Teach Soap

Okay - so only because I have seen a million and one things used online I have to ask...How do you tell what is safe to use and what isn't when making soap?

Obviously, stainless steel is on the good list...aluminum is BAD (read that in a book and several other places - not from experience)...glass like Pyrex glass looks like it is okay as well but I don't know?

I want to use some more SMALLER vessels to mix my lye/water solution in (or lye/milk I guess depending). Currently I have a giant stainless steel stock pot I've had for a while now that has been dubbed "soap only" but it is HUGE! I also have a GIANT pyrex measuring cup I never use in every day life that could easily become soap only as well...

So, is pyrex okay? Or not okay? I'm doing as small a batch as I can get I guess (maybe there is smaller but I don't know) - we're talking about less than 300 grams of lye/liquid here. would that be okay you think? Don't want to blow it up or risk anything...

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

Don't use Pyrex! You will end up with slivers of glass in your soap. Get a plastic measuring cup and test it with boiling water to be sure it can withstand the temperatures for soaping. They are inexpensive and several sizes to choose from. You can also buy an inexpensive plastic pitcher if you need a bit more room. There are stainless steel pitchers out there too. Of course whatever you buy can only be for soap but there are plenty of choices. Good luck!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

Ahhh...so all these people with pics and videos of pyrex are not to be believed...I thought so!

So...plastic, like lexan for restaurants, as long as it is heat safe is okay? (Yeah baby, I spent a LOT of years managing and waiting tables at an IHOP, got my food industry stuff down pretty well still too ). There's a restaurant supply place I can go to next time I hit the "big city" - they too may have smaller stainless steel stuff - it's just so hard to tell if what I see online is what I will actually get, and I am a "touchy feely shopper". We have NOTHING out here!! Living in the middle of nowhere has it's downside, that's for sure...

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

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Linda

I learn so much when I can't leave well enough alone!

I have 2 "local" walmarts - both are horrid....one is the old style walmart, teeny tiny, not much of anything and 45 minutes away...the other is in a college town 30 minutes the other direction...so everything due to the college town factor is bright orange, says "bearkats" (what is a freaking bearkat? I don't know....) and once again small with not much selection...if I'm gonna go to "the big city" might as well hit Ace Mart too...Some days I wish for a good selection of ANYTHING out here!

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

NO Pyrex! Over time it will shatter as the lye will etch it. Use stainless steel for soaping and heavy duty plastic pitcher to mix your lye water in. Read more here> viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3800

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

I have read through that topic here a zillion times, and it doesn't (unless I am missing it) say NOT to use glass for the lye (it does mention it for other things though like fragrance I believe), which is part of why I was double checking)...I honestly just did not see anything about "no glass for lye"in there which is why I am specifically asking - sorry ya'll if I pester, but I am a chronic double checker of things - I would rather double check something than think I know and be wrong in a bad way later.

It really is hard to tell sometimes what is wrong and what is not - so many people swear by their methods and don't ever research if what they are doing is correct or not, it's frustrating. My usual "turn it off they are crazy" sign with you tube is gloves...if they aren't wearing gloves when they mix the lye, I don't watch the rest. Now I have "glass for lye water" as another sign to watch for. If they aren't doing it right to make an "instructional video" I won't watch it or risk learning a "tip or trick" that could be potentially dangerous.

I did order 2 more books finally that were highly recommended here, hopefully they will be more helpful as well. I just want to understand things as fully as possible, and wading through misinformation is confusing at points....somehow I was given crummy not much in them books a while back, won't bash them here, but really, not much to go on in them at all...


(as a note, might be good to add a part about tools that will seem okay and yet are not to that topic, many things I have come across state what people use and not what they CANNOT use, except aluminum pans, that was the only thing I saw as a "terrible no no" and wooden spoons were listed as one to avoid because of splintering I learned from that link - just saying, as a new person it's hard to pick it all apart and put it back together because so much you find skips over portions entirely - one site is more safety oriented, books like the ones I have list recipes but not tools and have them in there wrong like wooden spoon for mixing lye water...very few things have a complete "what to know and avoid" out there)

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

Anyone ever checked out this site?
The WEBstraunt store. http://www.webstaurantstore.com/
I bought a bunch of different size measuring cups, stainless steel spoons, and cupcake supplies from here. My stuff shipped out the same day and I got it in 3 days. I like it cause there so much stuff to choose from and I can check out with Paypal or Amazon. The only problem is some things are sold in BULK. (sorry for the ramble , I just like to share the things I find and like)

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**ERIN**

**I've taken up photography because it's the only hobby I can shoot people and cut their heads off without going to jail**

I agree, don't use glass. I see lots of soapmakers using glass, but to me it's just not worth the risk. I stick to heavy duty plastic, silicone, and stainless steel.

If you go for plastic, look for polypropylene. (Check the bottom of the container for "5" and "PP" - that's the recycling code for polypropylene. It can handle heat and chemicals.)

I measure out my lye flakes in a plastic sour cream container, and I mix my lye water in a plastic pitcher. I'd look for a tall-sided pitcher so you're less likely to splash. I use a slotted plastic spoon to stir. My soapmaking bowls are polypropylene, too. I got big bowls with spouts for easy pouring at a kitchen store. I also found some plastic measuring cups at the Target dollar bin, and those are great for mixing smaller amounts of soap.

As far as metals go, I'd stay away from anything that isn't stainless steel.

And always wear gloves and goggles, of course!

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
Follow me on my

tumblin2hot4u - did NOT know about that one online - will for sure check it out shortly I must admit, it's easier to get stuff shipped here then it is to go and get it in person.

jrose729 - polypropylene! There's one word I actually know for a change Did NOT know it was okay for soap making...will for sure look for that specifically. I often see "hard plastic" thrown out there, but there are different types of hard plastic as well so I was trying not to get confused...now I have one to zero in on Speaking of glove and goggles...riddle me this one thing if you will:

What gloves are NOT safe for soap making? I use heavy duty black chem safe gloves my husband brought me home from work and very nice froo froo goggles he got as well - safe enough for a chemical plant stuff (he's in the petro-chem industry, so I can get a little here and there from him ) But I do wonder sometimes because of what I see/hear....

I have seen people using disposable nitrile, latex, and vinyl gloves even....are any of these safe for the entire process? I use my vinyl or nitrile disposables ONLY when I am cutting soap (all 2 times I have done that right? ) or just to scrub my oil type containers, but I ALWAYS use the hard core heavy duty ones for even washing my lye mixing bucket...

What gloves are a no no?

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

For gloves, I just use yellow latex/rubber dishwashing gloves. I think mine are the extra-long variety, which covers more of my arm. Never had a problem with them in almost two years.

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- Jenny -
My soapy blog:
Follow me on my

Danggit...so I am guessing the "plastic shoulder length ob gloves" shown in that link there would not work huh?

http://www.jefferslivestock.com/shoulde ... /cp/11565/

I have the box of 100 and was kinda hoping as hot as it is right now that I could wear those with a t-shirt instead of long sleeves...

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Making soap one loaf at a time - it's better than bread 'cause soap doesn't have calories!

I use nitrile gloves for the entire process. They fit my hands better than the dishwashing gloves and I can "feel" things more easily in them.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!