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11:59 pm
July 31, 2011
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Hi,
My friend and I just finished making liquid soap with pink grapefruit essential
oil. The end product worked beautifully at my house. 
When my friend got to her house and tried the product, it will not "bubble" or clean in her kitchen sink (stainless steel using hot, lukewarm or cold water). It will "bubble" on her
hands, and in a plastic container (although it will not clean, it leaves a reside).
The other problem is that this is a film on her dishes when she tries to rinse a
glass. She has very hard water, and has problems with even using her dishwasher
leaving a film on her dishes. she has a water filter under her sink, although
she said it could need a replacement filter. Needless to say, we are both heart
broken since right now she can not use the liquid soap. 
I read on the internet that hard water has an ion that attaches to the sulfates in the liquid soap resulting in diminishing bubbles and leaving a residue. We used a borax solution along with glycerine. 
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Thanks in advance for any ideas. I am conviced if Palmolive can produce a product that bubbles with hard water, we can too (not to mention I have faith in the collective experience from the members of this group!) This battle will be won!
(I hope with your help!)
Beverly
11:15 pm
February 15, 2011
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Which oils did you use? I have hard water too and the only oil I use for cleaning is 100% coconut oil. My dishwashing soap is 100% coconut oil. I know that coconut oil soap is the only soap that works with sea water.
I don't use my homemade dish soap like I do the ones from the store. I just use it on the sponge/dishcloth. I don't pour it into the water because it will not foam up like detergents will without using a lot of soap. Also, I do not use glycerin with my cleaning soaps, that might be a reason why it leaves a residue as well as the hard water.
Coconut soap is very very thin. I once tried to thicken it with HEC but it left a residue as well so I didn't like it.
I know that coconut soap is considered to be harsh, but it does work great at cleaning.
I hope that helps a bit.
11:49 pm
July 31, 2011
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Hi,
Thanks, this is the recipe that we used. It worked great at my house, just not at hers with the hard water.
Recipe used from CITR
Oils
23 ounces coconut oil
25 ounces olive oil
Lye Solution
12 ounces potassium hydroxide
36 ounces distilled water
A borax solution was used for neutralization and glycerin added at 1%.
Added some castor oil to about 2 tablespoons of the liquid soap and the only thing that happened was a layer of “grease” on the top of the water 
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Beverly
8:15 am
October 17, 2008
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Like Amerayl said, it could very well be the extra glycerin being added that's leaving the film. The hard water is attaching and leaving just the glycerin.
The castor oil…..did you use Turkey Red castor oil? That's the only oil you can superfat after the fact with and it dissolve. I don't know why….I've just read it in lots of sources. Other oil will leave a layer of oil (water and oil don't mix).
Amerayl, does any of your non-cleaning (non 100% CO) LS react like bk's?
8:17 pm
July 31, 2011
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Hello to all and thanks for the tips. I did not try the Turkey Red Castor Oil. I have never heard of this brand. Does anyone know where I can find it? 
Also, the comment about the glycerin makes sense. I hope that getting the Turkey Red Castor Oil will work. Cindy, you are saying that this can be added at this stage of completion and maybe work? This is a really beautiful liquid soap, especially with the pink grapefruit essential oil. The benefit to the hands is unreal, they are so soft after using this soap.
Thanks so much. We will keep trying.
Beverly
9:55 pm
October 17, 2008
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TRO (turkey red) is a sulfated castor oil that emulsifies in water. It will blend with the water, where other oils won't….hence a film on top.
I don't think you would want to add any more oil at this point. If you like this soap the way it is, use it :)
I really, really wonder about your friend's soap and her water. I see you asked at liquidsoapmakers, too…but haven't seen much response yet there either? Has she tried shaking the soap (mixing up that layer of oil into the rest) before using?
1:27 am
February 15, 2011
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Sorry CindyP, haven't been on the computer too much. Anyhow, Yes, my other LS does leave a residue on non porous surfaces but is really nice on the skin.
I never superfat any of my cleaning soap as I don't want the extra oil on my dishes or clothes. That's just me. I know superfatting would be nice on the hands, but don't really want it on the plates I eat off of.
I've seen turkey red (castor) oil on some of the sites I order from but just haven't ordered from them. I want to though, but I like playing with the cream soap instead for the ultra moisturizing soft soap. But I think I would like to have some nice LS soap to put in my dispensers, maybe someday.
bk, I wonder if is possible to test the water at your friend's house to see which mineral is causing the problem. I've also remember where someone talked about using salt water to soften the water, but I think that would dampen the foam as well. But I don't remember the specifics. Your friend might have to use a little vinegar in the rinse water to help with the film. Maybe some baking soda in the wash water. Just a few thoughts to throw out.
4:18 pm
July 31, 2011
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Hello again,
Thanks all. We tried salt, castor oil (not Turkey Red), shaking and then using vinegar in the rinse water, all with no luck. The interesting thing is that when she used lukewarm water in a glass canning jar and also in a large clear plastic juice jar, the liquid soap bubbles.
I have hard water, just have a water softner and filter under the kitchen sink (which needs a new filter) (she has a filter under her sink also that needs to be replaced). The other interesting thing is that the soap works fine in my kitchen (I am using it for hand soap). I happened to try it in my bathtub, and BOOM! 
, same thing! No bubbles and a residue. 
Can you believe it?
We both love the soap. I am at the point of making a new batch, just leaving out the glycerin and replacing it with the Turkey Red castor oil. What do you guys think?
Thanks everybody for all of your help. All comments are welcome, we love this soap and are determined to have it work!
Beverly
4:21 pm
July 31, 2011
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Oh, the thing I forgot to ask, when do we add the Turkey Red castor oil? Do use the Turkey Red castor oil in place of one of the other oils, or in place of the glycerin at the same percentage (1tbl. per pound of liquid soap paste)? Thanks!
Beverly
4:35 pm
October 17, 2008
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The TRO is used in the same place as where you superfatted before. "Added some castor oil to about 2 tablespoons of the liquid soap and the only thing that happened was a layer of “grease” on the top of the water "
Normal castor oil won't emulsify into the water…turkey red oil will.
But you don't have to use it!! Or the glycerin! The glycerin is used for thickening, use something else :)
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