paper to line the pipe with. I know this exact situation has happened to so many of us. By the way, welcome to the forum.

 

[namastecreations]

thanks so much

I am so glad to hear this, thank you so much for your reply. Now should I keep it wrapped in towels still or since it's already been in freezer then is it okay to just leave it unwrapped? Thanks for the tip for future with freezer paper, do I still need to spray or vasoline then? or will the freezer paper be enough ~ i really really appreciate your help! ~ Lizzie

 

[Guest]

Re: thanks so much

do I still need to spray or vasoline then? or will the freezer paper be enough Lizzie

Welcome to the forum.
Line the mold with freezer paper with the plastic (shiny side) toward the soap and you won't have to lubricate with anything else. The soap should
slide out of the tube and then you can peel the paper off the soap.

 

[Saltysteele]

in PVC, are you referring to a piece of PVC pipe?

i've been lining mine with a thin coat of Vaseline, and found if I dump the soap while still warm at about 8-10 hours, it will slide right out. when i waited until cooled, it wouldn't budge. ended up putting it in the freezer for 3-4 hours, taking it out and letting it set for a few minutes, and pressing down on a hammer handle to get it to start moving (i had 8-10 inches of headroom in the pipe, and this is where the hammer handle was)

the paper would be easiest, but i always forget it while i'm at the store

 

[krissy]

i have uses a plastic spice jar to push mine out of the mold. it did leave a small dent on the very outside part where it touched but it was a small loss to get my soap out of the mold

 

[reallyrita]

Lizzie, no, you don't have to keep it under wraps any more! Putting it in the freezer would have stopped the gel anyway. It will just finish up on its own now. Some people do put a bit of vasoline to anchor the freezer paper so it doesn't move around, but I don't think it is really necessary. Vasoline on its own, or mineral oil, works fine for some people but the freezer paper (Not wax paper) is the easiest to work with and then the inside of the mold is not messy with sticky residue. There is a lot of trial and error in this craft and what works for one soaper may not work for another. Keeps us on our toes!

 

[namastecreations]

thank you

thanks so much ~I will wait patiently for a few more days and try again to remold. Next time I will line with the freezer paper!! thank you so much all!

 

[namastecreations]

but what if???

but If I can NOT get it out ~ after all the advice given, can I put it in a double boiler, mold and all till soap melts out and repore?

 

[Saltysteele]

yes, i guess. but, keep in mind, pvc also has a melting point. while i don't think you'll reach that in a double boiler, you will soften it to the point of being malleable.