too humid??

[mlktrkdrvr]

Is it ever just too humid to soap? I have had two bombed batches in two days. Yesterday it was 105 outside with about 90% humidity and we have no A/C so I figured it would be a good day to rebatch a failed scent batch. I read directions and got it all melted down adding a LITTLE milk to help it smooth out, added (enough) scent (this time) and put into molds. They sat all night and most of the morning. I had to freeze them to unmold them, now I look at them and they are weeping oil. They were not weeping before I rebatched them and I only added EO and FO no other oils. That was failure #1
So today it is 104 and just as humid and I decided that I should make some soap. (I never claimed to be a quick learner). I ran the recipe through soapcalc and used EXACTLY what it said I should-
This was my first time using some castor oil (that I had left over from rubbing it on my itchy belly during a winter pregnancy) and canola oil. I also used OO and some coconut oil. I got to a thick trace in a short amount of time alternating between my stick blender and hand stiring (2 min stick blend, 4 minutes hand, 2 minutes stick,). Added 2 T each of cocoa, coffee grounds and sugar and poured into molds. I had the oven at 170 and turned it off and put the molds in. They have been in for 7 hours now and what I have is the consistency of pudding with a dry skin on top. Failure #2

Is there any help for either of these batches? I did finally get my soap to have a scent though! wonder what I can screw up tomorrow...

 

[sudbubblez]

the pudding with dry skin is normal. OP soap is going to be soft while it is hot.. just like cookies. It will set and firm up once it starts to cool. The skin is the surface of the soap that dried out too much to gel. A certain amount of water is needed for the soap to melt that way. also, OP-ing means doing it with the oven on. If you can go as low as 140, you only need 4 hours, then turn the oven off and let the soap cool slowly. at 170 its about 2 or 2 and a half hours.

You can cure soap in the fridge if its just too humid outside. If the moisture concentration in the air is greater than the moisture in the soap, the soap will actually absorb the humidity. If you could separate a cabinet for curing, you might be able to use Damp rid or some other dessicant. Silica cat litter will also absorb humidity and it has the advantage that you can bake it in the oven to dry it out and re-use it again. cardboard also has some dessicant properties.

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

I assume that is the batch I did today. do you have any ideas about the rebatch I did yesterday that is now weeping oil?

 

[sudbubblez]

If they didn't weep before, My first guess its the added EO/FO weeping out from under-stirring. Was it tongue neutral before rebatch?

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

yes it was. It was a batch I made last week and did not put enough EO and FO in. I guess i did not know that you had to stir it a bunch again. So many things to keep straight! Think I will just stop soaping for a while

 

[juliet]

I've wondered the same thing actually. It's winter here now and the days are warm and dry (and the nights are COLD) so it's great weather to soap. In summer it can be over 100 for weeks at a time and wickedly humid so I was wondering if I'd have to stop soaping then. We have no AC either.

 

[Loolee]

yes it was. It was a batch I made last week and did not put enough EO and FO in. I guess i did not know that you had to stir it a bunch again. So many things to keep straight! Think I will just stop soaping for a while

When I do a rebatch, or HP, when its done cooking and i"m ready to take it out of the crockpot, I will add my oil and whatever additives, then stick blend it to get it mixed in well. That usually will take care of the seepage.

 

[cerelife]

I haven't had any issues soaping when it's hot and humid. We hit 106 today with 90% humidity and my batches look OK so far. We DO have central AC, but it's so freaking hot that the indoor temp (in our "historic" home...think 15-foot ceilings and the original wavy-glass windows that I refuse to part with) never fell below 80 degrees despite the AC running constantly! Thank goodness I prefer to gel...I just stuck my log molds in our keeping room, no insulation needed