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My Reward PointsHave you ever thought about the fact that your soap seems to melt so quickly into a messy slime in the dish? Usually, it happens quite often because of direct contact with water most of the time, higher humidity levels, or just heating. Leaving a soap dish in the wrong place or leaving soap in a damp place causes faster melting. The good news, these minor or simple changes will help keep the soap bar intact and long-lasting. Let's find out why soap melts and how to prevent it effectively.
Most Common Reasons Why Soap Melts?
There exist a few main reasons for soap to melt. Let’s discuss some of them below:
1. Too Much Water Exposure
Excessive exposure to water is one big reason. If soap rests too long in a puddle of water or is in constant dampness, it may slowly dissolve and become mushy. The fastest breakdown of soap happens when it sits in something like a dish where water accumulates or is placed under running taps.
2. High Humidity
Further, high humidity makes poor soap absorb moisture from the air. Poorly ventilated bathrooms, or perhaps in rainy seasons, are bound to have the humidity soften soap bars.
3. Soft Soap Formulations
Soap composition counts too; soaps with high contents of glycerin, or using soft oils like olive or sunflower oil, tend to be softer. Such ingredients attract water and hence do not bind too much, so they tend to melt more readily compared with a harder soap formulation.
4. Heat and Direct Sunlight
Heat and sunlight melt soap. Leaving the soap out in the sun, like on the windowsill, or near a heater, allows the warm air to soften the soap bars. Heat is a catalyst for increasing melting, thus hastening soap from becoming mushy or sticky.
How to Prevent Soap from Melting?
There are several things that you can do to avoid the quicker melting of soap. They can be streamlined under three heads, namely: ways of storage of soaps, daily use, and any formulation tips for soap making if you happen to be working on your own soaps.
1. Storage
To keep soap firm, store it in a cool, dry place away from water. Use a well-drained soap dish and avoid leaving it in constant moisture.
- Keep it dry & cool: Soap should be kept dry and cold most of the time. The air in the bathroom is hot and humid; hence, it is better to find a place to keep the soap to ensure it dries well within a reasonable time.
- Avoid sunlight & heat: Don't store beside windows or heat; sunlight and warm air soften the soap. Keep away from the warmth, whether from the sun or a heater, which would just soften up the soap within.
- Store extras outside the bathroom: If there happen to be some unused extra bars, store them somewhere other than the bathroom, dry, well-ventilated, and cool enough to contain relatively low humidity; such a location can aid against humidity and heat that become undermining to your soap before you open it.
2. During Use
One of the very big differences would just be in how one uses soap on any given day. Below are some points to note while using:
- Use a draining soap dish: Always place soap on a well-draining soap dish. Such will stop water from pooling under the bar and keep it dry quickly after every use.
- Keep away from running water: While washing hands or in the shower, avoid keeping your soap bars standing in running water. A little splash from the wash-up is not an issue, but continuous running water will dissolve soap in no time.
- Rotate bars: Alternate between the use of different bars of soap instead of depending on just one bar. This will allow sufficient time for each soap bar to dry out completely and stay firm.
3. Formulation Tips
If your process is the home production of soap, there are a few methods that can promote hardness and longevity in the recipe.
- Add Hard Oils/Butters: Harder oils and butters, such as coconut oil, palm oil, cocoa butter, or shea butter, will balance out with soft ones so as to impart firmness.
- Use Sodium Lactate or Salt: Additives such as sodium lactate or table salt will also promote hardness when mixed into the recipe. These ingredients will limit water uptake by the soap.
- Longer Cure Time: Giving your soap a longer curing time before its actual use will also guarantee firmness. This week's drying process helps to evaporate the remaining moisture and makes the bar solid.
- Control Additives: Honey, milk, or sugar will also contribute to a soft bar. These ingredients will certainly add moisture and flexibility, so use them in very small quantities if you want a hard bar.
Conclusion
Soap bars melt for many simple reasons: too much water, humidity, heat, or soft recipe formulations. Well, storing soap prevents it from becoming soggy; keeping it on a draining soap dish and rotating the bars ensures the soap remains firm. While making soap at home, adjusting the balance of oils and curing for the right time helps keep the bars firm. Following these easy steps will give you soaps that last longer and feel nicer without melting away prematurely. Remember to be observant, understand your soap, and enjoy fresh bars for much longer.
