Making your own soap can be an incredibly rewarding process, but the work doesn’t stop once you’ve poured the soap into molds. One of the most important steps in soapmaking is curing your soap, which ensures that your bars are long-lasting, mild, and safe to use. Proper curing and storage of handmade soaps is essential to producing high-quality, luxurious bars that will leave your skin feeling soft and nourished.
In this blog post, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about curing and storing your handmade soaps, from the science behind curing to the best storage practices for keeping your soaps fresh and ready for use.
Why Curing Soap is Important
Curing is the process of allowing your soap to harden and dry over a period of several weeks. This is especially important for cold process soap, where saponification (the chemical reaction that turns oils and lye into soap) continues to occur even after the soap has been poured into molds.
During the curing process, excess water evaporates from the soap, making the bars harder and longer-lasting. Proper curing also allows the pH level of the soap to balance, which ensures that the soap is gentle and safe for the skin. Soap that hasn’t been cured properly may feel soft, dissolve quickly in water, or cause skin irritation due to an imbalanced pH.
How to Cure Handmade Soap
Curing your soap properly takes time and patience, but the process is simple. Follow these steps to ensure your soap cures correctly:
1. Unmold the Soap After 24-48 Hours
Once your soap has set in the mold for 24-48 hours, it should be firm enough to unmold. Gently remove the soap from the mold and, if you’re using a loaf mold, cut it into individual bars. Don’t worry if the soap still feels soft at this stage—this is completely normal. The curing process will take care of the hardening.
2. Set Up Your Curing Area
Curing requires a space that is well-ventilated, cool, and dry. You’ll want to avoid areas with high humidity, direct sunlight, or excessive heat. A good curing space could be a shelf in a cool, dry room, or a drying rack in a well-ventilated area.
To allow air to circulate around the soap, line the shelf or rack with parchment paper or an uncoated rack. This helps prevent moisture buildup and allows the soap to cure evenly.
3. Arrange the Soap for Curing
Place your soap bars on the curing rack or shelf in a single layer. Make sure to leave space between each bar to allow air to flow freely. This helps speed up the drying process and ensures that all sides of the soap are exposed to air.
Every few days, flip the bars over so that all sides have a chance to dry evenly. This prevents moisture from collecting at the bottom of the bars and helps them cure uniformly.
4. Let the Soap Cure for 4-6 Weeks
Curing takes time, and the average soap bar requires 4-6 weeks to fully cure. During this time, the soap will harden as the water evaporates, and the chemical reaction (saponification) will continue to develop. Patience is key here—rushing the process can result in soft, mushy soap that doesn’t last long or isn’t skin-safe.
If you’re making soap with a high amount of olive oil, like Castile soap, it may require even longer to cure—up to six months in some cases. Always make sure your soap is fully cured before using it or giving it as a gift.
How to Store Cured Soap
Once your soap has cured for 4-6 weeks and is firm to the touch, it’s time to store it properly to maintain its quality. Proper storage will help your soap stay fresh, last longer, and retain its scent and texture.
1. Store Soap in a Cool, Dry Place
After curing, your soap should be stored in a cool, dry place to prevent it from absorbing moisture from the air. Excess moisture can cause the soap to become soft and mushy or develop a sticky surface. A linen closet, pantry, or any area with low humidity and good ventilation is ideal for storing soap.
2. Use Breathable Packaging
If you plan on wrapping or packaging your soap, choose breathable materials like paper or cloth. Wrapping the soap in plastic can trap moisture, which could lead to sweating or spoilage over time. If you’re gifting your soap, consider using eco-friendly packaging options like kraft paper, wax paper, or cloth bags, which will keep your soap dry and allow it to breathe.
3. Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat
Keep your cured soap away from direct sunlight, heat, or humidity. Exposure to heat and light can cause the soap’s fragrance and color to fade over time. Soap should be stored in a dark, cool area to preserve its quality and longevity.
4. Rotate Your Soap Stock
If you’ve made several batches of soap, be sure to use the oldest batch first. Cured soap can last a long time if stored properly, but it’s always best to use your stock in the order it was made to ensure you’re using the freshest bars.
Conclusion
Curing and storing your handmade soap properly is a crucial step to ensuring high-quality, long-lasting bars. By giving your soap time to cure, you allow it to harden, balance its pH, and become safe and gentle for your skin. And with proper storage, you can keep your soap fresh and fragrant for months to come.
By following the steps outlined above, you’ll ensure that your handmade soaps not only look and smell beautiful but also perform at their best, offering a luxurious experience for you and your loved ones. So, be patient during the curing process, store your soap correctly, and enjoy the benefits of your handcrafted creations!
If you would like to learn how to make soap, check out my course here.
