How do you know if saponification is complete?

The Zap Test for Soap

The zap test is when you stick a bar of soap to your tongue. If it zaps you like a 9-volt battery, your soap is still not saponfied. If it doesn't, it is probably done with the process. Again, saponification takes about 24-48 hours.

How do you know when soap is cured?

A typical cure time is 4-6 weeks, but what determines when a soap is “done”? The most reliable factor is weight. Each week, I weigh each soap on the cure rack. When the soap goes a full two weeks (most soapers wait one week) without changing weight, I know that it's both safe to use, and will hold up when used.

How long does it take for saponification?

The saponification generally takes about 24 to 48 hours to complete once the lye and oils have been mixed and the raw soap has been poured into the mold.

How many weeks does it take for soap to fully complete?

Most soaps need 4 or more weeks to cure, or to complete the saponification process, during which fats, water, and lye turn into soap. The longer it sits, the harder and milder it will become.

How do you know if lye is out of soap?

If the bar “zaps” you, it's likely lye heavy. The feeling is hard to describe, but you'll definitely notice it. Don't do this test if the soap is seeping, as the liquid may be unsaponified lye that can burn your tongue. If the soap doesn't zap you, it's likely safe to use.

SAPONIFICATION VALUE - All you need to know // Soap Chemistry

How do you know if soap is saponified?

The Zap Test for Soap

The zap test is when you stick a bar of soap to your tongue. If it zaps you like a 9-volt battery, your soap is still not saponfied. If it doesn't, it is probably done with the process. Again, saponification takes about 24-48 hours.

Why did my soap not Saponify?

If the soap does not contain enough lye, the oils will not saponify. Another reason for soft soap is there was not enough hard oils or butters (such as coconut oil, palm oil or cocoa butter). Soap made with only soft oils can take an extremely long time to unmold (such as castile soap).

How long should homemade soap cure?

It will usually take 3 or 4 weeks for soap to cure. I turn my bars over several times during curing, so that all four sides get air contact. Once you have your soaps on the shelf, lightly place a sheet over them to keep dust and dirt out.

Why does soap have to cure for 4 weeks?

Curing is the process of allowing saponification to complete and for water to evaporate out. In this way, the soap, is dry, harder, milder and the lye non-existent in the finished product. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for a soap to dry and the lye to be totally transformed.

Why is my soap not hardening?

Too much extra liquid (milk, purees, etc.) on top of the water in the lye solution causes soap to not harden correctly. Water discounting soap reduces the chances of glycerin rivers, shown above. It also produces a bar that hardens faster.

How long do you leave soap in mold?

We recommend letting your soap sit in the mold to harden for at least 12 to 24 hours after pouring. The time depends on the size of the soap, but it should be completely hard to the touch before you try to remove it from the mold.

How long do you let melt and pour soap cure?

On average, Melt and Pour soap takes approximately 4-6 hours to completely harden; however, the actual time will depend on factors such as the room temperature as well as chosen additives. It is important to remember not to remove the cooling soap from the mold before it has been given enough time to harden.

Does liquid soap need to cure?

Does liquid soap need to cure too? Liquid soap doesn't have a solid crystalline structure, and it doesn't need to dry. A "cure" time for liquid soap is mainly to allow time for the last bits of saponification to finish and allow any particles that might be in the soap to sequester (settle out).

What happens if you use uncured soap?

You never want to use or sell a bar of soap that has not cured completely. An uncured bar means that there is still active lye solution in your soap. Washing with this soap could result in very serious skin irritation and even burns.

What temperature should soap cure at?

The temperature range of 120-130 ° F is a safe range that should not look cloudy, or lead to false trace. It's also important that your lye is an appropriate soaping temperature. Just like soaping oils, a great lye temperature for soaping is 120-130 ° F.

How long should lye soap cure?

Saponification is complete within around 48 hours, ie all the hydroxide has been turned in to sodium salts but during the continuing cure time the longer chain fatty acids are still busy queuing to rearrange themselves into soap crystals and this is what helps your soap to become harder as time goes on not just the ...

Why does my homemade soap not lather?

Hard water minerals such as calcium and magnesium react negatively with the ingredients in your products. As a result, you don't get the rich lather you desire and may feel the need to use more product (which quickly becomes expensive).

Why is my homemade soap slimy?

The main reason that your homemade soap may be is that not enough hard oils were added. These are usually the oils you find in coconut butter, castor oil, or even avocado oil, with the closest runner-up for your slimy soap being old, or not enough lye added.

Why is my soap not tracing?

False trace occurs when soap batter appears to be a thick consistency, but the oils and butters have not saponified. Perhaps the most common cause of false trace is using solid oils or butters at too cool of a temperature. If solid butters and fats are below their melting point, the oils and butters may re-solidify.

Does homemade soap go bad?

Soap does expire, but if it still lathers when you wash your hands, it should be effective. Most commercial store-bought soaps expire after two to three years. Natural or handmade soaps may expire sooner, within one year, as the essential oils and fragrances can get rancid or moldy.

Is cold process soap better?

Depending on the ingredients you use, cold process soap making typically yields a long-lasting bar of soap. Cold process soaps are better for the environment, healthier for the skin and can be made incredibly moisturising with limitless designs and recipes. The only limit is your creativity.

How soon can you Rebatch soap?

Rebatch soap does not require a 4-6 week cure time like cold process soap does. But, allowing the bars to cure for about 2 weeks will ensure extra moisture evaporates, creating a harder and longer lasting bar.

What happens if you put too much fragrance oil in soap?

While your homemade soap has the potential to carry more fragrance oil, you shouldn't add any more than the 1% amount. This scent can only be included up to 1% according to the IFRA's standards and anymore could irritate the skin.

What happens if I pour my soap before trace?

Ingredients to Speed up Trace Time

Whether you pour your soap at light trace or heavy trace, it's still going to make soap. As long as you reach that point of no return where the oils and lye won't separate, you're fine.