I beat the ash!!

hmlove1218 · May 1, 2015

As a non-gelling soaper, I've delta with ash quite a bit. Usually it's very minor, but I'm always perturbed when it detracts from the design on top.

With my recipe, I've noticed that ash usually doesn't start to appear until after I cut. So with my last batch, I decided to experiment. After I cut. I placed all the bars on their sides instead of their bottoms like so

I left them like this for a few days before I flipped them to the other side.

Low and behold, my tops are relatively ash free!! It all formed on the sides which, honestly, I don't care about. I will be doing this from now on!

Dahila · May 1, 2015

I had done it and it does not help. Some soaps get ash some do not. I do not like gelled soaps too

newbie · May 1, 2015

Not allowing exposure to air works quite well overall. There may be some FO's that ash readily, but cutting them off from air for several days after you make it does wonders to prevent ash. So does using less water.

MorpheusPA · May 1, 2015

I find that leaving the soap covered for two full days seems to help with stopping the Great Ash Problem. Since I use a lot of olive oil, that's not a problem for me.

In my new favorite mold, a cupcake mold my mother gave me as she hated it for cupcakes, I tend to leave them uncovered. The ash up top looks a bit like white frosting, and waiting to unmold leaves the sides and bottom clean.

KristaY · May 1, 2015

That's some really pretty soap, hmlove! Ash or not, it's beautiful! :smile:

hmlove1218 · May 2, 2015

newbie said:
Not allowing exposure to air works quite well overall. There may be some FO's that ash readily, but cutting them off from air for several days after you make it does wonders to prevent ash. So does using less water.

MorpheusPA said:
I find that leaving the soap covered for two full days seems to help with stopping the Great Ash Problem. Since I use a lot of olive oil, that's not a problem for me.

In my new favorite mold, a cupcake mold my mother gave me as she hated it for cupcakes, I tend to leave them uncovered. The ash up top looks a bit like white frosting, and waiting to unmold leaves the sides and bottom clean.

newbie and Morpheus:
I've tried leaving them covered for a few days and it never fails that as soon as I remove the covering, i get ash. I'm glad it works for you guys, though

That cupcake mold sounds really neat Morpheus! I haven't tried CP cupcakes yet, but I intend to soon.