What soapy mistake have you made today?

[Arimara]

Yes olive oil is very thirsty and takes more water than most (quoting either DeeAnna, Susie or IrishLass).

So this was the dreaded water pit. I can now really commit it to memory (reading info doesn't always stay in my head).

 

[penelopejane]

I thought about that also because I looked at some pitchers that had 6 which I know are usually not recyclable or at least that was the latest info I read.
Thanks.

old

The 2 and 5 in the triangle at the bottom of plastic containers indicate the type of plastic used and whether they are heat resistant. 2 and 5 will resist the heat of lye mixed with water and are good for mixing new soap batter.

 

[artemis]

Every now and then, I need this thread. I was experimenting wih embeds. I am too cheap to buy the molds, so I was trying a tube, lined with freezer paper and capped at the bottom with a plastic bag and rubber bands. The soap poured into the makeshift mold just fine, until the rubber bands snapped! The soap oozed out and blended together until my colors became a muddy gray. I tossed it back into the bowl and added extra mica to make the color nicer and poured it into a plain old loaf mold. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow. It might be destined for a future confetti soap.

 

[bumbleklutz]

Well, it wasn't today; but the last batch I made was going REALLY, REALLY WELL!


A little info: My recipe traces fast due to the amount of hard oils in it. If I'm not careful it can go to thick pudding in just about 4-5 minutes.
I make soap for my family, and everyone wants something different out of the soap. One wants lots of bubbles, one wants a thick rich creamy lather, and one wants it to be "conditioning and moisturizing". It's not much to ask out of a bar of soap. :headbanging: Anyway, I've come up with a combination of fats that seems to please everyone. Now it's just a matter of coming up with a soaping technique that gives me enough time to do the swirls, layers, design, etc. that I want to do. So I've been experimenting with temperatures, lye concentration, batch sizes, mixing methods etc. Finally, I think I've got a method that works for me.

Anyway, I was making a confetti soap. I had colored my base portion white and stirred in my confetti. I then colored another portion orange and added that to the pot for an in the pot swirl. Then I thought, the FO smells really strong in this soap; and I realized it smelled so strong because it was sitting beside the soap pot. I forgot the #$^@^@!@!$^% FO again! I'm beginning to think I should only make unscented soaps from now on.

 

[Arimara]

I failed to write down how much water I used total in my EDTA solution. I know I used 50g of EDTA but I used A LOT MORE water. Now I have to dispose of this stuff.

 

[kchaystack]

I failed to write down how much water I used total in my EDTA solution. I know I used 50g of EDTA but I used A LOT MORE water. Now I have to dispose of this stuff.

Can't you just weigh it and subtract 50g? then you can figure out the concentration

 

[Arimara]

Can't you just weigh it and subtract 50g? then you can figure out the concentration

I don't even know how much the bottle it's in weighs. I also don't want to waste money buying a few more bottles just to get an estimated weight either. The best I could do is waste money on food, recycle the containers and pour the edta into a clean container.

 

[earlene]

I don't even know how much the bottle it's in weighs. I also don't want to waste money buying a few more bottles just to get an estimated weight either. The best I could do is waste money on food, recycle the containers and pour the edta into a clean container.

Seriously, you don't have any clean soaping bowl or measuring cup or even an empty glass jar in your cupboard you could use to get a weight? An empty paper cup or something?

Well even if you do toss it and start over, hopefully you have plenty of dry EDTA on hand and it is a lesson learned.

Might I suggest for future reference you write the weight of the empty bottle on a piece of tape (I use masking tape) and stick it to the bottom of the bottle.

 

[Arimara]

Seriously, you don't have any clean soaping bowl or measuring cup or even an empty glass jar in your cupboard you could use to get a weight? An empty paper cup or something?

Well even if you do toss it and start over, hopefully you have plenty of dry EDTA on hand and it is a lesson learned.

Might I suggest for future reference you write the weight of the empty bottle on a piece of tape (I use masking tape) and stick it to the bottom of the bottle.

I reuse stuff for holding food. That bottle was my extra. i have plenty of the EDTA left and I'm only out 50g. It's still around but I'm not going to get around to it til next week. By then I should have another bottle cleaned.

 

[debra062013]

I read somewhere that folks were using Plastic Easter eggs for their molds.
You don't want to forget to tape the holes. Also I only got one clean whole "egg" most were 1/2 eggs. But I put bugs, frogs etc. for a eco fest. They turned out pretty good. Even have one purple bug that his tentacle stick out. The whole "egg" I had put a long worm in there and it is pretty neat.
Of course I used MP because I needed clear soap .
Not sure that has any thing workable for you but maybe someone could make Easter Eggs They also come in 2 sizes.

Every now and then, I need this thread. I was experimenting wih embeds. I am too cheap to buy the molds, so I was trying a tube, lined with freezer paper and capped at the bottom with a plastic bag and rubber bands. The soap poured into the makeshift mold just fine, until the rubber bands snapped! The soap oozed out and blended together until my colors became a muddy gray. I tossed it back into the bowl and added extra mica to make the color nicer and poured it into a plain old loaf mold. We'll see what it looks like tomorrow. It might be destined for a future confetti soap.

 

[artemis]

I was lining my cylinder mold (leftover pringles can) with the freezer paper. I'm pretty near the end of the roll, and it didn't want to unroll enough to fit properly. I monkeyed with it way too long. I just decided that pouring the batter in would probably push the paper into place. Well, the paper must have crinkled some. And there was a gap where one edge overlapped the other. When I unmolded, I had a thin layer of soap on the outside of the freezer paper. I'm going to tell people the finished soap is "rustic," but really, it just looks beat up... like I dropped it a few times. But the color is good and it smells good. I made oatmilk and used it in place of water and added some honey into my oils. No added colors or fragrance.

 

[neonstudy]

Well I had my first seized and cracked soap last night! Made 100% coconut oil superfat 20% soap last night. Was taking forever to trace, so like I do with 100% lard, I just leave it for a few minutes. I went to brush my teeth, and when I came back, it was pretty much a solid lump. I put it into a mold (barely), and it started gelling. There ended up being a huge crack in it, which I smushed together. Hope it's still usable!

 

[artemis]

Hope it's still usable!

Even if it has a mushed down crack, it's still soap.

 

[sweetbean]

I was lining my cylinder mold (leftover pringles can) with the freezer paper. I'm pretty near the end of the roll, and it didn't want to unroll enough to fit properly. I monkeyed with it way too long. I just decided that pouring the batter in would probably push the paper into place. Well, the paper must have crinkled some. And there was a gap where one edge overlapped the other. When I unmolded, I had a thin layer of soap on the outside of the freezer paper. I'm going to tell people the finished soap is "rustic," but really, it just looks beat up... like I dropped it a few times. But the color is good and it smells good. I made oatmilk and used it in place of water and added some honey into my oils. No added colors or fragrance.

I think a picture might be necessary! I love the "rustic" usage. I might need to start saying that!

 

[artemis]

I think a picture might be necessary! I love the "rustic" usage. I might need to start saying that!

Ask and ye shall recieve! This is my first batch involving oats. I decided to make oat milk and used it as a replacement for my water. I also added honey to my oils. That crinkle on the top is actually from the plastic bag I used between the Pringles can and it's lid. I normally cut that off, but I think it fits with this batch.

 

[AsanaSoap]

Measuring Mishap

I reversed the measurements for my olive and coconut oils, so then I had to figure out how to salvage the recipe. Went to Soapcalc and then got lost figuring out new recipes. Finally got back to the point and made a batch of soap. It's sitting in the mold, and I have no idea how it will turn out. I'm sure it will be usable.

Then I tried rebatching some old soap, but couldn't get it soft enough to look good. I guess I should have added more water. I could try again. It's Very Rustic

 

[asmita]

Mistakenly used KOH instead of NaOH while making soap

I need help. I was making castile soap using countertop HP and instead of Sodium Hydroxide I used Potassium Hydroxide. No wonder my soap is not hardening.

How can fix this soap? The soap has been in mould for 2 days.

 

[Soapprentice]

My mistake of the day: I made a mica line thicker than it needs to be and it broke the soap ! :|

 

[toxikon]

I need help. I was making castile soap using countertop HP and instead of Sodium Hydroxide I used Potassium Hydroxide. No wonder my soap is not hardening.

How can fix this soap? The soap has been in mould for 2 days.

Asmita, I recommend making a new thread in the Beginner subforum to get feedback. It is likely your post will be lost in this thread.

When you make your new post, I recommend giving as many details as you can, including your full recipes in ounces/grams.

 

[asmita]

Asmita, I recommend making a new thread in the Beginner subforum to get feedback. It is likely your post will be lost in this thread.

When you make your new post, I recommend giving as many details as you can, including your full recipes in ounces/grams.

Thank You. I'll do that.