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Instructions
Re-read the recipe you used. There may be errors in the recipe you used or you may have forgotten to include something. Using the wrong amount of lye or fats can disrupt the saponification process.Go to http://www.millersoap.com, click on "Troubleshooting Help," find "Double Check Recipe," click on "download spreadsheets" and choose "soapsheet.exe." This document shows exactly how much lye to use in relation to the rest of the ingredients.
Weigh your ingredients. This is crucial when making soap because the proportions of ingredients need to be exact or saponification won't take place. Not using enough lye will leave some of the fats or oils unsaponified. The soap may feel greasy. Too much lye can result in crumbly, harsh soap. Don't use it on your skin because it will be too harsh. Remelt it with another batch.
Use a stick blender to speed up the stirring process, especially if you're using olive oil. Too much heat loss during stirring can prevent tracing, the moment when saponification starts occurring. Use a mold that is deeper than 1 1/2 inches. Cover and insulate the soap once it's been poured. Remove the cover when it starts to gel to eliminate excess heat.
Re-heat a batch of soap that may have gotten too cold or that hasn't been stirred long enough. Soap may separate into lumps with watery areas inside them if it hasn't really traced and is poured too soon. Soap that has gotten too cold may be hard and crumbly when it's cut. Use a thermometer to monitor the soap's temperature. If you got a false trace the first time, stir the re-melted soap while reheating it. This ensures a complete reaction between the lye, the water and the fats or oils.
Add only high-quality fragrance oils called for in the recipe. Fragrance oils can make soap form rice-like grains if too much is used. Measure them carefully and add them when called for in the recipe. Including too much citrus-based oils can cause them to leach outward to the surface and form a film which can be wiped off. Essential oils such as rose or bergamot don't often cause problems.
Re-batch, or re-melt, soap that doesn't work out. This process won't save every seemingly ruined batch but it works often enough to at least try it.
Trim off the dusty white powder that sometimes forms on the surface of your soap. It's still usable. It is often caused by soap that became too cold during the process or if just a bit too much lye was used. This is a common problem in recipes that include sugar or milk in the ingredients.