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Make It Easy:  Can you make soap without Lye?  |
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SweetTsEarthlyDelights
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Tina
Old Town
Florida
USA
92 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 12 2011 : 4:05:06 PM
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Tina- to get real soap you need lye. The only alternative is to do something like melt-and-pour glycerin soap which is technically a by product of commercial soap making processes but because it has been pre-processes for you, then you don't have to worry about the lye.
I have made soap for several years now and as long as you go slow and careful with the lye, the danger is minimal. Honestly I don't even wear anything protective like gloves or googles when I make soap any more. I have even gotten some on me and as long as you wash it off right away and splash a little vinegar on the skin it doesn't even hurt you.
Another great idea is to buy homemade soap from someone who does make it. There are lots of ladies on the forum who make and sell their soap. I hope you give making soap a try!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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SweetTsEarthlyDelights
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Tina
Old Town
Florida
USA
92 Posts |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3318 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3318 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2011 : 8:22:49 PM
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Nope.
You cannot make soap without lye.
Just take your time and when you add the lye make sure you are adding the lye to the water and not the water to the lye. Because if you get this on your skin it is going to cause a serious BURN.
I have been making soap for a long time and I still take the time to use every precaution when mixing all of my ingredients.
Also, a very good thing to remember is VENTILATION. I mix my lye and water outside. Lye is an extremely toxic and caustic chemical always bear that in mind for your own safety.
Good luck and have some FUN!
Melody
Farmgirl #525
www.bythebayhandcraftedsoap.blogspot.com |
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SweetTsEarthlyDelights
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Tina
Old Town
Florida
USA
92 Posts |
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SweetTsEarthlyDelights
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Tina
Old Town
Florida
USA
92 Posts |
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OneHippieChick
True Blue Farmgirl
195 Posts
Susan
Huntsville
AL
USA
195 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2011 : 07:24:06 AM
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I mix my lye and water under the stove hood with the vent on, making sure I'm not standing directly over it where I could accidently inhale the fumes. Before I start making soap I make sure I have either a basin or part of the sink mixed with sudsy vinegar water and just place all my used lye utensils in there as I use them. If you get a drop or two of lye on your skin, just splash a little sudsy vinegar on it to neutralize the lye. Also, I always do my lye/water mixing in a 1 quart or larger heatproof jar that's specifically made for canning. That particular jar is kept with my soap making supplies and is only used to mixing lye. 
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Susan ~ Farmgirl Sister #1978
Fiber artist, spins, knits, crochets, sews, weaves, quilts, soap maker, as well as various beauty products and some natural cosmetics
Working on getting my Etsy website and blog up and running - stay tuned!
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2011 : 11:32:33 AM
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I made my first batch of soap yesterday and managed to get the lye on my hand.
I immediately began running water over it and then poured vinegar on it. Once the stinging stopped for the most part I washed my hands with dish soap and then after rinsing poured more vinegar on my hand and blotted it dry. The pain pretty much stopped then and there.
This morning I had a skin irritation and it was very dry and itchy. I guess I was pretty lucky to catch it so quickly.
I'm gonna be doing my soaps outside from now on, since I don't care for the smell in the house. I think I will keep a big pan of water for hand dunking and a jug of vinegar close at hand out there.
I was terrified of the lye, but actually found it to be not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I am gonna be trying to make my own lye in the future. I have heard of it being made with water and ashes, but can it be made with goats milk and ashes?
I really like the goats milk soaps. It makes a more moisturizing soap. I would hate to give it up.
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2011 : 2:45:50 PM
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Wow. Natesgirl, I'm glad you're okay. I've heard so many horror stories about Lye. You ladies keep being careful!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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Heartbroken farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
604 Posts
Annette
rio vista
Ca
USA
604 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 11:09:30 AM
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Tina, when I'm makin soap with the kids, I use grated Ivory soap as my lye alternative, its already in there. I know its putting storebought soap in my homemade soap, but I do not want the kids around the lye. Just a suggestion for a way around using lye of you are uncomfortable with it.
That was how my grandma thought me, now, we make lye soap together, and use ivory with the kids.
The tears I shed then, watered the flowers I harvest now.
www.broken908.blogspot.com
http://forums.familyfriendpoems.com/broken908
"The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values."-Dean William Ralph Inge |
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Cherime
True Blue Farmgirl
1222 Posts
Cherime
Wasilla
Alaska
USA
1222 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 12:21:23 PM
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Angela, I don't know about using goats milk but since there is a high percentage of water in it you could give it a try. The old way of getting lye was to fill a barrel, wooden one, with ashes and then pour the water into it and let the lye drip out of a bottom bung. My Grandad and Dad used to use cigar ashes and make a water paste to take out the white rings that got left on furniture from wet glasses. That was a mild form of lye. You probably could use a plastic bucket to try this with. But how much water and how much ashes, I do not know.
CMF |
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Make It Easy: Can you make soap without Lye? |
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Can you make soap without Lye?
