Teach Soap

Hi all. I have never had to rebatch a soap (guess I've just been lucky) but I made a batch a couple of days ago that I may have to but I'm not sure. It is my first "milk" soap. I made some oat milk but I also left the oatmeal in it and stick blended the crap out of it so it was like a fine puree of oatmeal. My recipe called for 10.9 oz of water and 4.2 oz lye. I used 5 oz water to dissolve the lye and then added the rest as the oat milk. Everything seemed ok and the soap came together beautifully. Well, I checked it yesterday and there were little oil spots on top of the soap, I have had that happen before I just left them to soak back in because they didn't zap. I checked the spots on top of this batch and got my first zap ever. I don't like it. This morning the oil spots have soaked back in but I am afraid the soap will be lye heavy or maybe it didn't incorporate completely like I thought. It looked like all the lye was dissolved when I poured it in the oils. Any suggestions? Should I rebatch to be safe? Can I rebatch with more milk? How do I know how much liquid to add? Should I just give it a couple more days to see if it just hadn't finished saponifying yet? I didn't gel so that could be a possibility. TIA for any advice.

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Haven

I'd just give it a couple days since it didn't gel, then check again for zap.

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Genny

I agree. Give it a couple of days, then check for zap again. It's possible that you didn't use enough water to mix the lye completely. If that's the case, I would rebatch. You could add just a little bit more milk, but don't add to much or it could make your soap soft.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thank you both for the advice. I will give it another day or so and have my hubby or kids check for zap. Hehe. I will do it.

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Haven

Just a few tips from an inexperienced re-batcher if you're interested. I rebatched for the first time right after the first of the year because I had a loaf come out very ugly and I just couldn't stand to look at it. Be careful about how much liquid you add, I thought a little more might make it smoother, easier to blend together and melt, but it just made it super soft. I cooked it up in an oven bag so I wouldn't have a big mess, but I think it reached boiling and due to all the extra liquid the boiling caused suds to form, so my soap is unintentionally two toned because the sudsy part stayed at the top. I also noticed it's about an ounce lighter than soap I usually make in the same mold. I messed up a few bars when unmolding, it was like playdough even a week later. It's been 6-7 weeks and my soap is just starting to harden to the point that poking at it doesn't leave little indents. I tried one of the messed up pieces in the shower and it's ok, not the abundant lather I usually have, more of a very light bubble and a little creamy. Live and learn.

Generally speaking, with a freshly made soap that you want to rebatch, you don't need to add more liquid (or maybe 1-2 tbsp). Older soaps usually need added liquid to become a smoother consistency.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

See, I should have posted here first to ask for instructions, lol

Just wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions. I let it sit for several days and rechecked for zap. Nada! I guess I jumped the gun on freaking out cause I have never had that happen. Or maybe it has and I just didn't know it cause I normally don't check my ungelled soaps for several days. So all is well and I still don't have to rebatch. Yeah!!

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Haven

I'm glad it worked out. My ungelled soaps can zap up to 3 days later. After that they are fine.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.