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Use and Care Information for Milky Way Molds

How do I get the soap out of a Milky Way mold?
It's really not difficult. First and most important, be gentle! Milky Way molds are somewhat flexible, and just a little gentle pressure on the back side of the mold should be enough so the soap will just pop out. We do not recommend greasing any mold. For melt and pour base that is not unmolding easily, you can put the mold in the refrigerator, but do not let the soap drop to temperatures below 60°F or it may sweat. Cold process soap can be put in the freezer overnight, and even the softest soap should then unmold easily (although it may not retain the mold detail). Always leave cold process soap in the molds for at least twenty-four hours. Leave soap base in the molds for at least four hours for best results.

Do Milky Way molds work with cold process soap?
The beautiful detail in these soap molds is what makes soap made with them so attractive. If soap is made with soft oils like safflower, canola, or avocado, it may be too soft to pick up the detail the way a harder soap would. For harder soap, look for recipes with tallow or palm oil. Most soap making recipes specify pour temperatures ranging from 80 to 100°F. Although these temperatures work well when a large amount of soap is poured into a large mold, the smaller amount of soap poured into small Milky Way molds will lose heat quickly, and this heat loss will affect saponification. Try insulating the molds or raising the pouring temperature slightly.

What about temperatures?
Milky Way molds can tolerate temperatures as high as 145°F, but we recommend that you use an accurate thermometer and keep your base temperature around 140°F. Be careful, because it is easy for the soap base to become too hot, and all plastic molds WILL warp if exposed to too much heat. Clean by washing in warm water and dish detergent. We recommend cleaning the molds after every use to remove any oils or soap residue. Again remember, water that is too hot will warp the plastic, and NEVER put Milky Way molds in the dishwasher. A very few plastic molds are dishwasher safe, but be sure to check the manufacturer's care instructions before putting any plastic soap mold in a dishwasher.

What else should I consider?
Be realistic about how many molds you can fill before your soap begins to thicken beyond the point where it is easy to pour. Remember that you will be slowed down by time spent adding colorants or fragrance, so work with small batches. Since Milky Way molds are transparent, you can see and eliminate any bubbles that might form on the detail surface... just lightly tap the mold on a solid surface and any bubbles should disappear.

Additional Tips for Using 2-Part (3D) Soap Molds

Unmolding Times for Melt and Pour Base: Most melt and pour soap can be unmolded after four hours at room temperature. If it is still slightly difficult to remove the soap after four hours, waiting longer or using the freezer or refrigerator method (described below) will make it easier to unmold.

Filling and Unmolding: We recommend slightly overfilling the molds so some of the soap can be seen in the funnel. To unmold, gently pull the two halves of the mold apart while steadily twisting the mold as you would with an ice cube tray. This twisting action will break the seal and release the soap. Use a sharp knife to pare away any excess at the funnel end and any rough edges along the seam line. (A fingernail works great, too!)

When using melt and pour, if you're not having success with the manfacturer's recommendation to wait approximately four hours before unmolding, try putting the soap-filled molds in the freezer for approximately fifteen minutes, or in the refrigerator for approximately one hour. Don't let the temperature of the base drop below 55 to 60°F... temperatures lower than this may result in the base sweating. After removing the molds from the freezer or refrigerator, unmold using the method previously described. The soap should easily pop out.

Unmolding Times for Cold Process: For best results, don't try pulling the two halves of the 3D soap mold apart until the soap has fully solidified (at least 24 hours). Then unmold using the same techniques as for melt and pour. Cold process soaps usually require more time in the freezer.

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