Soda ash from alcohol spraying

[Putzii]

Hi lovely Soapers,

I’ve noticed that alcohol spraying causes soda ash instead of preventing it on my soaps.
Is this a thing that anyone else experienced before?
Thanks

 

[MelissaG]

Honestly, I get soda ash regardless.

 

[Putzii]

Thanks Melissa.

 

[Zing]

Hi lovely Soapers,

I’ve noticed that alcohol spraying causes soda ash instead of preventing it on my soaps.
Is this a thing that anyone else experienced before?
Thanks

Those are beautiful! Post photos after the cut! I know it's not what you wanted, but it is still good looking.

I got soda ash just once. Now after I pour, I spray with alcohol, cover with plastic wrap, cover with cardboard. I gel so cover with a pile of towels. I have never gotten soda ash again. That's just my experience.

 

[Putzii]

Thanks Zingi

Do you spray straight away after pour and you think that works better? I usually waited a few minutes.Might try that instead. I gel in a styrofoam box on a heat pad for 30 mins. And then leave it the way it is. I have now taken the plastic off because I saw the soda ash. Will try your method. I’ve never used towels because the styrofoam box heats up quite a lot too and had a few soaps become volcanic monsters so took the towels off… it’s all trial and error I suppose. Greenwich here isn’t always very warm either so maybe it’s a better way.
Ps
Can you actually see what type of soap pouring I used? I would like to know if you can see the effect I’m “trying” to achieve lolz

Thanks Zing️

 

[The_Phoenix]

Not related to the soda ash, but you can probably omit the heating pad altogether and just put the soap in the Styrofoam box (with the lid on) and leave it at that. That's my process and my soaps gel just fine.

 

[TheGecko]

Honestly, there is no rhyme or reason to soda ash...sometimes I get, sometimes I don't...doesn't matter whether I spray or not. It's cosmetic...you can wash, plane or steam it off. Sometimes I just leave it because it looks cool.

 

[Phantomina]

I get soda ash after cutting the bars and leaving them to cure. Week after soda ash comes. With bigger and smaller water discounts. Every. Time.

 

[Putzii]

Thanks for the answers all of the team. I will try and wash or steam them. Still have a steamer somewhere.
Sometimes it looks pretty nice tbh but rather not now
Thank you so much, appreciate it!

 

[Phantomina]

So one more thing I noticed. If I use cilindar moulds, soda ash never appears,never. But when I do loaf, it always appears.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I found that alcohol didn't;t help my soda ash at all, and yes, sometimes it exacerbated it.

 

[dmcgee5034]

I found that alcohol didn't;t help my soda ash at all, and yes, sometimes it exacerbated it.

Me, too @KiwiMoose!
I couldn’t figure out how I could possibly be using alcohol wrong…

 

[KiwiMoose]

Me, too @KiwiMoose!
I couldn’t figure out how I could possibly be using alcohol wrong…

Yes - better to spend your money on better tasting alcohol and actually drink the stuff, lol.

 

[LynetteO]

I tend to get soda ash on cavity mold soaps but not on my loaf mold soaps. I assumed it was due to soap loaf going through gel phase & cavity molds not.

 

[Zing]

I tend to get soda ash on cavity mold soaps but not on my loaf mold soaps. I assumed it was due to soap loaf going through gel phase & cavity molds not.

I used to unmold cavity molds after 24 hours like loaf molds and always got soda ash. Now i wait 5 days to unmold and avoid soda ash.

 

[lucycat]

I like 99% alcohol and do think it helps. I notice soda ash the most on specific fragrances, lavender and mints especially.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I tend to get soda ash on cavity mold soaps but not on my loaf mold soaps. I assumed it was due to soap loaf going through gel phase & cavity molds not.

That too.

 

[LynetteO]

I used to unmold cavity molds after 24 hours like loaf molds and always got soda ash. Now i wait 5 days to unmold and avoid soda ash.

Just poured 14 snowflakes into cavity molds. I will try with all my might to wait 5 whole days! I don’t have much faith in myself. You must have INCREDIBLE patience!

 

[Zing]

Just poured 14 snowflakes into cavity molds. I will try with all my might to wait 5 whole days! I don’t have much faith in myself. You must have INCREDIBLE patience!

Patience? Me? I'm a soaper, Silly!
Seriously, I primarily use loaf molds. My leftover batter goes into single cavity molds so there's no rush to view designs or swirls or anything. Sometimes 2 unrelated leftovers go into the same single-cavity mold!

 

[KiwiMoose]

My leftover batter goes into single cavity molds so there's no rush to view designs or swirls or anything. Sometimes 2 unrelated leftovers go into the same single-cavity mold!

Yep - exactly what I do!