Soap Curing, The Secret To Making Soap In 48 Hours

How long does your soap need to cure? In this video, we learn how and why we can make soap that is safe to use and sell after just 48 hours. Most people think soap takes 4 to 6 weeks to cure. Joanna, the Soap Gal, explains how we can create soap in much less time using her tested method. We also look at what makes soap safe to sell and the process of testing the ph of your soap to see if it's alkaline.

This video explains how to make cold-processed soap in a safe a scalable way. Using an innovative formula we have created and by learning the science behind modern soap-making, it only takes 48 hours for soap to solidify and for it to be safe to use. 

Joanna starts off by explaining why the curing process of 4-6 weeks really isn't necessary and why sometimes its only a matter of packaging rather than actual safety. The best way to know if you have a sellable product is to weigh your product. So, usually, after cutting your soap, you weigh it, then wait about 2-3 days then weigh it again, and repeat this process until your soap bar's weight stays the same consecutively. Once the weight has stayed the same, you then know that there is no more water that needs to dissipate and you can label your product correctly. 

Now, usually this take a while and is a pretty tedious task. However, by using the formula, you are able to know exactly what weight your product is going to end up being and therefore, not need to worry about the weight and prolong the process. You are able to create a predictable result (exactly what size bar you will have every time and take that curing time out of it). 

Now, I know what you're thinking: But is it still safe to use after 48 hours when everyone knows its supposed to be 4-6 weeks?

The simple answer is yes! In the video, you see Joanna actually test this theory by testing the pH of a 48-hour cured soap. A pH level of about 8-9.5 is usually the pH you are looking for in a cold-processed soap.

So where did the 4-6 weeks curing time come from? Well, in the late 1800s, industrial lye was made and was more advanced and more mild. Because we now use this industrial lye (or sodium hydroxide), it is much safer to use, which is why the saponification process happens in only 48 hours. The only reason you need to wait a bit is for the dissipation of liquid (and as we said above, the formula Joanna shares is what can be used to calculate this correctly to you can make and sell in an expedited fashion!)

Check out our other videos in this series to find out the formula as well as other soap-making secrets and tips!