Replacing water with vinegar

[dixiedragon]

So, I'm going to try it. I've read a few threads here but I'm not seeing something basic - maybe I missed it? Do I just measure out the vinegar and dump the lye crystals in it?

 

[DeeAnna]

Here's my article about using vinegar in soap: https://classicbells.com/soap/aceticAcid.html

 

[dixiedragon]

Here's my article about using vinegar in soap: https://classicbells.com/soap/aceticAcid.html

100% vinegar? Or less?

 

[DeeAnna]

Whatever you want. There's no set amount that is best. Of the people who have shared their experiences with vinegar, I think most use vinegar as a full replacement for water.

 

[Misschief]

I did. I made a batch a while back in which half the batch was made with water/lye and the other half with vinegar/lye. I'll see if I can find my notes. I do know that I still have one half bar of the vinegar soap after a couple of years and its hard and lathers beautifully. I made no allowances for the vinegar, incidentally.

https://www.missionmeadowssoapery.com/2016/10/soap-made.html

 

[Ivanstein]

Do you have to up the lye to counteract the acetic acid? Most store bought vinegar is roughly 5% acetic acid and that would surely make some sodium acetate out of the lye causing an overshoot on the superfat... wouldn't it?

 

[cmzaha]

I make most of my soaps with vinegar now using 50-100% vinegar. I multiply my vinegar amount by 0.0357 to get the additional amount of lye I need to compensate for the vinegar. I love the hardness and the way the soap lathers with vinegar, I also use a low superfat of 2%.

ETA: I use distilled vinegar not apple cider vinegar

 

[DeeAnna]

For those who might be wondering about the difference between Carolyn's method (Post 7) and my method (Post 2) for figuring out the NaOH to neutralize the vinegar -- they're exactly the same thing; they just look different. You can multiply the amount of vinegar by 0.0357 (Carolyn's method) to get the amount of NaOH needed to neutralize the 5% vinegar solution. Or you can divide the amount of vinegar by 28 (my method) to accomplish the same thing. Either way gives you the same answer.

 

[dixiedragon]

made it last night! Super impressed by how hard it is this morning - I didn't gel it. We'll see how it unmolds!

 

[cmzaha]

Anyone trying this, especially if you a high palm, lard and or tallow recipe do not leave in the mold 24 hrs. I cut mine in 8-12 hrs or I would not be able to cut. My vegan recipe is approx 40% palm and my non vegan is a tallow/lard recipe. Approx percentages are 45 % tallow 22% lard

 

[dixiedragon]

Uh oh. I could be in trouble.

 

[shunt2011]

@dixiedragon. Hurry and cut it. I haven’t tried this yet. May give it a shot next time I make soap. Maybe this weekend.

 

[MGM]

but I'm not seeing something basic - maybe I missed it?

Don't you mean you're not seeing something acidic? Bah-dum-bum.....

 

[dixiedragon]

@dixiedragon. Hurry and cut it. I haven’t tried this yet. May give it a shot next time I make soap. Maybe this weekend.

I'm at work. I made it last night at around 8 pm. Won't be home for about 4 more hrs.

Dun dun dun.....stay tuned!

 

[cmzaha]

So, I'm going to try it. I've read a few threads here but I'm not seeing something basic - maybe I missed it? Do I just measure out the vinegar and dump the lye crystals in it?

I add the lye to right vinegar, but I do not suggest letting it sit long or masterbatching. Once the lye is added to the vinegar and reacts it will thicken up but it does still work fine. I just never masterbatch more that what I am going to use that day.

 

[Ivanstein]

I add the lye to right vinegar, but I do not suggest letting it sit long or masterbatching. Once the lye is added to the vinegar and reacts it will thicken up but it does still work fine. I just never masterbatch more that what I am going to use that day.

That makes sense because of the acetate result. Those are great at increasing viscosity.

 

[cmzaha]

That makes sense because of the acetate result. Those are great at increasing viscosity.

Yes it does and it looks like it would be a problem because it actually forms little beads, but it works fine. I just never go with more lye/vinegar premix than I will use during my soaping day

 

[DeeAnna]

Thanks for the info about the lye-vinegar mixture thickening up. I'll add this to my article about using vinegar in soap, so other soap makers can benefit from your experience.

 

[Meena]

https://www.missionmeadowssoapery.com/2016/10/soap-made.html

Checked out some of your blog and Instagram. That 'save' you did on the Viva Margarita that started accelerating before you were done getting it into the mold... Wow ... Probably a technique you wouldn't have done on purpose, but until I read the comment about it, I thought it WAS your on-purpose design! They came out beautiful!!

(cut soaps are here https://www.instagram.com/p/BsqLOzKBGtW/ )

 

[Misschief]

Checked out some of your blog and Instagram. That 'save' you did on the Viva Margarita that started accelerating before you were done getting it into the mold... Wow ... Probably a technique you wouldn't have done on purpose, but until I read the comment about it, I thought it WAS your on-purpose design! They came out beautiful!!

(cut soaps are here https://www.instagram.com/p/BsqLOzKBGtW/ )

Thank you. It isn't often that I get a batch that accelerates that quickly. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would.