MsDammit Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 I'm making liquid soap for the first time, I started around 11am and everything went fine but I am in the taffy stage-have been for over an hr. Did something go wrong or am I just being impatient? The recipe said it should take 3-4 hrs cooking so I am getting nervous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 Is it zappy? What was your recipe? What procedures did you follow?If it's still zappy, wrap it up nice and snug in a few towels or a blanket, set it inside a cooler or something like that and leave it for a day or two... it'll continue on it's own if there is anywhere for it to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 Not sure it it's zappy- ya mean I can do the zap test same as CP? (yuck) I am using the recipe off from about.com. But I just went and checked on it and now its starting to look like the translucent vasoline stage so perhaps there is still hope?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 sounds like you are doing fine. I'm lazy so I kinda CP mine and instead of cooking it I insulate it heavily and walk away...The guy on about.com uses excess KOH so it might still be zappy anyway - be sure to neutralize with borax (he tells you to, right?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 1, 2007 Author Share Posted September 1, 2007 Yup he does have the borax step. I had my crock pot on low, maybe that's why it is taking so long, i just stuck the therm. in there & it said 150 so I cranked it on high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share Posted September 2, 2007 Ok this is just taking toooooo long, I just did the test- dissolving 1 oz of paste into 2 oz of boiling water and although it isn't cloudy there is a few big clumps that are hard as rocks, I've been stirring and stirring but they refuse to dissolve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 LS is a pain in the butt. When I'm dissolving (I don't "test") I just pour the water over the base, cover it and go to bed. It'll be soft in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jes432 Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 The first time I did this with this recipe it took me forever cooking it as well, but in the end it came out ok. I think my first batch took about 8 hours. I think it was mostly because it wasn't getting hot enough. I also checked it about every 10 minutes so the lid was off a lot which also kept it from staying hot. It is also a PITA to test getting it fully disolved is a joke unless you feel like waiting a while. I'd say yours sounds fine. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 My liquid soap once stayed in the taffy stage for 3 hours *gasp* (I know that is now what you needed to hear.) But it came out fine. After almost giving up and right when I was about to trash it, it suddenly changed texture right before my eyes. Darn good soap too! Made 5 gallons using the same recipe (although my electric bill was not very nice to look at.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share Posted September 2, 2007 Not sure wtf happened, I paniced and threw it away. I let it sit to dissolve all night and all morning-until almost lunchtime. It was still not all the way dissoved, had thick hard sticky chunks still. After reading more I am kicking myself for chucking it, I think I should have put the crockpot on low and see if that melted the chunks? I was a dark amber color, kind of like maple syrup. Should I leave the crock pot on low when I dissolve it? Wow this is alot more difficult then CP for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted September 2, 2007 Share Posted September 2, 2007 Liquid soap is a pita to make as far as waiting for it to "gel" and dissolve. I usually let mine sit for 3 days dissolving. I scoop out all the chunks, boil more water, and add those chunks to that water and let that sit. Once its all dissolved I combined the 2 pots together and pour into my empty water bottle gallons (save them all for your liquid soap when you make CP.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asheebeans Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 LS is a pain in the butt. When I'm dissolving (I don't "test") I just pour the water over the base, cover it and go to bed. It'll be soft in the morning.I love your "low maintenance" liquid soaping! That sounds right up my alley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 3, 2007 Share Posted September 3, 2007 Did I mention I'm lazy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Hip hip hooray, I did it!! Well I think I did anyways. I tried it again yesterday, it's not clear, more of a dark amber. Haven't tried it yet but filled the pot to soak and it sure was bubbly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecandlespastore Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 When you say its not clear do you mean it is cloudy, or the color is not clear like store bought liquid soap? Handmade liquid soap is always a an amber or brownish tan color, depending on what oils you use:cheesy2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 5, 2007 Author Share Posted September 5, 2007 It is just a little cloudy-although I am hoping it will clear as it sequesters, it's only been sitting for 3 days. Wouldn't u know I was so excited to get pass the stage it f'd up the first time I forgot to add fragrance, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CareBear Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 if you have a level of superfat it may not clear but that may be a good thing cause you can have a milder soap. Did you put an FO/EO in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsDammit Posted September 6, 2007 Author Share Posted September 6, 2007 I need to post a pic of it tonight, so far it's not clearing up. It's unscented also, I got carried away and forgot. Haven't had time to read but I would like to find out if there's a way I can add FO -I don't want the whole batch to be the same scent anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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