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Soap making lye

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25K views 12 replies 9 participants last post by  D. Patrick  
S
#1 ·
Hello,
Does anyone know if Lowes, Home depot, Menards etc sell red crown lye (or equivalant) for cold process soap? I had almost all my ingrediants together to make my first batch of soap this weekend except the lye. I thought this was a very common product in hardware stores but I guess it's been replaced (lye) with a product that can't be used for soap making. I'll probably have to have it shipped from brushy mountain.
Thank you
 
I
#2 ·
Lowes and Home Depot, along with most hardware stores sell it. It is sold as drain cleaner. Search the ingredients until you find the one that says "100% Sodium Hydroxide". That will be the lye you want for soap making. Potassium hydroxide can also be used, but is not as common in the local stores. Do not use any that have additives. 100% Sodium Hydroxide ONLY.
 
#3 ·
sugar bandit #2 said:
I thought this was a very common product in hardware stores but I guess it's been replaced (lye) with a product that can't be used for soap making.
Click to expand...
It is my understanding that many of the lye products were removed from stores because it (lye) was one of the main components used by meth labs. I'm not sure if its a fact but the stuff sure disappeared from the store counters around here quickly.
 
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#4 ·
So the story goes beeman.

Potassium hydroxide is used for liquid soaps. Sodium for bar soap. Lowes and home depot neither carry any kind of pure lye. The only hardware around here that I've found that carry's it is ACE. I forget the brand, but they replaced red devil with it when it was pulled off the shelves.
 
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#7 ·
Old Fashion Lye Soap
www.texassoap.com Used for psoriasis, poison ivy, sensitive skin and more. $2.20 bar.
Strong to Gentle Lye Soap
www.MoSoap.com Old Fashion lye soaps handmade in several strengths, bulk savings
Old Fashioned Lye Soap
www.soapshed.com Grandma's Remedy! Use for Laundry, lice, bed bugs, and Poison Ivy.
 
#13 ·
sugar bandit #2 said:
Hello,
Does anyone know if Lowes, Home depot, Menards etc sell red crown lye (or equivalant) for cold process soap? I had almost all my ingrediants together to make my first batch of soap this weekend except the lye. I thought this was a very common product in hardware stores but I guess it's been replaced (lye) with a product that can't be used for soap making. I'll probably have to have it shipped from brushy mountain.
Thank you
sugar bandit #2 said:
Hello,
Does anyone know if Lowes, Home depot, Menards etc sell red crown lye (or equivalant) for cold process soap? I had almost all my ingrediants together to make my first batch of soap this weekend except the lye. I thought this was a very common product in hardware stores but I guess it's been replaced (lye) with a product that can't be used for soap making. I'll probably have to have it shipped from brushy mountain.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
YES, Menards has 99% lye called santeen lye. Has anyone used this product??
 
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