Sodium gluconate

[ghoshsmita]

I don't add it at trace. I put some of the water aside and add it to that, as well as sugar. I then mix that water with the oils, before adding the lye solution. Incidentally, I now use citric acid to reduce the scum as it is much cheaper. I do the same with citric acid - add it to a bit of the water with sugar. The thing with citric acid is that you need to add more NaOH.

Thank you SO much! I will try that today. I ended up with a LOT of Sodium Glauconate(approx 11lb), so as long as it's good for reducing scum, I am pleased. I read up on it, but never managed to find out HOW to add it ...and was sweating when I wasn't getting any answers

 

[cmzaha]

It actually has been answered many times in the forum since I have posted here numerous times because I use SG & EDTA in all batches. My daughter lives in an area with extremely hard well water and I found by trial and reading labels on products available in her area that 0.5% Tetrasodium EDTA and 0.5% Sodium Gluconate together, of the total soap batch, worked well at cutting soap scum. I also soap with Sorbitol in place of sugar so dissolve all three in the liquid help back from the lye solution. I actually soap with 50/50 masterbatch so have to add in extra liquid to my lye solution, which what I dissolve all additives in. I do not use SL so never dissolve additives in my lye solution.

 

[Jersey Girl]

It actually has been answered many times in the forum since I have posted here numerous times because I use SG & EDTA in all batches. My daughter lives in an area with extremely hard well water and I found by trial and reading labels on products available in her area that 0.5% Tetrasodium EDTA and 0.5% Sodium Gluconate together, of the total soap batch, worked well at cutting soap scum. I also soap with Sorbitol in place of sugar so dissolve all three in the liquid help back from the lye solution. I actually soap with 50/50 masterbatch so have to add in extra liquid to my lye solution, which what I dissolve all additives in. I do not use SL so never dissolve additives in my lye solution.

@cmzaha, after you dissolve the edta and sg in the water do you add it to your masterbatched lye solution? I’ve been adding the edta solution ( I make a 50/50) to my oils. Could the sg be added that way too? Is one way better than the other?

 

[cmzaha]

I dissolve my EDTA, Sorbitol and SC in my liquid then pour the liquid in my oils. As mentioned I do not dissolve anything in my lye solution.

 

[ghoshsmita]

I don't add it at trace. I put some of the water aside and add it to that, as well as sugar. I then mix that water with the oils, before adding the lye solution. Incidentally, I now use citric acid to reduce the scum as it is much cheaper. I do the same with citric acid - add it to a bit of the water with sugar. The thing with citric acid is that you need to add more NaOH.

It actually has been answered many times in the forum since I have posted here numerous times because I use SG & EDTA in all batches. My daughter lives in an area with extremely hard well water and I found by trial and reading labels on products available in her area that 0.5% Tetrasodium EDTA and 0.5% Sodium Gluconate together, of the total soap batch, worked well at cutting soap scum. I also soap with Sorbitol in place of sugar so dissolve all three in the liquid help back from the lye solution. I actually soap with 50/50 masterbatch so have to add in extra liquid to my lye solution, which what I dissolve all additives in. I do not use SL so never dissolve additives in my lye solution.

I did see the detailed answers posted earlier AFTER Nframe replied to my question. For some reason, I kept searching for answers earlier & just couldn't find it. I did read through the post earlier .
Thank you so much for the answer.

 

[linne1gi]

Hi! Been searching all over for some info on Sodium Glauconate. Could you please help me. I have ended up buying 5khs of Sodium Glauconate as it wasn't available in smaller quantities. I have we have really really hard water and too much soap scum. I know how much to add, but do you add it at trace is what I would like to know. Also if it is good for reducing soap scum. I have not got full answers any any of the soap forums I have asked this. Please help! TIA

I use citric acid to help with soap scum. I use it at 2% and I add additional lye to compensate for the NaOH that the citric neutralizes. It works very well, it's very cheap as well.

 

[cmzaha]

I use citric acid to help with soap scum. I use it at 2% and I add additional lye to compensate for the NaOH that the citric neutralizes. It works very well, it's very cheap as well.

I used CA for a few years but found EDTA worked better plus it boosted the preservative in my lotions. Then when my daughter moved I found the EDTA SG combination which really helps. Plus I did not like the crystals the CA would form on the outside of my soaps overtime at the usage it took to help, and I do not have to figure out the extra lye which I already have to factor in for my vinegar.

 

[linne1gi]

I used CA for a few years but found EDTA worked better plus it boosted the preservative in my lotions. Then when my daughter moved I found the EDTA SG combination which really helps. Plus I did not like the crystals the CA would form on the outside of my soaps overtime at the usage it took to help, and I do not have to figure out the extra lye which I already have to factor in for my vinegar.

I tried EDTA (I still have some) but I am worried about the environmental effects.

 

[ghoshsmita]

I did see the detailed answers posted earlier AFTER Nframe replied to my question. For some reason, I kept searching for answers earlier & just couldn't find it. I did read through the post earlier .
Thank you so much for the answer.

Possibly, I didn't read all 3 pages. Sorry!

I use citric acid to help with soap scum. I use it at 2% and I add additional lye to compensate for the NaOH that the citric neutralizes. It works very well, it's very cheap as well.

Thank you for your help!
I will try using both. I already have bought a huge amount of SG as it wasn't available in smaller quantities & I was sick of soap scum... So if just SG doesn't work, I will use a little of both. I hope I won't have to buy CA though I have been soaping for a long time now, but didn't sell my soaps till now...it was just for family and friends, but now I am planning on selling & didn't want customers to have blocked drains... hopefully it will all work out fine.

 

[cmzaha]

Possibly, I didn't read all 3 pages. Sorry!

Thank you for your help!
I will try using both. I already have bought a huge amount of SG as it wasn't available in smaller quantities & I was sick of soap scum... So if just SG doesn't work, I will use a little of both. I hope I won't have to buy CA though I have been soaping for a long time now, but didn't sell my soaps till now...it was just for family and friends, but now I am planning on selling & didn't want customers to have blocked drains... hopefully it will all work out fine.

I would try a small test with inexpensive oils batch with SG up to 1% and see how it goes since you have a lot of SG.

 

[ghoshsmita]

I would try a small test with inexpensive oils batch with SG up to 1% and see how it goes since you have a lot of SG.

Thank you. I will try that. Will get back with the results... Tho I guess I will only know after 4+ weeks. Maybe if I did a comparative test batch.. both with the same oils, I would know if it made any positive difference. I don't want to waste it just because I have it.

 

[cmzaha]

Thank you. I will try that. Will get back with the results... Tho I guess I will only know after 4+ weeks. Maybe if I did a comparative test batch.. both with the same oils, I would know if it made any positive difference. I don't want to waste it just because I have it.

I buy my SG on Ebay 5 lbs $17. You just have to find the percentage that works for you and works in your soap.

 

[Megan]

@nframe I see you use CA now. Did you notice there was a difference between using SG on it's own versus CA? If cost weren't an issue, which would be your choice?

 

[cmzaha]

@nframe I see you use CA now. Did you notice there was a difference between using SG on it's own versus CA? If cost weren't an issue, which would be your choice?

not nframe, but I find SC much better than CA for me. I had to up the CA so much before it really helped, crystals would form not long after curing my soaps that I did not like. EDTA at .5% of my total batch weight made a considerable difference but adding in 0.5% SG with the EDTA helped my daughter even more who has extremely hard water.

 

[Megan]

@cmzaha thank you. I'm getting crystals on some of mine (very few but still) at only 2% CA...so I really think I might try the SG. I have moderately hard water, so even the 2% CA isn't as helpful as I'd like.

 

[cmzaha]

@cmzaha thank you. I'm getting crystals on some of mine (very few but still) at only 2% CA...so I really think I might try the SG. I have moderately hard water, so even the 2% CA isn't as helpful as I'd like.

I was selling and my customers really did not like the crystals even though they washed off, and the crystals became thicker as the soaps aged. Also, 2% just did not make a noticeable difference for me. With my daughters extremely hard water the combo of EDTA and SG works for her.

 

[Megan]

I was selling and my customers really did not like the crystals even though they washed off, and the crystals became thicker as the soaps aged. Also, 2% just did not make a noticeable difference for me. With my daughters extremely hard water the combo of EDTA and SG works for her.

Alright, you sold me! It's lucky I like experimenting!

 

[Quilter99755]

I used to use CA but didn't feel it was working with our hard water...totally hard. So I bought both Sodium Gluconate and Sodium Citrate...my notes say I use them at 3% which I got off here at some point, but don't remember where. Both are working way, way better than the CA. I don't seem to see a difference between the soaps...and my daughter says the same. If fact, I would have to look at my notes to find out which soap had which additive.

 

[Megan]

I used to use CA but didn't feel it was working with our hard water...totally hard. So I bought both Sodium Gluconate and Sodium Citrate...my notes say I use them at 3% which I got off here at some point, but don't remember where. Both are working way, way better than the CA. I don't seem to see a difference between the soaps...and my daughter says the same. If fact, I would have to look at my notes to find out which soap had which additive.

at 3% of citrate, you aren't getting crystalization? (essentially this is what we're making when we neutralize CA)

 

[Quilter99755]

Not that I have noticed. I am doing HP if that matters.