One of the nice things about making soap is that a disaster does not have to stay that way. With these soap-making troubleshooting tips, you will be well on your way to rescuing that less-than-perfect batch!
With a little soap-making troubleshooting, just about any ‘bad’ batch can be saved or re-invented by re-batching your soap. The best way to deal with soap-making disasters is to treat each one as a learning experience. Keep a notebook and a pen handy when you are making your soap, and make notes about anything unusual that happens as you are making your soap.
Did a particular colourant have an unexpected result?
Did one of your essential oils speed up the trace or was it a flaw in the recipe?
Make notes about what worked as well. You might think you will remember the details for the next time you make up that particular recipe but don’t count on it!
Soap-Making Troubleshooting Table
Issue
Cause
Solutions
My batch won’t trace
There was not enough lye or too much water in the batch.
Double-check all of your measurements. If amounts and temperatures are correct, continue stirring for up to 3 hours or until the solution traces.
If your mixture still won’t trace after 3 hours, pour into moulds regardless of trace and let sit for 24 hours. If the mixture still does not harden, discard it.
My batch curdled
Your soap is reacting to the fragrance that was just added, or the oil and/or lye poured into the mixing bowl at too high a temperature.
Switch to a stick blender and smooth out the mixture before pouring it into your moulds. Check for irregularities in the soap bars; if there are, discard the bars.
My batch set too quickly in the pot
Oil and Lye/water temperatures were too high or low, or
Fats and oils are reacting to a synthetic fragrance or other additives.
Pour the mix into the moulds as quickly as possible. Smooth out with a spatula. Everything should be fine other than aesthetic problems.
My soap broke coming out of the mould
The moulds weren’t cleaned properly the last time you used them, or
You didn’t wait long enough before removing the soaps from the moulds.
The only thing wrong with this soap is the aesthetics, but if you want a nicer finish re-batching is an option.
My soaps won’t come out of the moulds
- Impatience, or
- Unsuitable mold.
There are a couple of things you can try – heat and cold! Put your soap into the freezer for five minutes or so. If the soaps will still not come out of the moulds, try running them under the hot tap.
Want Soap Making Troubleshooting Tips?
I hope you found these soap-making troubleshooting tips useful. Over time I will be adding more, so please pop back in to check!
Alternatively, if you have any troubleshooting tips for your fellow soapers, just drop me a line using the form on my contact page, and I will add it to the list.
