Soda Ash is Lame. Here's how I fix it. 31 Days of Soapmas Day 8

Soda ash can be steamed, washed off, sprayed down, or you can do it THIS way. I dunno, let's see if you prefer this method. I also discuss what soda ash even is.
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Soap & Clay is a family owned business operating in Washington State, but started out online thanks to Mrs. Soap & Clay's kickass brother and his amazing web design skills. The business was started as a tribute to Mrs. Soap & Clay's grandmother, the OG maker in the family that cultivated everyone's love for the DIY life. The studio/retail shop opened in 2017 on 6th Ave in Tacoma, and immediately began teaching soap, bath bomb, lotion, and scrub classes to the makers and maker enthusiasts of the PNW. In 2019, the pottery studio opened as well, making the soap shop a busy place full of artistic energy every minute of the day.
Mrs. Soap & Clay has been featured on Business Spotlight, New Day Northwest, and was awarded a coveted place on the South Sound's 40 under 40 list in 2019, an award given to the most influential business people under the age of 40 each year. She cried when she walked up to the podium to accept the award. A lot.
Drawing from her chemistry background and her maker spirit, Mrs. Soap & Clay infuses her favorite things into her soapy designs and creates products that are fun to see, use, and learn to make. Stick around for this ride - she'll take you on a great one.
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[@kathytaylor8089]

Well now that's a brilliant solution.

[@jamiegardella1251]

Oh, i touchy touchy all of the soapy things!

[@jobo8819]

These elves are out in force globally at this time of the year it seems 🤣🤣🤣 Bless them. Makes so much sense moisturizing the soda ash with oil. Very helpful pearler piece of advice.

[@RTJames-gq9xg]

Every video, I learn so much! I’m a home soaper (family/friends/free). But I always want to give them the best ❤❤❤. So BIG Thank you for all of your amazing videos and education and fun with your tribe!

[@dianehedricks7860]

What a great tip! I have always steamed, but I will try this when I get soda ash! I don’t get it often, but I will try this!!!!

[@MsAubrey]

Awesome idea! ❤ Don’t know why I wouldn’t think of that. I should experiment with a couple older soaps that have a little ash on them. Most of my customers don’t care, but just to check.

[@peepla7]

This worked really well. The oil will be absorbed by the soap. My soap is canola and lard based...so I tried canola. Well one I did with olive oil but that gave it a green cast. Since the soap has canola...I tired that next....worked, the color came back, the glitter is showing, the ash disappeared and it looks amazing.

[@thenerdyleopard4893]

I love the elves & that they had kiddos of their own. Next is that they get animal friends lol : ) appreciate you & this channel so much. If you haven’t binge watched every video, you are missing SO MUCH INFORMATION!!

[@cibercarmen]

It sounds reasonably using oil to make soda ash react with it. Alcaline+acid (oil), a clever reasoning. Hadn't thought of it... I had tried lots of things. Alcohol didn't work at all, steam would desfigurate the form, washing them I didn't like, they seemed all used.... The thing it works a little for me is inmediatly rubbing the surface with the finger, but it does also affect the design... So what I do is be very, very carefull with temperature and with covering the surface with galss fiber, that paper reusable that you use for the oven... I cut the leaf at the size of my moulds, put it into contact with the soap surface, and let it stay for 24-48 hours, and reuse the glass paper for the next batch and so on. It makes some imperfections too, but, as it is very soft,, I can correct with the finger as if it were dough. Even tohugh, I get soda ash more than I'd like and I hold on with them and use that way 🙅‍♀ Thank you for the tip, I'll definitely try it when I get another soda ash bar and I'll tell you all how it worked for me (cross my fingers fot it to not-occur 😅 Thank you again for your channel, it is a knowledge treasure🙏🙏

[@lifewithamberb]

Holy crap cutter!! Oh no we have funerals for socks lol

[@RisaL-13]

I am trying that! I have had no luck with all the other methods. Thank you!

[@CilantroRain]

Thank you so much for this video. This was much needed info 😊 you are awesome!

[@Twistedtree7]

I had the thought to try oil once, but I think I got scared it would do something weird. Now I’ll definitely try it because steaming is a pain with really sculpted tops. I also inspect every bar I cut. Every time.

[@MrsSoapAndClay]

It’s like therapy for me.

[@denicemaree9250]

Great tip I will try this next time I get soda ash steaming didn't work for me and up until now I have been washing the soap. Thankyou

[@ruthcowden1386]

Thank you for this information. I learned things!

[@RisaL-13]

Oh unh unh. I don’t have time for mischievous elves. Kids are mischievous enough.

[@MrsSoapAndClay]

These elves are a menace!

[@jaytee3baxter]

I love this idea, I'm definitely trying this!

[@terioesterle8551]

What a great idea. Sounds like the Elves had an experience they will remember, treasure and laugh about decades later. I'm sorry you had to clean up the mess- I don't have a clue how you get everything you do done.

[@herbsandberries]

I'm definitely going to try that next time I get it... if I remember

[@heidihughes5120]

Wow! This is going to be a game changer for me. Thanks for sharing this tip!

[@jamiegardella1251]

Thank you for explaining Soda Ash. I have had problems with it and started steaming, which is very messy but does shine it up nicely

[@UnkosSoaps]

This is something I've seen with one soaper do to get rid of some soda ash which I'm going to try myself! Before the unmolding and the cut, they run the whole loaf under hot or warm water in the sink! rinsing the top only of the textured soap and then after tilting it to its side to drip dry then unmold and cut! This seems to be a lot quicker than steaming each bar of soap which i really hate doing! lol

[@RosegarlandCreations]

thanks for sharing. from Tasmania Australia, I thought Aussie Elves was naughties lol

[@kattaylor9294]

I've been steaming but it's a pain in the rear. I'm definitely going to try this. Not all my soaps get ash, but some do. I have one that I'm not going to take it off of because I think it adds to the aesthetic. The soap is called cowboy. So think suede scent and rustic looking.

[@MrsSoapAndClay]

Sounds like an awesome soap for soda ash!

[@barefootmama1985]

😂 yes! Our elves are super mischievous as well! All the things!

[@vickiraines2851]

I'll try this. Thank you

[@schellsc]

Ohhhh this could be a game changer! Hmm although I'd want a way to do more than 1 bar at a time lol.

[@Charbythedesert]

Nice tip! Gotta try it cause I love cutting the soap asap.

[@cramsey3418]

Thanks for the advise with soda Ashe still learning only at this for over 1 years

[@peepla7]

Im gonna try this now. My soap did have a thin trace...it set up fine and then an hour ago the entire top is white. A thick white layer of ash and i dont have a lot of alcohol...so ya gonn try this now

[@saygoodnight5103]

This is my second year of soap making but the first time giving it as gifts. I ended up with soda ash on one of my batches. I thought I'd need to let the batch harden up a bit first so I've waited a week. Washing it off works but ruins the bar of soap if giving it as a gift. The top of my soap is not smooth so it can't just be cut off unless I waste a good portion of the bar. I will definitely try this first. If it doesn't work then I'll just keep it for myself and make another batch. I was also wondering when you test the pH of your soap? Right away or at the 4-6 week mark? Does the lye dissipate further over time? Thank you for putting out these videos. The information you give is invaluable as a new soap maker I really appreciate you! Hope you are able to get your elves under control before they destroy your home. 🤣

[@MrsSoapAndClay]

Hey! Glad you’re enjoying your soapy journey! To the pH bit, if I test the pH it’s 2 days after cut. Assuming the formulation is sound, saponification is complete within 48 hours, meaning all lye has been consumed, and the pH will not be impacted much during the cure. If you’d like to run an experiment, try testing your next batch at 48 hours and again at 4 weeks and see what the difference is. Have fun!

[@kris10tackles]

Amazing!!! Even thought I don’t ever care about soda ash (soap is just for me), I kinda want to try next time it happens just for fun. Maybe I’ll start getting shiny bars! 🤯

[@lifewithamberb]

Holy shit 5 elves! I cannot fathom trying to remember all that lol

[@CandaceJensen-iq7vx]

I like to understand why the things do the things. The older I get, the more I know just how much I don’t know lol. Thank you! It makes sense now why I’ve had soda ash on some soaps and not others. I don’t get it on my soaps anymore since I learned and started to cpop all my soaps. My little elf liked to see what he could get to flush down the toilet lol 😂 he stopped once I started having him clean up the mess 😝 yuck! If I get soda ash again I will definitely do that oil massage thing👍. Cutting my soaps is so exciting and one of my happy places so I totally get it❤️

[@peepla7]

Im thinking oil will also bring back the glitter 😊

[@MsAubrey]

Oh… and I’m grateful that my kids are older and elves are not required. 😂

[@lifewithamberb]

I wish I had had this video 3 weeks ago. It’s okay I get to rebatch!! Can you use any oil?

[@reenieme7]

So in theory could I spritz the tops of any soda ash soaps with oil (like aerosol style) and not even have to rub them (like the ones with detailed peaks and such) 🤔

[@schellsc]

Hah I thought I saw something new lol

[@user-mr8gc4fc3i]

What is CPOP or Gel mean? Do you have videos on these methods?

[@MrsSoapAndClay]

Hey! CPOP is cold process, oven process, which heats the soap and forces a gel phase. I talk about it in the back to basics soapmaking playlist if you’d like more info.

[@macio5102]

What does c-pop mean and how do you demonstrate it?

[@MrsSoapAndClay]

Cold process-oven process = putting your soap in a warm oven to force gel and speed up saponification.

[@macio5102]

@@MrsSoapAndClay Oh ok gotcha! Thank you!