Can you buy lye in the grocery store still?

Soapmaking Forum

Help Support Soapmaking Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.

VA_artist

New Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2011
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Hello,

It has been a while since I made soap. I always bought Red Devil lye in the grocery store, but they don't seem to carry it any more. I live in Virginia. Does anyone know of a place I can find lye? (I would rather not order it online, if possible.)

Thanks in advance!
 
I just put in an order over the internet with the Lye Guy. Buy 6- 32 oz bottles and one is free. They are only $5.25 a bottle. I paid over $14.00 for one at Lowe's. Do you have a Lowe's in your area?
 
I go to Ace Hardware but not every Ace has it. I found two that do though.
 
Ace hardware has it, it is Rooto brand. $4.99 a lb at mine.
 
Some Ace Hardware stores only keep it in the back due to regulations so you might have to ask if they have 100% Lye.
 
VA_artist said:
Hello,

It has been a while since I made soap.


Yepper...it's been close to 5-6 yrs that it got pulled from shelves cause it's used to cook meth.

As the others have said, what you use now is Rooto 100% Lye and Ace Hardware carries it. If you don't see it, ask and they can order it for you. It's just like using Red Devil....I never noticed a difference. I had my local Farm & Ranch store order it for me. Last year it was reasonable at $3.89/16 oz. This year they switched suppliers and it jumped to $6.60/16 oz. Ordered my supply this year from AceHardwareOutlet.com and with shipping it was still $25 cheaper!
IDLaura
 
I found that buying it on-line is only cost effective if you buy a bunch, in order to get free shipping. I'm in Idaho, and everywhere I looked, wanted to charge more for the shipping than the actual sodium hydroxide.

I found it at Lowes, and is the Roebic crystal drain opener. $12 for 2lbs

Home depot does not carry it in my area.

At the local True Value they have... Household 100% lye Drain Opener. $4.50 for 1lb
 
G. Man said:
I found that buying it on-line is only cost effective if you buy a bunch, in order to get free shipping. I'm in Idaho, and everywhere I looked, wanted to charge more for the shipping than the actual sodium hydroxide.

I found it at Lowes, and is the Roebic crystal drain opener. $12 for 2lbs

Home depot does not carry it in my area.

At the local True Value they have... Household 100% lye Drain Opener. $4.50 for 1lb

Howdy!
Where in Idaho are you? I'm just west of Twin Falls.

D & B (Farm/Ranch store) changed suppliers, ordered & got in the Roebic Lye at $6.60/16 oz....a case of 12 would have run me $79.20!!! I backed out and ordered Rooto lye online at $2.49/16oz plus shipping. With the shipping, I got a case of 12 Rooto for $4.07/16 oz and it came right to the house & I didn't have to go to Twin Falls!

If there is a True Value in Twin (haven't seen one...just Ace), I might get 1 or 2 in an emergency, but ordering it online, for me, is still cheaper.

If you're in my area & need some, I still have 8 containers left.
IDLaura
 
Howdy!
Where in Idaho are you? I'm just west of Twin Falls.

D & B (Farm/Ranch store) changed suppliers, ordered & got in the Roebic Lye at $6.60/16 oz....a case of 12 would have run me $79.20!!! I backed out and ordered Rooto lye online at $2.49/16oz plus shipping. With the shipping, I got a case of 12 Rooto for $4.07/16 oz and it came right to the house & I didn't have to go to Twin Falls!

If there is a True Value in Twin (haven't seen one...just Ace), I might get 1 or 2 in an emergency, but ordering it online, for me, is still cheaper.

If you're in my area & need some, I still have 8 containers left.
IDLaura

Hello, I'm north of Boise in Payette :) Glad you found somewhere on-line to get it cheaper. Where did you order it from? I'm still doing small batches so I'm content buying it at the hardware store for now, but will eventually want to buy in bulk. Here's a pretty good deal also.... http://www.essentialdepot.com/servlet/t ... ade/Detail And I believe it's free shipping.
 
i'm in virginia too. my local ace hardware doesn't carry it, but the mom and pop hardware stores do -- i get mine at a Do-It-Best hardware store for $4.39 for 16 oz. it's rooto household lye brand. they carry it just for me :)
 
roebic lye?

I bought some roebic drain cleaner years ago when the red devil first disappeared, but it seemed like my batches of soap did funny...expanded and overflowed. I wondered if this stuff is different than red devil.

Does anyone use Roebic drain cleaner successfully? I still have a few bottles of it, but am wary of the volcano problem.

Lillian
NC
 
Hello,

It has been a while since I made soap. I always bought Red Devil lye in the grocery store, but they don't seem to carry it any more. I live in Virginia. Does anyone know of a place I can find lye? (I would rather not order it online, if possible.)

Thanks in advance!
I just found it in Walmart. $5.63 for 16 ounces -Instant Power Crystal Lye in the drain cleaner aisle. Otherwise I buy online from Duda Diesel.com.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top