How do you fix heavy lye soap?

To correct a lye heavy batch, shred the soap as finely as possible, using gloves to protect your hands, and add to a slow cooker set on low. Add 1 tablespoon of distilled water and cover. Allow the soap to cook, stirring occasionally, until it has melted into a homogenous solution.

Can lye damage your skin?

Lye is a caustic substance that can certainly damage your skin if you’re exposed to it. It can cause a number of problems, such as burns, blindness, and even death when consumed.

Can you Rebatch lye heavy soap?

Since lye is caustic, lye-heavy soap is also irritating to the skin. Instead of throwing away the lye-heavy soap, you can rebatch (hand-mill) it and make it into a more balanced, non-caustic mixture.

Why is my soap turning brown?

Fragrances that have a lot of vanilla, florals, or citrus tend to be the most likely to turn your soap darker and this can happen in melt and pour soaps or cold process soaps. You can then use that color change to incorporate it into your soap or decide how to add dye to the soap to help mask it as needed.

How do you neutralize lye?

When working with lye, keep a bowl of vinegar nearby to splash on any skin the lye accidentally comes in contact with. Vinegar will counteract lye and stop its burning. Milk will also neutralize lye and can be used if the lye is accidentally swallowed.

Why does my soap feel oily?

Oily cold process soap could be caused by a few different reasons. Overheating – Overheating in the mold can cause oils to separate out and cause an oily film on the top or sides of a soap. Mis-measurements – If you cut your soap and it is really oily and spongy then you might not have used enough lye.

What does vanilla do to soap?

Vanilla extract should not be used in soap, as adding alcohol to soap can cause unpredictable and negative results. Plus, vanilla extract won’t leave any scent in your soap, making it a waste. Like vanilla, there are many plants that do not allow for the distillation process.

Why does Lye turn black?

Soap made a few hours ago is turning darker in the middle and looking funny: Reason: This is a normal part of the soapmaking process called gel phase, which is when the chemical reaction between the lye and oils causes the soap to heat up hotter than it was when you first started mixing it.