sticky/tacky surface

gemsupthepoley · Mar 10, 2015

Hi folks. I've just rotated my first batch of soap after a week in a cardboard box and the surface is, well a bt soft/slimy/slippery:eh:

My second soap (100% olive oil) does not have this effect.

Will it harden up over time?

Thanks in advance.

shunt2011 · Mar 10, 2015

If you share your recipe and process maybe we can troubleshoot for you. Is there excessive humidity or moisture?

The Efficacious Gentleman · Mar 11, 2015

As above. Also, let us know if the box is open, much space between the bars and so on. Curing is helped by air flow, so if there is no chance for the air to flow then the cure will be longer

gemsupthepoley · Mar 11, 2015

Thanks. The recipe was

Olive Oil 30%
Rice Bran 20%
Tallow 25%
Coconut 20%
Castor 5%

I 190g water and 69g Lye.(26.74 lye concentration). It took 1hr 10 of hand stirring to trace but it was my very first soap. I've got them standing on end about 1/2" apart in a shoe box with the lid on. There are holes in the top.

I've read lots of posts about keeping them on airing racks/dish racks, however I spoke to someone who was adamant they should remain covered until cured. Would it be better on drying racks with a light cloth over them to prevent dust.

I live in Scotland and a search engine is telling me it's 88% humidity. The log fire in the main room burns 24/7 and the soap is on the floor just outside that room.

Thanks in advance. Brian

The Efficacious Gentleman · Mar 11, 2015

Forget about dust - let those poor things breath a little! I am sorry, but that person gave you utterly terrible advice and I would be cautious with any other tips that they gave you. They might well be a friend and mean well, but good intentions don't change science.

I put my soaps in to shoe boxes with the lids totally off. After 4 weeks or so, the lid goes on. Dust has never been a very major concern, I have to say. I would keep them up off of the floor, though.