Can I use any lye for soap making?

Sodium hydroxide is the lye you use to make bar soap. No other substances can be used in place of either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to make soap. When you introduce lye to fats and oils, it breaks the molecules apart and bonds with them, creating a new compound – soap!

What kind of lye is used for soap-making?

Potassium hydroxide, the type of lye used for making liquid soaps, is often sold in flakes.

Do you have to use food grade lye for soap-making?

when making soap you should use food grade lye. Because of the ingredients that is use to make the lye is only safe for humans. 3 of 4 found this helpful.

Can you use any lye for soap-making?

Lye is a caustic chemical that can cause bodily harm and it should be handled with utmost care. But, lye is perfectly safe when handled correctly. … Drain cleaners usually contain other chemicals that make them unsuitable to use in cold process soap. But, they use the same active ingredient: sodium hydroxide lye.

Can I use 100% lye to make soap?

You Can’t Make Soap Without Lye

You might be able to find it in some hardware stores often in the drain cleaning section next to the Draino. In order for that lye to be effective in soapmaking, you need to make sure that you are getting 100 percent sodium hydroxide. Otherwise, do not buy it.

Does Dove soap contain lye?

Dove. It is true that the words “lye” or “sodium hydroxide” do not appear on the Dove ingredient label. But, the first ingredients listed were sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate, and sodium palm kernelate. … Yes, Dove is made with lye!

What is a substitute for lye?

Baked Baking Soda!

A common home alternative to lye when making pretzels or bagels is to use a baking soda solution.

How do you make soap for beginners?

Soap making science and ingredients for beginners
  1. Mix water and lye, set aside to cool.
  2. Melt oils, set aside to cool.
  3. Blend lye water and oils to form a soap “batter”
  4. Pour into mold and let harden for a day.
  5. Turn out of mold, cut into bars and let cure for 2-3 weeks.

Is lye in soap bad for skin?

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. But, and this is a big but, soap that is created with lye (which is all real soap) will do absolutely no harm to your skin.


Is homemade lye soap antibacterial?

Lye is both a disinfectant and a cleanser. Lye is particularly suitable to kill germs and bacteria as well as cleaning the surface of food containers, room vessels, the surface of wash bowls, etc.

What is a natural soap base?

Shea butter, olive oil, goat milk, or honey are all prime examples of natural ingredients that enhance the basics and create a unique melt and pour soap base. One of the many benefits of the variety of melt and pour soap bases is the ability to choose a soap base with ingredients that benefit your skin type.

Can you make goats milk soap without lye?

If you have goat milk to use but you prefer soap making without lye, adding milk – no more than one tablespoon per pound of melt and pour base – is simple and easy. You can also add powdered or condensed goat milk at the same rate – one tablespoon per pound of base.

What ingredients do you need to make homemade soap?

The basic ingredients of soap are:
  1. animal fat or vegetable oil.
  2. 100 percent pure lye.
  3. distilled water.
  4. essential or skin-safe fragrance oils (optional)
  5. colorants (optional)

What can I use instead of lye in soap making?

The main way that you can make soap without handling lye is by using melt-and-pour soap. It’s already been through saponification (oils reacting with lye) and is safe to use and handle straight out of the package. All you do with it is melt it, add your scent, color, and other additives, then pour it into molds.

Does Walmart have lye?

Belle Chemical Sodium Hydroxide – Pure – Food Grade (Caustic Soda, Lye) (2 Pound Jar) – Walmart.com.

Which essential oil is best for soap making?

My Top Ten Essential Oils for Soapmaking
  1. Lavender Essential Oil. There are thousands of varieties of lavender out there. …
  2. Rosemary Essential Oil. …
  3. Folded Lemon Essential Oil. …
  4. Cedarwood Essential Oil. …
  5. Dark Patchouli Essential Oil. …
  6. Clary Sage Essential Oil. …
  7. Folded Sweet Orange Essential Oil. …
  8. Peppermint Essential Oil.