How do I know if my soap is lye heavy?

The first test – the “zap test” – is nice and simple. It involves tapping the soap lightly on your tongue. It sounds weird, but it totally works. If it “zaps” you, it is likely lye heavy.

What do I do if my soap is lye heavy?

To correct a lye heavy batch, shred the soap as finely as possible, using gloves to protect your hands, and add to a slow cooker set on low. Add 1 tablespoon of distilled water and cover. Allow the soap to cook, stirring occasionally, until it has melted into a homogenous solution.

How do I know how much lye to use in my soap?

Divide the amount of lye by 0.3 and then subtract the amount of lye from the result. For example, to make just over 2 pounds of olive oil soap, measure 32 ounces of olive oil and 4.33 ounces of lye because 32 ounces of olive oil × 0.1353, which is the saponification value for olive oil, = 4.33 ounces of lye.

Can lye heavy soap be Rebatch?

Since lye is caustic, lye-heavy soap is also irritating to the skin. … Instead of throwing away the lye-heavy soap, you can rebatch (hand-mill) it and make it into a more balanced, non-caustic mixture.

Does all bar soap contain lye?

There is no lye present in the finished bars of soap or shampoo. While all real soap must be made with lye, no lye remains in our finished product after saponification (described below).

How do you fix soap failure?

Can you use soap with lye pockets?

We should all be so lucky as to never have separation with lye pockets in soap. Those of us who make complex swirls with multiple colors using very thinly traced soap are at risk, because the thinner the trace, the less emulsified the soap batter has become. Not enough mixing can lead to lye pockets in soap.

What is the best lye concentration in liquid soap making?

Most recipes and tutorials here on Modern Soapmaking use a 33% lye solution, as it’s typically a manageable water discount during the soapmaking process, but also hardens up a little quicker to get the soap out of the mold! A strong water discount is typically referred to as a 40% lye solution.

What is the lye to fat ratio?

Multiply 16 (fat wt) by 0.132 = 2.1 oz. of lye. Why different oils have their own SAP values: It all has to do with the length of the fatty acid chain. Briefly, it takes the same amount of lye to saponify a short fatty acid molecule as it does to saponify a long fatty acid molecule.

What oil makes soap bubbly?

Some add to the hardness or softness of the bar, and others contribute to lather. Coconut Oil – This is the number one soap making ingredient for creating lather with big, luxurious bubbles.

Is it safe to use lye heavy soap?

The lye pockets can irritate or burn the skin, or may do some odd things in the laundry. If your soap is lye heavy and you would prefer to throw it out, handle with care. I would recommend wearing gloves when handling it, and double bagging it before throwing it out.

Why is my homemade soap slimy?

The main reason that your homemade soap may be is that not enough hard oils were added. These are usually the oils you find in coconut butter, castor oil, or even avocado oil, with the closest runner-up for your slimy soap being old, or not enough lye added.

How soon can you Rebatch soap?

Rebatch soap does not require a 4-6 week cure time like cold process soap does. But, allowing the bars to cure for about 2 weeks will ensure extra moisture evaporates, creating a harder and longer lasting bar.