First time using a crockpot for soap making?

[craftymom0263]

I usually make CP soap but I have orders to fill for Christmas and with my work schedule I really don't have the time for them to cure 4-8 weeks. Can I use my CP soap recipe in the crockpot? How long does it have to cure before I can sell it?

 

[Seawolfe]

Yep, most CP recipes will work for HP, just use full water, and add fragrance / EO while its cooling. Some use sodium lactate to keep it more fluid.

Sorry, while the HP soap may be safe to use right away, it's really not very nice without the same cure as CP.

 

[Relle]

As Christmas is only 10 days away, I would not be selling CP or HP with that time frame. You have left your run too late.

 

[craftymom0263]

I'm sorry but what is sodium lactate?

 

[Relle]

You are selling and don't know what sodium lactate is :shock:.

 

[Obsidian]

HP needs a 4 week cure just like CP does. Sodium lactate is a liquid you can buy from soap suppliers, it helps keep the HP more fluid and will help harden the bars some.

 

[boyago]

I'm sorry but what is sodium lactate?

Sodium Lactate is an additive that can help harden bars some for unmolding but has the added advantage of keeping the soap batter more fluid when used in HP. Probably best not to take your first batch to market.

 

[craftymom0263]

Relle, some of my friends are buying my soap!!!

 

[boyago]

HP needs a 4 week cure just like CP does. Sodium lactate is a liquid you can buy from soap suppliers, it helps keep the HP more fluid and will help harden the bars some.

It did not take me nine minutes to type that. If we were dueling I'd feel cheated and dead. Ironically I think it was from you that I first learned about SL.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Relle, some of my friends are buying my soap!!!

Are they buying it to use or to give as gifts? If the latter, then your end customers are not your friends. If the former, maybe just give it away until you know what they are paying for will be worth it - I don't mean to offend with that, I just know how my soap (as well as most people on the forum) has improved from those first batches

 

[Dorymae]

Crafty, if your friends are buying your soap don't you want to provide them with the best possible product you can? Honestly curing soap is essential. I know it sounds like it is just to make it safe, and that all it does is to evaporate water but it really does matter to the quality of the soap.

I have made soaps that when they are first made seem fine, they lather good, look good, and are not too drying. However if you use them at that point they are gone in a week, they are soft enough that you could squeeze them into another shape. After 6 weeks they are hard as rocks and even using a bar daily in the shower will last a month. The lather increases incredibly and the soap feels like silk as you wash.

I know you feel under the gun but don't sell an inferior product - especially to your friends!! If you really must make them a soap for right now get creative with some melt and pour. You can make some beautiful swirls and scents relatively easily and quickly.

Good luck to you.

 

[craftymom0263]

Ok thanks for the advice. I thought HP didn't have to cure. I'll tell them that I will have it ready after the first of the year. I just started making soap about a year ago so this is all new to me still. Sorry if I offended anyone, I didn't mean to