Using "old" lye

[kmkieva]

It's been about a year since I made soap and I'm restarting, but the lye I have (crystal beads) has solidified. Is there a way to get it back into bead form? I can break it up into chunks, but that makes precise measuring very difficult.

 

[shunt2011]

If it's become a solid chunk that means humidity/air has gotten into it. I personally wouldn't use it unless you test it for it's strength.

 

[kmkieva]

That's too bad...I have four unopened containers of lye that were still in the heavy plastic bag they came in...8 (

 

[Lin19687]

Try it in the small batch and see how it goes.
I have used 10 year old lye that had some chunks in it. I had no issues with it but did buy new not long after due to not wanting to fiddle with it.

I also JUST made a few batches with year old Lye that I had measured out. But the containers didn't seal enough I guess because it was solid (about 8 oz of lye) Worked just fine.

I think there are a couple threads on this subject in the past, last year I think

 

[amd]

I would use it with a low calculated SF (or maybe even 0 SF), and only if I were making these soaps for personal use.