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Problems With Melt & Pour Soap

Lisanne Jensen
Table of Contents

Handcrafting melt-and-pour soaps offers opportunities for creativity, but frustration sometimes occurs when crafters encounter unexpected problems. Here's how to troubleshoot potential challenges.

Glycerin is the main ingredient in melt-and-pour soaps.

Dirt and Debris

Remove any debris from melt-and-pour soap base by scooping it out with a spoon. Protect your soap base from dirt by storing it inside a container with a tight lid.

Color Changes

Old melt-and-pour soap base can sometimes take a yellow hue, but the soap quality remains. Use colorant (mica) to cover it. Fragrance oils containing vanilla will cause soap to turn brown, but vanilla and color stabilizers are available.

Dried, Crumbly Soap Base

High-quality glycerin soap shouldn't crumble, but over time it can dry out if not tightly sealed. Soap base containing too much lye can cause crumbly soap, so purchase supplies from a respected supplier.

Bonding Layers

To get two soap layers to adhere, spray rubbing alcohol on the first--hardened--layer before pouring the next. Rubbing alcohol bonds the layers.

Boosting Lather

If you want more bubbles from glycerin soap, add castor oil or tallow at no more than 3.5 percent.

Air Bubbles

To remove air bubbles from glycerin soap after pouring into molds, spritz the layer with rubbing alcohol. The bubbles will dissolve.