How to Pick Molds for Handmade Soap Making
A mold is one of the supplies you need to start making soap at home. Molds come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. You can find silicon molds, which are the most common. Plastic, wooden, and custom molds are also options you can work with. Metal molds are mostly used in industrial settings and require more work. Look for a reputable shop dedicated to handmade molds and soap making supplies.
2 Tips for Choosing Molds for Handmade Soap
Choosing a soap mold is all about finding what works for the product you want to make. Custom plastic and recycled molds can work if you’re making soaps for your family. Silicone and wood molds offer more professional-looking bars and are ideal for small home-based startups. When choosing a mold, consider options that are easy to use, clean, and reuse. Here are five tips to help you pick the best mold for your handmade soaps:
1. Choose the Right Material
You have three main material options for your soaps: silicone, wood, and plastic. Silicon molds are easy to use, unmold, and clean. The material is flexible, durable, and doesn’t need lining. You can produce professional-looking bars of different sizes and shapes. The only caveat is that soaps made using silicon molds can speckle with bubbles if the soap overheats. Silicone molds also require more time before unmolding because the mold doesn’t allow air contact.
If you experience resistance when removing cold-process soap, give it a few more days. Silicone molds are sturdy, flexible, and efficient for cold-process and melt-and-pour soaps. You can add sodium lactate salt which allows you to unmold soaps the next day instead of waiting up to a week. You can also use wood molds, which offer superior insulation and long-lasting professional bars.
Wood molds produce larger soap batches and are cost-effective options that last several years. They also deliver complete gelling, thanks to their insulation properties. The caveat is that you must line them up with freezer paper since wood can soften when exposed to drips over time. You can also use plastic molds, which offer a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. Plastic molds are ideal for home DIY projects.
2. Determine Size & Shape
Soap making molds come in different shapes and sizes. You can use square and rectangle molds, which are the most common options for large batch production. Square and rectangle silicon soap molds let you layer unique colors or slice bars into smaller parts. You can also make one soap bar, a small batch, or a dozen bars using one large mold. Shops selling soap making supplies have various options, including trays with square and rectangular slots in the same mold.
Loaf soap molds are other options you can use to produce professional-looking bars. The mold allows you to create layers and swirls easily. You can also add unique uniform tops to make your soaps stand out. Some molds feature a wooden base with an adjustable cutter you can use to slice up the final soap into smaller pieces. The only difficulty with loaf molds is you can only produce one large bar of soap at a time.
Oval and round soap molds are other options for your homemade soaps. They produce beautiful-looking bars, perfect for loofah soaps and lotion bars. Some molds feature custom elements and engravings that make unique soaps. You can use such molds to produce branded soaps and add details like dried flowers, essential oils, and more. Plastic molds are the best options if you want to add custom elements. They offer more patterns to choose from.
Purchasing Your Soap Making Supplies
Soap molds are indispensable supplies you need to produce your soap bars and loaves. You can choose from different materials, sizes, shapes, and decorative elements. When looking for molds, stick to reputable shops that provide quality supplies. Molds are subjected to heat, cold, oils, salts, and other compounds. You need a sturdy, resilient material that can last for an extended period of time.
Look for quality soap making ingredients and supplies from leading retailers. Your mold is responsible for the size, shape, and custom elements, but the supplies and ingredients determine the quality. Choose safe, natural, and quality ingredients for your recipe. You can also explore online marketplaces with top soap making supplies from different shops.
