Four Ways to Make Soap
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- TreasuresPlanted
- ssheers
- AnneWatkins
- mixnutzz
- sedru
- shadow_oz_au
- e_mathewson
- sudsyspring
- rayth1
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» TreasuresPlanted - Where to find lye
This is to the editor, or other subscribers who might know: Where does one find lye in their town? I confess that I haven't searched for it...I don't know where to start looking! My town is fairly large, btw, if that helps.Thanks!
Lori Seaborg
Needlework Editor
http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/13392
-- posted by TreasuresPlanted
» ssheers - Re: Where to find lye
In response to message posted by TreasuresPlanted:Safeway sells lye around here. It is in the drain-cleaning section. Some supermarkets sell lye, and some don't. Some hardware stores sell lye, too. Red Devil is the brand I use.
If you can't find lye locally and are interested in ordering from a website, let me know, and I'll find out who sells lye over the web. Columbus Foods might, but I can't access their website right now to check; they probably sell a huge container. Most companies, if they have to ship lye, charge a hazardous materials fee.
-- posted by ssheers
» AnneWatkins - Great article
I'm enjoying your articles very much and am thinking about maybe making some soap for gifts later this year. I'll keep checking here for all the info.
Many decades ago, my grandmother made all her own soap. I believe she even made her own lye...from ashes?? Is that correct? At any rate, she said that lye soap would clean anything, even the skin right off your hands. LOL! She's been gone since the late eighties now and I really wish I had written down so many of the things she told me, such as the stories about making her own soap.
Thanks again for another informative article.
Anne
-- posted by AnneWatkins
» shadow_oz_au - Re: Where to find lye
In response to message posted by TreasuresPlanted:Lye is a softer way of saying Caustic Soda! with that said it also includes the fluid derived from water and fire ash.
Commercially it is Caustic Soda, I get from supermarket chain stores, not the little corner store. In the USA they use Red Devil, DO NOT USE DRAIN CLEANERS, ie DRAINO in Britain & Australia. Don't know what it's called in the USA. Caustic Soda gives much more consistant results.
Failing that, "tha pioneer way, was ta...
(get a SAFE, not tin, nor aluminium, container, place a filter mesh at the outlet, on the inside of the container..to filter the fluid as it leaves the container) put distilled or at least rain water in the container to about three quarters of the volume, add wood ash (not coal etc) to the container, stirring with a wooden spatula/spoon not metal.). The amount is vague. but when a chicken feather begins to dissolve in the resultant fluid then its strong enough to use for lye in soap making. Now don't laugh this is serious....I have tried it and it does work.. I wouldn't shave with the resultant soap but it was great for dishes and soiled work clothes.
Really serious now, this olde method does produce a strong alkaline solution..KEEP IT AWAY FROM CHILDREN and the feeble minded, it is as strong as commercial lye! Enjoy ya soap making pilgrim..
-- posted by shadow_oz_au
» e_mathewson - where to find lye online
I buy it at Safeway as well, but have purchased it online at www.snowdriftfarm.com for a comparable price, including shipping costs. There are many more websites, such as www.zenithsupplies.com, or soapmaking.com, that can be found by entering "soap making" or similar keywords into a search engine. Enjoy!-- posted by e_mathewson
» sudsyspring - Re: Where to find lye
In response to message posted by TreasuresPlanted:I just bought red devil lye at Walmart-its next to the draino.
Good Luck,
Spring
-- posted by sudsyspring
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