I've read some recipes online that suggest you use distilled water to make them. We have hard, city water that we won't even use to drink it's so nasty. My question is...does the water you use really make a difference in the end product?
Does the water REALLY make a difference?
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I havent use tap water to make soap. But I heard if your water is soft its still okay to be used. However in distilled water there is no other substances. Because in cases, there are unwanted substances in your water that can react when you are making soap. Some say can cause DOS. Maybe other ezperts can explain
kchaystack
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In short - yes.
Municipal, well, spring and even filtered water (Brita or other types) have much more dissolved in it than you think. Hard water is usually calcium heavy. much is chlorinated, has fluoride added, or ammonia. It is usually fine to drink - in fact we even need some of that in our diet - tho does not always taste the best. Really pure distilled water also tastes funny, because it is missing all that stuff.
All of this will interact with your lye, and could keep it from reacting with the oil, or could throw off your scents and colors.
I have moderately hard water and I use it to soap. The few cases of DOS I have had, I contribute to the oils used or method of storage and not the water.
Trace metals in water -- calcium and copper are examples -- can and will cause spots of DOS because these metals "catalyze" (accelerate) the breakdown of fats. Fat breakdown => Rancidity, aka DOS.
Hard water minerals in water -- calcium and magnesium -- will react with your soap and cause hard water scum (insoluble, sticky calcium and magnesium soaps). This happens in the shower, for sure, but it also happens in the soap pot. Soapers making liquid soap find this out the hard way when they use tap water to make their soap -- their diluted soap has an unattractive milky look. If they switch to distilled, their diluted soap is crystal clear.
I'm not saying DOS always happens to soap made with tap water ... but it can. And I'm not saying soap scum is all that bad ... but it can affect the skin feel of the soap. What I am saying is distilled water can help prevent problems that can be very mysterious issues to troubleshoot. Alternatives to distilled are reverse osmosis water or deionized water. If you have really soft water, that will prevent the hard water scum thing, although it won't necessarily prevent metal contamination.
Low tech alternatives for distilled water would be rain water (if you let the sediment settle out before use) or water from a humidifier (make sure the collection bottle is very clean). I wouldn't use either of these for lotion without thoroughly sanitizing the water first.
And, FWIW, tap, spring, and purified water are essentially the same thing.
Hard water minerals in water -- calcium and magnesium -- will react with your soap and cause hard water scum (insoluble, sticky calcium and magnesium soaps). This happens in the shower, for sure, but it also happens in the soap pot. Soapers making liquid soap find this out the hard way when they use tap water to make their soap -- their diluted soap has an unattractive milky look. If they switch to distilled, their diluted soap is crystal clear.
I'm not saying DOS always happens to soap made with tap water ... but it can. And I'm not saying soap scum is all that bad ... but it can affect the skin feel of the soap. What I am saying is distilled water can help prevent problems that can be very mysterious issues to troubleshoot. Alternatives to distilled are reverse osmosis water or deionized water. If you have really soft water, that will prevent the hard water scum thing, although it won't necessarily prevent metal contamination.
Low tech alternatives for distilled water would be rain water (if you let the sediment settle out before use) or water from a humidifier (make sure the collection bottle is very clean). I wouldn't use either of these for lotion without thoroughly sanitizing the water first.
And, FWIW, tap, spring, and purified water are essentially the same thing.
HoneyLady
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YES, it matters!
I have very hard well water with lots of calcium. I ONLY use distilled water for soap and stuff making. I tried without, and I had issues with trace accelerating, fragrances going off, and DOS.
Distilled water is cheap and easily available. Why not use it and guarantee your soap is the best? It makes a difference, and it's lots cheaper than the high quality oils we use. Try a tiny batch with tap water and distilled. Pack away for 6 months. Take them out and use them. I think you'll be surprised.
~HoneyLady~ :grin:
I have very hard well water with lots of calcium. I ONLY use distilled water for soap and stuff making. I tried without, and I had issues with trace accelerating, fragrances going off, and DOS.
Distilled water is cheap and easily available. Why not use it and guarantee your soap is the best? It makes a difference, and it's lots cheaper than the high quality oils we use. Try a tiny batch with tap water and distilled. Pack away for 6 months. Take them out and use them. I think you'll be surprised.
~HoneyLady~ :grin:
I've used city water, distilled water, and now well water...I've had no issues but maybe Im just lucky? At any rate, its up to you what you put in your soap..try it with different waters..see what works best for you 
I hope you are only referring to the calcium in that comment..we dont need chloride, fluoride, and ammonia in our diet...all of those are toxic chemicals.
I hope you are only referring to the calcium in that comment..we dont need chloride, fluoride, and ammonia in our diet...all of those are toxic chemicals.
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