Soap making molds

Generally with soap making, the three major types of molds are plastic, metal, and rubber. The plastic ones are generally in the form of a tray and they will have anywhere from a single design up to four different designs in the same tray mold. So, in some instances you can make four or five different shapes out of the same soap mold. One might have, for example, a seashore design - one is a starfish, one is a seashell, one is a sea horse. So you are going to get a seashore theme out of it.

Then there is the two piece mold where you will get three dimensional objects - ducks, frogs, a conch shell, or heart. Rubber molds we generally use for three dimensional and what's commonly referred to as embedded soaps, where you see a shape or other object inside the soap.

The molds are very easy to clean, you just need warm water. Metal molds are little bit harder, because you have to be able to get some pressure points to be able to get it the soap out. That's why plastic works so well. Plus the plastic kits go back to their natural shape.

How long do molds typically last?

You might get 30-40 pours out of a plastic mold. Metal and rubber - probably a lifetime. The three dimensional plastic molds will probably last a good 2-3 years.

The three dimensional molds are my favorite. You can make a bunch of little soap cubes, different colors, and string them together. The three dimensional molds I think offer the truest look of uniqueness out there.

One fun project is always soap on a rope. You make a U-shape so both ends of your string fall into the mold and your pour the soap around it.

Another idea that's unique is layered soap where you pour a couple layers of red, then white, then blue. And the layers can have different fragrances. Maybe cranberry, vanilla, and blueberry. And you get exposure to all those fragrances each time you use the soap.