Soda Ash

peace-love-and-suds · Mar 9, 2013

So I have been having soda ash problems when using powdered green clay in my cp soap. I do not use essential oils in this formula. Without the green clay, the formula does not produce soda ash. I began to notice a pattern to how soda ash forms on the soap during the cure process. It seems that the sides exposed to light are the sides that turn ashy. The back sides do not accumulate ash at all. So with my last batch, I removed the soap from the mold in the dark, set it up to cure in a dark closet, and did not expose it to light for the first week. And guess what? Soda ash reduced by what appears to be almost 80%. Any thoughts on this experiment?

melstan775 · Mar 9, 2013

Spray it with rubbing alcohol to prevent ash formation. That is all.

Really though, thanks for the info, I will try it out sometime. I've always just wanted to say that is all. I don't know any more about it excpet they say to cure in a cool place where soap can breathe.

CaliChan · Mar 9, 2013

For my gelled soaps I immediately wrap the top.in plastic, wrap the mold in towels and then stick it in the closet for 2 days. I've never gotten soda ash on my cp gelled soaps. Or my cpop. On my nongelled soaps however I always get it. But I don't mind soda ash.

2lilboots · Mar 9, 2013

Someone posted once to "embrace the ash" so that is what I do now. I don't even give it a second thought. If I want to do swirls or decorative soap tops I cannot cover them with plastic wrap. So into one's life some ash may form. Sometimes I steam it off, but other times I just leave it be. It will wash off anyway.

Ruthie · Mar 9, 2013

I "embrace the ash" on my personal soap, but on those I am hoping to sell, I really don't like it. Just recently I started spraying on the 90% rubbing alcohol, and it has pretty much cured that problem. But mine only gets it on the top, so I only have to spray when I pour in the mold, not when unmolding.