Soda ash or overheated bubbles?

[KentuckySilks]

Just wondering if this is an overheated soap or just plain soda ash? I’m thinking it’s overheated because of the uniformity of the dots. Thanks!

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

@KentuckySilks that’s a wonderful picture of soda ash!

 

[KentuckySilks]

@KentuckySilks that’s a wonderful picture of soda ash!

 

[KentuckySilks]

Awwww, ugly stuff- that mold that I use prevents me from covering it with saran wrap because it would touch the soap. I need to start using my old wooden silicone lined mold with a cover. Helps a little bit and I believe. Course I was really into hot process for so many soaps because I avoided the dreaded soda ash, did a gel or did it not gel?, Fixing sents longer, etc..(or at least that’s what I thought)

 

[artemis]

Personally, I think a textured top is improved by soda ash. It makes all the little details stand out.

 

[ScentimentallyYours]

Let it cure a couple days and you can wash the soda ash off the tops and/or spritz them with 70% rubbing alcohol. Should get rid of the worst of it and give the swirls a glossy surface.

Edit to add: you can use a handheld steamer to get rid of it and give you a glossy surface, too!

 

[ackosel]

That's what my soda ash looks like. Ugly stuff, though I did have some that turned out very pretty, looking like white snow on a gray day. But mostly, I keep trying to find ways to control it.

 

[KentuckySilks]

Yep, I used my steam setting on my iron and cleared it right up, on another batch- I wait a week bc it seems to keep accumulating over the first few days.
Also, started covering to cut tops and that helps too

 

[dmcgee5034]

Awwww, ugly stuff- that mold that I use prevents me from covering it with saran wrap because it would touch the soap. I need to start using my old wooden silicone lined mold with a cover. Helps a little bit and I believe. Course I was really into hot process for so many soaps because I avoided the dreaded soda ash, did a gel or did it not gel?, Fixing sents longer, etc..(or at least that’s what I thought)

Even when my soap is over the edge, once it’s set up really well, I cover it with plastic wrap and it prevents soda ash. Maybe just wait longer before you cover it?

 

[AliOop]

To cover textured soap tops, make a "tent" out of a folded piece of thin cardboard. I think mine is from a box that held crackers, or maybe granola bars. It should be long enough to go from end to end of the mold, and high enough not to touch any of the soap.

Place the tent over the top of your soap, and then wrap the mold in plastic wrap, or just drape a towel over the tent. That will limit the contact with air and with the top of your wet soap.

 

[melinda48]

Even when my soap is over the edge, once it’s set up really well, I cover it with plastic wrap and it prevents soda ash. Maybe just wait longer before you cover it?

My husband made raised lids for my molds so I can still use my lids but they don’t touch the soap.

 

[dmcgee5034]

Could you post a pic, @melinda48? Maybe I can woo my DH into a copycat….

 

[akseattle]

I got soda ash when I first started soaping, especially if I used palm oil. I started soaping at 115F because I heard it discouraged soda ash.
My last 3 batches I've soaped cooler (100F) because I've been doing fragrance tests and thought that would reduce the chance of acceleration, if a particular FO was inclined to accelerate. Sadly, I'm getting soda ash again. Worse on individual cavity molds.

I bought a handheld steamer several months ago (a great buy at a local thrift store). In the past, when I steamed my soap (with my regular steam iron- a real trick to keep from getting burnt by steam....), the soda ash just came right back several times. I haven't opened the box with those bars for about 1/2 a year, so don't know their status.

But, I don't want to steam this recent soap until a fair amount of time has gone by since, based on my past experience, the soda ash just came right back.

Is there a point in time when it's too late, and the soda ash can't be removed? Or, will the steaming work at any time?

 

[Servant4Christ]

Pretty sure you can steam at any point, seeing as I just pulled out a bar that's 1.5yrs old and the soda ash came off in the first handwashing.

 

[KentuckySilks]

I got soda ash when I first started soaping, especially if I used palm oil. I started soaping at 115F because I heard it discouraged soda ash.
My last 3 batches I've soaped cooler (100F) because I've been doing fragrance tests and thought that would reduce the chance of acceleration, if a particular FO was inclined to accelerate. Sadly, I'm getting soda ash again. Worse on individual cavity molds.

I bought a handheld steamer several months ago (a great buy at a local thrift store). In the past, when I steamed my soap (with my regular steam iron- a real trick to keep from getting burnt by steam....), the soda ash just came right back several times. I haven't opened the box with those bars for about 1/2 a year, so don't know their status.

But, I don't want to steam this recent soap until a fair amount of time has gone by since, based on my past experience, the soda ash just came right back.

Is there a point in time when it's too late, and the soda ash can't be removed? Or, will the steaming work at any time?

I Agree with you on the soda, Ash coming back. I have gotten rid of soda ash the first week and then the next week it seems to be back again. Even on the bars that I did nothing the soda Ashe gets worse the second or maybe even third week after carrying time has begun.