As a soap maker, seeing your beautiful handmade bars develop moisture beads can be frustrating. The good thing is, there are things you can do to prevent it from happening again and ensure your bars stay fresh, dry and attractive.

What causes soap sweating?

Sweating can happen right after production or during shipments. This could be due to improper curing or fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels. 

As the soap moves between environments with different humidity and temperature levels, moisture condenses on the relatively cooler surface of the bar, creating those moisture beads. This can be a particular issue if the soap is shipped across different climates.

What to do to prevent it?

Ensure the soaps are fully cured and thoroughly dehydrated before packaging them. Soap that hasn't had enough curing time retains more interior moisture, increasing the risk of sweating as the bar equalizes with the surrounding air humidity levels. Aim for a full 4-6 week cure.

Maintaining consistent, moderate humidity levels of around 45-55% in your soap curing, packaging, and storage areas is essential to prevent sweating issues. Use a dehumidifier if needed to avoid major humidity fluctuations that lead to condensation forming on your bars.

Long-term storage promotes sweating.In your inventory area, rotate older products towards the front so no bars sit too long before being sold. 

When possible, store your packaged soap in insulated opaque plastic containers or cardboard boxes. Make sure they are kept in areas away from environments with large temperature swings like direct sunlight through windows or heating vents. Gradual temperature changes are far less likely to cause condensation issues.

Using proper packaging can also help prevent soap sweating during shipping and storage. Wrapping or sealing soap in materials that create a moisture barrier helps insulate it from humid air. Crafters commonly use plastic films, shrink-wrap bands, and moisture-resistant boxes or mailers lined with a desiccant pack to control humidity levels.

With some minor adjustments, you can help prevent soap sweating issues and ensure your handmade bars look their best.