The harms of lye-heavy soaps?

[tariqa]

If and when added to soaps, what is the effect of a soap that contains too much or way too much lye? Rashes, irritations, drying of the skin, marks, spots, redness, itching, and skin disorders? I have a theory but cant prove it yet that the reason for a skin disorder was because of lye-heavy soaps or in other words lye not being measured properly or being measured improperly using fluid ounces instead of ounces. I am wondering how much lye would be considered too much or too caustic to use before effects will be seen on the skin or worst.

 

[hlee]

I would think all of those could potentially be a reaction to a lye heavy soap or also potentially an allergy to an ingredient in soap.

 

[pamielynn]

Eye burns are one issue with lye heavy soap.

 

[kryse13]

Would it be possible to make a lye heavy bar for shop grease clothing? Would there be reactions with diesel and gas?

 

[Hazel]

IMO, too much lye is when the lye amount used is greater than the amount needed for 100% saponification of the oils. My skin doesn't even tolerate 100% saponification because the soap is too cleansing. (I have dry, sensitive skin.)

I am wondering how much lye would be considered too much or too caustic to use before effects will be seen on the skin or worst.

I don't know how to answer this question since some people would be able tolerate a slightly lye heavier soap than other people because of skin type differences. I have sensitive skin so I would react faster to caustic soap than someone who didn't have sensitive skin. BTW, my skin reacts even if there is too much FO in soap.

hlee brought up a good point that it could be an allergic reaction and not a lye heavy soap. Is the soap dry and crumbly? Plus, pamielynn's comment about eye burns made me cringe. I didn't even think of getting the soap in your eyes. That would be horrible.

@ kryse13 -

Those are very good questions! I didn't know the answer so I searched online. (Google is my friend. )

Some info which you might find helpful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide#Cleaning_agent
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/gasoline-in-clothes

From what I understood, there isn't a reaction between lye and gas but more of a concern about removing the smell. It's very hard to get the smell out which is why you want to wash these clothes by themselves. Some advice which seemed the most helpful is to air the clothes before washing since the gas evaporates, then use a degreaser with the clothes. Several people mentioned pre-soaking. I'm going to add a quote from the thenewhomemaker.com site since I thought this person sounded the most reasonable. However, if I'm wrong then someone please correct me. I've never had enough gas spilled on my clothes for it to be a major issue when I had to wash them.

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 03/20/2012 - 11:18am.

I've been using Pinesol to get oil stains out of clothing for years. I was given this tip when I was a teenager by my friend's dad that owns a dry cleaner business. All those T-shirts with oil spots, just dab straight pinesol on the stain and launder it twice. The first time gets the stain out, the second time gets the pinesol smell out.

So it made sense to me to try pinesol and vinegar on gas odor, since pinesol gets the oil out, and vinegar neutralizes just out any odor you can throw at it.

Washing clothing with gas fumes will not make your washer explode. Just don't put them in the drier until the fumes are gone.

It was quite interesting reading the comments on the site. I'd recommend reading them for more info. I hope this helps.

 

[kryse13]

Thanks so much Hazel.

Sent from my SGH-T589R using Soap Making mobile app

 

[pamielynn]

I have a tendency to get soap in my eyes when using a face cloth. Don't know why - just a thing

 

[Hazel]

@ pamielynn -

I didn't "like" your post because you get soap in your eyes and I'm sadistic enough to find it funny. I liked it because I was amused by the "just a thing" comment.

@ kyrse13 -

You're welcome! But I have to say thank you for posting because I learned something new. This may come in handy to know in the future since one of my nephews is in an automotive technology program.

 

[kryse13]

I live on a farm so its always 'dont mix work clothes with ur regular/going out clothes' my husband was a mechanic before he become a trucker and I swear his dirty pants were cleaner when he was a mechanic. Oh boys, they love to play in the dirt. I would really like to make a lye heavy bar for greasy rags and clothing (husband wipes the oil dipstick on his pants and shirt )

 

[Hazel]

(husband wipes the oil dipstick on his pants and shirt )

What is it with men? This is why they make shop rags.

 

[pamielynn]

@ pamielynn -

I didn't "like" your post because you get soap in your eyes and I'm sadistic enough to find it funny. I liked it because I was amused by the "just a thing" comment.

I'm sadistic enough to find it funny

 

[tariqa]

I don't know how to answer this question since some people would be able tolerate a slightly lye heavier soap than other people because of skin type differences. I have sensitive skin so I would react faster to caustic soap than someone who didn't have sensitive skin. BTW, my skin reacts even if there is too much FO in soap.

hlee brought up a good point that it could be an allergic reaction and not a lye heavy soap. Is the soap dry and crumbly? Plus, pamielynn's comment about eye burns made me cringe. I didn't even think of getting the soap in your eyes. That would be horrible.
.

But how much could be tolerated? Slightly lye heavier? What if it is signifigantly more lye heavier? What are the effects then?

And as far as my soaps, they are very strong, good lather, it is not crumbly at all. I think the quality is very good, it is just that it may be a little strong now that I think about it. I got so used to using them that I never really noticed how much stronger it feels compared to milder soaps. It isnt much but is noticable. I didnt think it would have much effect.

 

[DeeAnna]

The effect of using a very lye heavy soap would be a chemical burn -- redness, tenderness, stinging pain. Similar to a thermal burn. Could one tolerate it? Yes, I suppose so. But why would a person want to? There is no benefit to be gained by injuring one's skin!

In your original post you were talking about soap in a hypothetical sense, but in your last post you appear to be talking specifically about soaps you have made. I am getting a little confused about what information you are really seeking with your questions.

So let me ask -- Why do you think your soaps are unusually lye heavy? Are you sure excess lye in your soap is the problem?

A "strong" soap could be a soap made from coconut oil with a lower superfat. That kind of soap might be harsh and drying and even irritating to some people's skin, but it would not be lye heavy.

 

[KARENTASTY]

I'm new to soap making and am concerned about the ph of 14 in one of my recently made "facial soaps". I followed the recipe to the letter, but have this problem of heavy lye. Is my soap salvageable? Can I rebatch? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[pamielynn]

Do you know how to correctly test for pH? The strips are notoriously inaccurate and most people just wet the soap and lay the strip on it - that's not the correct way to do it. You should chip off about a gram of soap and mix in a liter of water - then test. But again, without a calibrated meter, you most probably will not get an accurate reading from those strips.

 

[KARENTASTY]

Do you know how to correctly test for pH? The strips are notoriously inaccurate and most people just wet the soap and lay the strip on it - that's not the correct way to do it. You should chip off about a gram of soap and mix in a liter of water - then test. But again, without a calibrated meter, you most probably will not get an accurate reading from those strips.

Thank you so much. I appreciate you response. I will consider purchasing a calibrated meter. If it is still above 13, is there anyway to salvage it by rebatching?

 

[dixiedragon]

Perhaps rather than making a lye-heavy bar, it might be better to look into using straight lye, or lye dissolved in water.

Of course, now I'm thinking of "Barn Burning" by William Faulkner.

 

[judymoody]

Thank you so much. I appreciate you response. I will consider purchasing a calibrated meter. If it is still above 13, is there anyway to salvage it by rebatching?

Could you post your complete recipe including lye and water amounts? Assuming you measured properly, we can help to determine if it is lye heavy with respect to your recipe.

How long ago did you make your soap? pH declines over time. However 9-11 is normal for CP soap. It will never be pH neutral.

 

[KARENTASTY]

Sorry it took so long to get back, I've been under the weather. Never the less, here's the recipe I followed:
5.9 oz fractionated coconut oil
22.1 oz almond oil
7 oz distiller water
4.1 oz lye
1.5 oz almond extract ( not included in the original recipe)

I made the soap a week ago and tongue tested it yesterday, which I've never done before....now I understand why soapers call it "tongue shock".

 

[shunt2011]

Checking your recipe it may be drying as the cleansing on it is 20 and the recipe is only a 5% superfat. It looks like it should be okay at least nothing is glaring at me after running it through a soapcalc. Full water would have been 10.64 ounces and lye 4.2 oz. Perhaps someone will see something I'm missing. Could your scale be off?