Softening old Creams?

I've got a couple tubs of cream that are pretty old and stiff. Lately I've just been putting what I'm going to use into a shot glass with some rather hot water and then basically setting that into a large coffee cup surrounded with HOT water from the electric kettle. This generally softens the cream up a bit but it's still not as soft as it should be resulting in globs of hard cream left in the bottom of my scuttle when I make my lather. Granted it'd be easier to just buy some newer cream but I got one of these as a "gift" and the other was simply given to me so it's not like I've lost any money.

Suggestions?
Comments?

Thanks in advance
Michael

After softening up the cream with your heating method try a few drops of glycerin while whipping up the lather. I have use it with some of my creams that were getting stiff and it seemed to help eliminate the glob of cream.

You can rehydrate these by putting a teaspoon of warm water on top of them and resealing up the tub. Continue doing this every day or so once the original addition of water is absorbed. After you add a couple of teaspoons and it aborbs it, you can mix the tub up to get the stuff at the bottom and continue to add water as needed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

After softening up the cream with your heating method try a few drops of glycerin while whipping up the lather. I have use it with some of my creams that were getting stiff and it seemed to help eliminate the glob of cream.

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Actually I've tried that but I still end up with globs. It's still a good thought though. Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CarrieM

You can rehydrate these by putting a teaspoon of warm water on top of them and resealing up the tub. Continue doing this every day or so once the original addition of water is absorbed. After you add a couple of teaspoons and it aborbs it, you can mix the tub up to get the stuff at the bottom and continue to add water as needed.

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I had actually done this as well with the Arlington but only did 2 additions of water as I was worried about adversly affecting the cream. Would you suggest pre-bioling the water to help eliminate bacteria or is this not an area where you would worry to much about it? Just figured I'd as since I've seen posts about creams going bad and don't want to throw anything out if I don't have to down the road.

Thanks for the replies,
Michael

Foir best results you may want to use distilled water, especially if you have well or very hard water. Boiling the water is not a bad idea either especially if these creams do not contain preservatives.

Al raz.

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Originally Posted by hornm

I had actually done this as well with the Arlington but only did 2 additions of water as I was worried about adversly affecting the cream. Would you suggest pre-bioling the water to help eliminate bacteria or is this not an area where you would worry to much about it? Just figured I'd as since I've seen posts about creams going bad and don't want to throw anything out if I don't have to down the road.

Thanks for the replies,
Michael

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alraz

Foir best results you may want to use distilled water, especially if you have well or very hard water. Boiling the water is not a bad idea either especially if these creams do not contain preservatives.

Al raz.

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+1 Distilled is best, but boiled or filtered water would also work

I just happen to have distilled water that I bought for my pitcher plants so I'll start adding a little tonight. Thanks to everyone for their assistance with this.

Michael

You can always just leave it as it and use it like a soap.

Hmmmm, How old are they? I have some shave creams that are well over a year, and they're fine...Did I just get lucky...?

I started a thread on a very similar topic not so long ago, if you're interested here it is: http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...is-creams.html

Based on my experiences I might suggest the opposite approach than has been prescribed so far: treat it like a soap and you may be very surprised.

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Originally Posted by zib

Hmmmm, How old are they? I have some shave creams that are well over a year, and they're fine...Did I just get lucky...?

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Unfortunately I don't know. I only know where one of them was bought locally and even with a decent selection I don't think the guys sells too much product.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

I started a thread on a very similar topic not so long ago, if you're interested here it is: http://straightrazorpalace.com/soaps...is-creams.html

Based on my experiences I might suggest the opposite approach than has been prescribed so far: treat it like a soap and you may be very surprised.

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I've only got enough of the Arlington for one more shave but I might give that a shot with the other stuff.

Thanks,
Michael