Using real buttermilk?

[JenniferSews]

I bought a small carton a bit ago, with the intention of making Irish bread now that it's cool. But with school and everything else going on I never got around to it and one day decided to try it in soap. It was the first batch I've ever thrown straight into the trash. :cry: I tried again and it's okay, but I feel like the fat is throwing off my lye calculations. The soap is soft, but otherwise seems nice. I'd like to use the rest of the carton, does anyone have any words of wisdom for real buttermilk? Is this going to go bad on me soon?

 

[carebear]

Jennifer, are you leaving out some water to make up for the liquid of the milk?

 

[JenniferSews]

I did, I subtracted whatever I used as water. I don't know. I probably should quit trying to reinvent the wheel and just use powdered!

 

[carebear]

Oh I don't know about that!
I soap with liquid buttermilk without issue (well beyond the fact that milk soaps are a PITA anyway) - I don't like messing with the powder, something always goes wrong with that.

I add my milk about the time that the oils and lye water are emulsified.

 

[rubato456]

when i soap w/ soy milk the soap seems a bit softer right out of the mold. but eventually, things harden up fine...just takes a bit more time. i substitute milk for water 1:1. i use my milk frozen and like how quickly it soaps up.

 

[Cheesecake]

I love to soap with fresh buttermilk. Makes my soaps very creamy and lathers well, just love it!

As long as your discounting the water, I do 1:1, you should be just fine. I do not freeze my buttermilk, just pretty much use it straight from the carton. The soap is a little soft at first, but hardens up nicely. Just let it do it's thing and cure.

One of my all time favorites is buttermilk/hoeny/oats. Yumm! I could just about eat it!

 

[JenniferSews]

I wonder if I just did something else wrong with that first batch. It was 1/2 soap and 1/2 oily liquid hidden underneath the soap. UGLY stuff. I added the buttermilk at trace the last time and it seemed a bit better. It's soft but I'll see how it cures. Thanks for the advice!