What kind of lye is best for soap making?
- Various oils, fats and butters - depending on your recipe of choice.
- Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) from online suppliers or your local supermarket/hardware (depending on your location). ...
- Potassium hydroxide for liquid or dual lye soaps, see this page for details of suppliers if you are in Australia.
Is it impossible to make solid soap without Lye?
You can not make soap from scratch without lye, lye is essential for making soap, what you can do is to buy a soap base which already has lye added to it, this way it is safe to use. The melt and pour method is the best way to make soap without handling the lye.
Does lye soap really clean?
When fats and oils are exposed to the lye solution, they transform into soap by using it to fuel the conversion. Like most fuels, lye gets used up on the journey or process. The result is a soap that can be used to clean the skin. It should have a pH of between 7 and 10 to be considered safe and ideal.
Does all soap have to contain Lye?
Soap does not contain lye. It is however, made by using lye. That’s an important distinction. You need lye to make soap. The finished soap product, however, no longer contains lye. The lye gets used up in the organic chemical reaction that makes soap; Saponification.
Can soap be made without lye?
NO, chemically-speaking, soap itself cannot be made without lye. Soap is made by blending oils (like olive oil or coconut oil), a liquid (water, goat's milk, etc.), and an alkali (lye). Lye is needed to convert oils into soap.
Why do you need lye in soap?
During the curing process, the soap bars lose water weight, in which the sodium hydroxide is dissolved. Therefore lye is needed for the chemical process that soap goes through, but it's not present in the final product.
Is lye still used in soap?
You cannot make soap without lye, though there are products the are called "soap" but aren't, that don't use lye. Lye (either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide) is required to create soap. The method I use is called cold process (CP) and is a way to make soap from scratch.
Does Dove soap contain lye?
Yes, Dove is made with lye!
What can replace lye in soap?
Instead, we use potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide from soap making suppliers. The strength of each is controlled so you can predictably formulate and make gentle soap recipes. You can use these types of lye to make soap from scratch using the cold-process or hot-process methods.
What kind of soap do the Amish use?
Amish Soap is made with as much turn of the century wooden equipment as possible. It is natural soap made with palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, vegetable based, tallow, water, natural glycerin, corn starch, and natural wildflower scent and a special lotion added to soften dry skin.
What is soap without lye called?
If you are really concerned about lye, surfactants may be a good alternative for you—but you still aren't making soap! A lathering bar made from surfactants is called a “syndet bar”—”synthetic detergent bar”.
Does all natural soap use lye?
In fact, there is no true soap that does not contain or use lye somewhere in the process of making it. The alternative, in fact, is a harsh detergent.
What was lye originally used for?
They used it for tanning hides and making soap. To make lye, they would burn hardwoods at high temperatures to make white ashes. Then, they used a mixture of water and baking soda to penetrate the ashes and help remove the lye from them. Next, they filtered out the ashes.
Why is Dove not soap?
Soap, in case you didn't know, is specifically defined as fatty acids that are neutralized by an alkali such as lye. But Dove is not soap – it's what is known as a Syndet bar (which stands for synthetic detergent.) And it's true that these synthetic detergents are less drying and less damaging to skin proteins.
Is lye harmful to humans?
Lye water is a strongly alkaline (caustic) solution which can cause severe injury in the form of corrosive burns, especially to the throat, oesophagus and stomach if swallowed. These injuries can result in hospitalisation and permanent damage in severe cases.
Which is best soap for skin?
A List of the 10 Best Soaps for All Skin Types in India:Nivea Cream Soft Soap. ... Khadi Natural Ayurvedic Neem-Tulsi Soap. ... Richfeel Calendula Acne Soap. ... Good Vibes Activated Charcoal Detox Handmade Soap Bar. ... Soulflower Cleansing Sandalwood Soap. ... Forest Essentials Luxury Sugar soap Rose & Cardamon.More items...
What is the purpose of using lye?
Lyes are used to cure many types of food, including the traditional Nordic lutefisk, olives (making them less bitter), canned mandarin oranges, hominy, lye rolls, century eggs, pretzels, and bagels.
Can you use baking soda instead of lye to make soap?
It is certainly possible to make an acceptable cold process soap using baking soda or washing soda, but lather performance suffers compared to the same soap formula without them. This supports the conventional wisdom that they are better used in a hot process soap (after the cook) or in a rebatched soap.
Is lye and baking soda the same?
Lye is a stronger alkaline than baking soda or sodium bicarbonate, with a pH reading ranging from around 13 to 14. Its base of sodium hydroxide is created commercially by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution, as well as reacting calcium hydroxide with sodium carbonate, according to the FDA.
What is the generic name for lye?
These are all alternative generic names for lye. For example, sodium tallowate is the name given to a mixture of tallow (beef fat) and sodium hydroxide (lye). It's still lye, even with the fancy name.
How is soap made?
Soap is made using a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction is called saponification, which combines oil and lye to create soap and glycerin. If the process is carried out correctly, there is no lye left in the soap.
Why do soap companies use different names?
Why do companies do this? It's quite simple: consumers have become afraid of the word "lye" and soap manufacturers know this. To hide the word lye , they simply use different names, such as the ones listed above.
What happens when you mix oils with sodium hydroxide?
When oils are mixed with sodium hydroxide and lye, there's a chemical reaction between the substances (saponification), and the result is an entirely new substance. This substance is soap!
Can lye cause blindness?
Lye is a caustic substance that can certainly damage your skin if you're exposed to it. It can cause a number of problems, such as burns, blindness, and even death when consumed.
Does coconut milk soap have lye?
What this means is that while all real soaps use lye in the creation process, there is no lye leftover in the finished product. That includes our very own range of handcrafted coconut milk soaps.
Is soap made with lye?
If you're wondering whether natural soap is made with lye, then the answer is very straight forward: yes. If there's no lye used in the production process, it isn't soap. Don't get confused, though, as that doesn't mean natural soap contains lye. It's a little complicated, but we'll explain everything here.
How to neutralize lye in soap?
Most older soap making books and soap makers have recommended keeping vinegar on hand to neutralize any lye that may come in contact with your skin. This is no longer advisable. The vinegar will create more heat when it comes in contact with the lye. Instead, it is best to run the exposed area until cold water for 15 minutes.
What is lye a chemical?
Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is a very caustic chemical capable of causing serious damage. It can burn skin, cause blindness, and even cause death if ingested.
What happens if you make soap at 90%?
If you soap at 90% – then 90% of the oil is used up during saponification and 10% of the oil is left floating around in the bar. So superfat is really the amount of oil that was not used up by the lye in the saponification process and is left floating around in the bar of soap you made.
What does 5% superfat mean in soap?
If you soap at 5% superfat it means that 95% of the oil is used up by the lye in the saponification process and 5% of the oil is left floating around in the bar.
Why is soap drying?
Glycerin is often removed from factory produced soaps which is why soap is often drying to the skin. When properly prepared and cured for several weeks, no lye remains in the final product.
What is the end result of lye and fat?
Lye, when combined with fat, is used to create a chemical reaction called saponification. The end result is soap plus glycerin.
Why is it important to measure lye?
When saponification occurred, some lye was left in the soap, making it harsh on the skin. It is vitally important to measure carefully so that the correct amount of lye is used.
What is the best alternative to lye in soap?
And the only alternative to lye is potassium hydroxide. You can use this chemical when making soap, but it won’t produce a hard bar of soap. Instead, soaps made with this alternative chemical are soft and liquid. Here’s a short video that sums it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHcNF3tXhlo.
What is the most common use of lye?
For instance, drain cleaners contain lye, as do paint strippers and silver polish. But the most common use for lye is soap. That doesn’t seem like great news for those of us who strive to use natural soap products. But hang on, because my research led me to some conclusions that may surprise you.
How long does it take to cure soap?
But then you cure the soap and everything changes. As the chemicals harden, the liquid becomes a soap bar. And if you cure the soap for three to four weeks, there is no oil, water, or lye left in the soap. Let me repeat that in case you’re as astounded as I was.
How to get rid of lye burns?
When mixing lye, use eye protection, and gloves. Cover the surface area where you are working with newspaper. If you get burned while working with it, dab vinegar on the area to help relieve the pain. Don’t lean over the lye mixture, but stand back and don’t breathe in the fumes.
How did they make lye?
They used it for tanning hides and making soap. To make lye, they would burn hardwoods at high temperatures to make white ashes. Then, they used a mixture of water and baking soda to penetrate the ashes and help remove the lye from them.
What is lye made of?
Lye is sodium hydroxide. It comes in liquid form, flakes, or crystals. Sodium hydroxide comes into being when soda (sodium carbonate) and lime (calcium hydroxide) come together and cause a chemical reaction.
Why is glycerin soap so moisturizing?
That’s because manufacturers know that glycerin is valuable . It’s a humectant, which is a natural moisturizer that bonds to everything it comes into contact with. That’s why glycerin soap is so moisturizing and healthy for your skin. But commercial soap producers rarely leave anything but a trace of glycerin in the soap.
Why do people use lye soap?
Lye soap was used by past generation to soothe against insect bites. This is because the soap is endowed with natural oils that can alleviate inflammation and itching caused by insect bites. Washing your skin with lye soap will also repel mosquitoes and keep ants in check.
How does soap help with oily skin?
When you use harsh soaps on oil skins, they tend to make the skin overly dry— but only for a short duration. The skin reacts to the dryness by secreting extra lubricants via the oil glands.
What is the best soap to wash your skin?
If you are looking for natural ways to wash and cleanse your skin, you can begin with replacing your personal care products. And soaps made from organic sources such as lye are highly recommended.
What is soap used for?
Due to the emollient properties of the soap, it is often used by people with psoriasis and eczema to relieve irritation, itching, and other symptoms of the conditions . The soap can also be used in the treatment of Dandruff and Seborrheic Dermatitis.
Does lye soap make your skin oily?
Such a skin becomes oily almost immediately after you’ve washed them. Using lye soap on an oily skin make the skin mildly moisturized. Under these conditions, the oily skin does not need to work a lot to produce lubricants anymore.
Is lye soap good for you?
The Top Benefits of Lye Soap. Although lye soap has been used for ages, it has gained a reputation over the years as sometimes being harsh and irritating to users’ skins. Due to this and because lye itself is a caustic agent, people are always skeptical about the benefits that the soap provides. However, lye soaps are effective cleansers ...
Does lye soap help with acne?
Lye soap not only moisturizes your skin but can also treat various types of skin conditions such as acne. Although the soap has neither antibiotic nor antibacterial properties, it does exterminate acne, leaving your skin smooth and fair.
Why is lye soap so harsh?
Back then, lye soap was much harsher on the skin because it was mixed with animal fat and the advancements in the curation process today didn’t exist. Lye appears in the transcripts of many ancient societies in Mesopotamia and Egypt. As science improved over time, soap makers began to use a synthetic sodium hydroxide discovered by Humphrey Day. The discovery of this alkali made it easier for soap makers to make lye.
Why is lye needed in soap?
During the curing process , the soap bars lose water weight, in which the sodium hydroxide is dissolved. Therefore lye is needed for the chemical process that soap goes through, but it's not present in the final product.
How does sodium hydroxide work in soap?
During the soap making process, the lye is heavily diluted with water and added to the oils to create a thick mixture. The mixture is then added to a mold for 24 hours to harden, and set to cure for 4-6 weeks. During the curing process, the soap bars lose water weight, in which the sodium hydroxide is dissolved. Therefore lye is needed for the chemical process that soap goes through, but it's not present in the final product.
What is soap made of?
In soap, it’s combined with animal fat or vegetable oil in a process called saponification. Essentially, soap is a mixture of base oils, a diluted lye solution, and herbal additives.
How long does soap take to cure?
The mixture is then added to a mold for 24 hours to harden, and set to cure for 4-6 weeks.
What precautions should I take when dealing with lye?
I have to use goggles and gloves when I make soap and that’s because I learned from experience.
Where did lye come from?
Lye appears in the transcripts of many ancient societies in Mesopotamia and Egypt. As science improved over time, soap makers began to use a synthetic sodium hydroxide discovered by Humphrey Day. The discovery of this alkali made it easier for soap makers to make lye.
What does it mean when soap says "soap made with coconut oil and olive oil"?
A soap made with coconut oil and olive oil should read sodium cocoate and sodium olivate as the ingredients. They are the saponified oils. If it says coconut oil, olive oil and sodium hydroxide it means they have included the raw ingredients which is the wrong way to label a soap.
How long does it take for soap to set?
Pour into the cavities of the soap mold and do not handle until everything is really set (which can take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size of the mold).
Why is sodium hydroxide used in shampoo?
It could be that the sodium hydroxide is used to alter the ph in a shampoo bar. I just don't know why it would need it. Usually the detergents used in a shampoo, if they need to be altered at all it is by adding an acid to raise it slightly.
Do you need a soap mold?
It is also necessary to have a soap mold, usually plastic or silicone, but you can be creative and do it for example in a large ice cube mold. The only thing: the mold must not be too rigid or it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to unmold.
Is lye bad for hair?
By itself it would be very bad since it’s extremely caustic, but once it has fulfilled its role in the process of soap-making, it’s rendered essentially harmless. Any shampoo bar of even middling quality won’t contain lye in a state or proportion that would damage your hair.
