Teach Soap

I don't know why. But I used them anyways.

My first batch of soap was pretty successful in terms of the combination of liquids and tracing process.

I am, however, concerned that by using pellets from a Drano container (which stated "sodium hydroxide") I found in my house will be the demise of this small batch.

I have already sliced the bars and they are relatively greasy. Reminds me of cold butter.

Any ideas or predictions if this soap will be usable after curing? Ph strips are coming in the mail soon and I'm afraid of doing tongue zap.

I'm thinking the Drano crystals was a big boo boo.

What's the perccantage of lye on the container?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I just found this hazard PDF from SC Johnson. It's possible that this can of crystals only has the following measurements:

Chemical Name Weight %

Sodium hydroxide 30.00 - 60.00
Sodium nitrate 15.00 - 40.00
Sodium chloride 7.00 - 13.00
Aluminum 1.00 - 5.00

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The other stuff is what probably made the lye-solution BLUE. The dark stuff at the bottom was probably the aluminum (these chunks did not make it into the oil-mixture).

I'm sorry, but that soap batch is useless. Throw it out. Save that lye for your drains. Lye for soapmaking will never turn blue, nor will it have any aluminum or dark spots on the bottom.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Get thee to millersoap.com

It's safer and easier to order lye from a soapers supply company. Even Brambleberry has started offereing lye in their supply section. You just have to sign a hazardous material waver which is no big deal. I've also bought "100 % sodium hydroxide" at a home supply store only to get it open and find black specs throughout--- probably metal machine shavings.... Ok for drains, but not soap!

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You may be only one person to the world, but you may also be the world to one person

Danger, Will Robinson, DANGER!!!!

LOL!!!!!

Thank you all. I guess I'll just savor the nice smell these toxic little bars have given my house, if even for just one more day. THen I'll toss'em.

Good thing I used Crisco and Olive Oil. Now that I'm familiar with the process, I'll use the oils that I just ordered off Brambleberry.

Stay tuned for Batch #2.