Mixing Lye With No Fumes! -Soap Making 101

Mixing Lye With No Fumes! -Soap Making 101
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Today, I'm going to show you how you can mix lye inside with no fumes! It's easy!
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[@magicdeepz]

I was scared to make cold process because of the caustic soda fumes,but this video raised my confidence, thank you so much for the video 😊

[@katmacie2369]

Some people just like to be dramatic.. lol Love how you keep it real and simple. Its how I soap..

[@rahmaalharrsi1460]

Ok what if you got like a broken loaf after 1 or 2 hour from making ...it is still hot

[@katmacie2369]

@@rahmaalharrsi1460 If your soap is over heating put a fan on it.. My soap room gets warm in the summer ( No air conditioner) I have to run a fan on my fresh batches of soap to keep them from splitting. Works great, you can also toss it in the fridge if you have more of an issue.

[@lindachandler2293]

Amen, brother! The fat I use is almost exclusively lard. I mix my lye and when it's dissolved but still hot, I pour it over room temperature lard, spooned straight from the bucket. The hot lye melts the lard. No jar of lye setting around waiting for me to knock it over.

[@TheHawaiianmama]

Thank you for that wonderful info

[@GS-uc6dy]

You’re the real deal uncle Jon!! I love your videos!!

[@brianb.2894]

Hi Jon. Real good method. Thank you. 😊

[@ruttleytashnmarty8598]

Informative as always. Cheers for you being you! Sensical always beats illogical or plain silly. You're AWESOMENESS is FAB x

[@spontos26532]

Thank you for sharing!!! This is a great tip!

[@abefrohman1759]

Nice tip Jon. Have a great weekend. 💈👍😎💈

[@gracema8631]

thank you so much dear John!! your information are supper useful and extremely practical !!!!

[@adamary8599]

Thank you for being so clear!

[@AidenLeiter]

Gonna do this when I make my next batch of soap this is so easy and simple no fumes and cooling it faster AWESOME

[@Hoodratz_lives_matter]

ok this is the best video i have seen on this im just getting into soap making and you made this lye process so simple. thank you

[@nilzagarcia6341]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@napfreedom2153]

Awesome! I just recently started using the water and ice. I love it and it is so simple, bonus cooler lye water faster❣️❣️

[@ranistorytellingtarotreading33]

Great idea! I will try making soap. Hopefully comes good.

[@irenem4578]

Common sense as usual. Thanks for keeping things real. ❤

[@pinkbutterfly5708]

Thank you i want make soap this winter this was a great thing your showing us TFS 😅😂😀

[@genesisnavarro8112]

Sir you gave me so much confidence. Some other videos nearly scared me out of it.🙏🏻

[@cindyrandell8264]

wow that was fabulous... i am totally new at the soap making .... you really made that look simple to me ! thanks again... from St. John's Newfoundland Canada !

[@shannonoakley-moore2292]

Cool! Never heard this before! Thanks!

[@sandyshore8787]

Love it! That’s what I plan to do!

[@MrDonXX]

Great tip Jon!

[@SweetVelvetBuds]

Love you man, and your straight forward style. Thanks for the tip, very useful. You've won a new subscriber. Be good and be successful!

[@unclejonssoap]

Thanks!

[@fayezdaifallah]

Thank you.easy simple lovely man.

[@Moirah-Blessingchild]

❤❤❤❤ Thank you for sharing

[@loisreed3326]

Thank you great tip

[@leeshomestead]

Awesome technique

[@mzriqqixd]

You’re awesome!

[@pettalwing]

Used ice for my first ever batch and it was awesome!

[@rachelD86]

Awesome tip 😌

[@SoapyOaksFarm]

Nicely done Jon

[@tanyabonnett4174]

Excellent idea, I have very bad lungs and mix outside then place lid on before coming inside, but your ice/water mix is an excellent tip. Many thanks to you.

[@Story-007]

Addicted your videos

[@kberken]

What a great idea! I live in an apartment so using ice is a great solution to the problem of not being able to go outside. Thank you! Now I'll use your Castille recipe and process to make my first soap.

[@unclejonssoap]

Awesome!

[@donnacoker1491]

Absolutely agree, I have had no issues with lye fumes and I mix inside with no ice. I use cold water and stand away not over it while pouring.

[@unclejonssoap]

Yep. But I do know some people are more sensitive than others. So this should help them 😁

[@thekissofthegoddess]

I use ice too.kind of figured out on my own by using frozen milk cubes....didnt have lye fumes.i freeze any kind of milk that i use( goat,coconut, oat,etc) so that it doesnt scorch when mixed with the lye....so now I freeze my distilled water in ice cube trays and keep them stored in freezer until ready to use.thank you for the video!

[@Mumsy_Soap]

Thanks for sharing

[@sallyrich2195]

awesome! First batch i made I was decked out like "Breaking Bad"! LOL great tip thanks Jon

[@craftydjinn]

Thanks again

[@ashleybennett6951]

I totally agree and thought it was maybe the amateur in me as to why it never bothers me. 🤣 I jist stand back and no problem.

[@sallykalya9023]

Thank you.

[@louannnance637]

Thank you

[@kathyrichards9270]

Genius!! I don’t care about the fumes either, but no waiting for it to cool down!!

[@AdventuresInWetShaving]

Great Tip Jon! ;) Take care and have a good weekend! #Heart

[@bluelot7546]

Does using the ice method effect the look of the finished soap or is there any issue using it - THANK YOU LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!

[@sallyscott9172]

Good to know.

[@carolinek220]

I mix my lye on the stovetop and turn on the exhaust fan. No problems.

[@marie-claudeturcotte8739]

Wow ! Where have you been all my life ? (Don't tell my husband I wrote this) :D

[@samantharuebel2591]

Yep! That's how I do it too! (except for the leaning over part lol) 👍

[@unclejonssoap]

I never recommend that part...lol

[@Renraw9002]

After watching a few dozen videos minimum (many of which were yours) I made my first batch tonight and I learned quite a bit. 1. Mixing lye isn't as crazy or scary as I was led to believe, almost anticlimactic. 2. Even with a stickblender you have to stir a lot longer than I expected. When I added the honey I really expected a very quick trace, like within a minute or two, but it took 15 minutes or so of stirring to reach what was probably a medium trace. 3. It's a lot easier than I thought it would be.

[@unclejonssoap]

Congrats! You're now we'll on your way down the rabbit hole🤣

[@Renraw9002]

@@unclejonssoap I break out easily. After seeing a dr. Squatch commercial I just sat there and thought "I bet I could do that." I guess tomorrow when I cut the loaf I'll find out if I was right.

[@knightmare1015]

Very cool Jon. Yeah people tend to be dramatic about mixing lye when in reality it's not a big deal at all. I can't remember where exactly but I do remember seeing someone mention using ice for their lye water specifically with low flash point fragrances.

[@alystairmabloch401]

People tend to be dramatic about lye. :)

[@ChristopherMulder]

This should help. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaGzkHiqjNh9nNk

[@DavidVChristopher]

Thanks..I realized that ice reduces fumes when I use goats milk and I freeze it before I add my lye..

[@CarolinaGirlCreationZ]

Had to stop and comment @0:09 before even watching your video! LOVE the contrast between the "soap" intro and the music! That was awesome! Now to watch the video. :-P Can I mix up goat milk powder into ice trays and use it to replace the water completely with the same measurement for water/ice? (I'm new to soap making and REALLLLLLY want to make some goat's milk soap.)

[@unclejonssoap]

You can! But honestly, I just add the powder to my oils and blend well right before adding the lye water and fragrance.

[@Southphxgal2023]

I put my water in bowl of ice. Don't have to wait a long time for it to cool down. Never had a problem with the glass breaking. Nice to know. Thanks.

[@unclejonssoap]

This saves having to use separate containers 😁

[@leonaramanyangadze5813]

Hi Jon. Really enjoying the videos, thank you. What do you think about water discount for faster curing time?

[@unclejonssoap]

Water discount will help some but going too steep just makes life harder. I use water at 30% - 38% and it works very well.

[@leonaramanyangadze5813]

@@unclejonssoap Great, I'll give that a go. Thanks for the advice.

[@bearjlovies]

Hi Jon, Great video! I realize I’m about a yr late but I have a question... I poured my Lye after cooling it down to much and got it to cold. Tried to get my oils down as much as I could but could only get them within 12 degrees of each other. Can the Lye get warmer if it gets to cold or does it continue to get cold? And other than making your soap batter thicker once mixed with the cold Lye water (which I noticed when mixing) what other effects do you know or can you think of if that happens (which I don’t intent on happening again but needing to know for my notes)?

[@unclejonssoap]

It should be fine. Once blended, the reaction between the oils and the lye will start to make their own heat. If you were within 12 degrees then you're good to go. No other issues should arise.

[@jessicarobin6752]

Can you store your liquid lye? Like do a mater batch it is it just better to make it as you go?

[@unclejonssoap]

You can master batch your lye for sure! I don't know how long it stays good for but you should be good for up to a week I think. I've never gone more than a couple days.

[@keshunnareese6946]

Can you use a regular plastic pitcher to make lye?

[@debbiebillman6262]

As long as there is a number 5 on the bottom in a triangle your ok. the key name for the plastic is polypropylene. I just bought a bucket from Rite Aid its so cool.

[@debbiebillman6262]

Could you please let me know what temp. was your lye water after the ice melted? i like the idea, i usually do just milks this way, but ice will speed things up with the water and lye. thanks

[@unclejonssoap]

I think it was room temp or close to it.

[@maribelsolero8994]

Does the water have to be distilled water?

[@wynngwynn]

lol food grade lye sounds so funny as if people are just chowing down on it

[@unclejonssoap]

You should see the shocked looks I get when i explain that bagels, soft pretzels, and many other things get a lye bath before cooking..lol

[@joycepelegrina7525]

Another great video. I love that you are not perfect either (tare)

[@unclejonssoap]

No fear of that... lol. Gotta keep it real 😁

[@d.o.4415]

I always use tap water, with ice. No problems here!

[@groundedrootshomestead8885]

I'm curious if you use distilled water. Most books state to use such. If I could use my ice directly from the icemaker that would be great!

[@unclejonssoap]

I do not use distilled water. I happen to have good water. Most people say to use distilled because it's a sure fire way to make sure you are working with good and safe water. But, if you know your water is good then have at it 😁

[@groundedrootshomestead8885]

@@unclejonssoap thank you. I'll look into what makes good water for soapmaking. We have well water btw.

[@NYtalk60]

Thanks for that! What kind of water do you use to make soap?

[@unclejonssoap]

Tap water for me 😁

[@NYtalk60]

@@unclejonssoap Oh. That's amazing and cheap. Can you make a video about water one day? Thanks

[@micheleday5903]

Thank you. Distilled water?

[@unclejonssoap]

I use our tap water here because it's good water. Just depends on your personal preference.

[@3HFarmstx]

You rock! I am going to use this method because it is hot as hell in Texas right now. When I make a soap video and use this Method. Is it okay with you I will put a card link of your video on mine? Thanks for the awesome tips!

[@unclejonssoap]

That sounds great! Thanks!

[@3HFarmstx]

I just noticed my grammar and corrected it. Sorry, I shouldn't type without my glasses. Lol!

[@unclejonssoap]

@@3HFarmstx lol.. no worries 😁

[@jimk8199]

My wife makes homemade goats soap and she freezes the goats milk before mixing it with the lye. Oh and I love your beard. I also have a beard and was talking to some beard company makers about my wife's goat soap and they asked me if "lye" soap and shampoo where safe for use in the beard. That question lead me to your KZbin channel and this video. I am now a subscriber. So...can you answer the question. Is a traditional goat soap made with lye safe for your beard? I am guessing the answer is yes...because I use it in my beard all the time. But I was hoping for a professionals response. Thank you!

[@unclejonssoap]

That's awesome! So.. lye soap (goat's milk and regular) is safe for hair and beards. BUT.. it can also be drying to many peoples hair and beard. The catch, for me, is that we wash our hair and beard too often any way quite honestly. So, I normally use a stiff brush or comb in the shower while running the water through and that's fine most days. Then, once or twice a week I use our bar soap and then oil my beard after. Soap, even though we super fat it, is meant to clean.. not condition. So, it strips the natural oils from our skin and hair. It also tends to be a bit basic on the pH scale which can be damaging if used too often. But this is different for everyone. Make sense? And, it's almost impossible to perfectly balance a soap to neutral on the pH scale. Hope that helps some.

[@jimk8199]

@@unclejonssoap makes total sense. I only wash my beard a couple times a week. If I used the goat soap, I ALWAYS follow it up with a conditioner made specifically for beards. I really, really appreciate your quick response!

[@jpiyasena5215]

Uncle John , Can I use KOH for making hard soap bars.Can we use for bathing soap Processed with NaOH ? Heard it is bad for skin.kindly waiting for your reply

[@unclejonssoap]

Naoh is mainly used for soft or liquid soaps. But you can make hard bars if you add salt to your lye solution.

[@jpiyasena5215]

Thank you very much for your kind attention . In soapcal there is a place to select NaOH or KOH .When I make hard bars is it ok to get that figure? Nother question is when I mix the salt for lye solution do I need the Increase the amount of KOH? When I should add salt before or after making lye solution ? Thank you 🙌🙌

[@Chattycrafter2580]

I like the practical way you soap. I wonder if anyone will comment because you didn’t use gloves.🤔🤔🤔😏😏. If you know what your doing( obviously you know exactly what you’re doing) you don’t need gloves. Thank you for another very informative video.

[@unclejonssoap]

Lol.. yeah. I get the gloves comment all the time. I think they are actually more dangerous than bare hands. As long as I have running water I'm good 😁 Thanks!

[@wanderingchook1193]

i soap with out gloves too, though i always wear safety glasses, lye burns in the eye are dangerous, lye burns to the skin hurt a bit but as long as you wash it off straight away you wont do any lasting damage. i agree with jon, i find gloves so slippery and unless they fit properly, they get in the way

[@Lea-ww9hf]

Jon! a few weeks ago I made my first attemp, just a really simple and basic soap with sunflower oil. My question is, why everybody use olive oil if sunflower oil is cheaper

[@unclejonssoap]

It's traditional and people tend to give more credence to olive oil as a better oil. In my opinion, it's not really any better for soap than sunflower, canola, etc..

[@Lea-ww9hf]

@@unclejonssoap Damn Jon! I love you so much!

[@TheBryce98]

"Today, I got a solution" Pun intended?

[@unclejonssoap]

🤣 I wasn't even thinking about it..lol

[@adamary8599]

So then you can add your oils and fragrances?

[@unclejonssoap]

Yep!

[@dadaebiko8332]

At what temperature should the lye water roughly be in order for me to pour in oil?

[@unclejonssoap]

It doesn't really matter most of the time. I guess mine is usually around 150 F. By the way.. make sure you're adding the lye water to the oils and not adding the oils to the lye water.

[@jswife4life609]

I just decided to today I will try to make my own soap, so I've always wanted thought about it , but never really put forth the effort. So today I'm jumping in research and how to start.... What to buy, not to buy, tools, set up, and etc :) Any suggestions?

[@unclejonssoap]

I would honestly start cheap. Hey some canola oil, sodium hydroxide, and that's it! Make a small batch of that just to get it done and get a successful batch. Go for about a 8% super fat. You can even hand mix of you don't have the mixer yet. It'll just take a while. Warm the oil to about 100-120 degrees before making and the beach will go a little faster. Let me know if you need any help.

[@jswife4life609]

@@unclejonssoap okay that sounds like a good plan to me. Thanks for the quick reply 👍 Do you have a video for beginners?

[@unclejonssoap]

Sort of...lol. I did one with just olive oil that could work for you. It's old so look waaay back on my video list to find that one🤣

[@unclejonssoap]

I don't give too many recipes though. Have you played with a recipe calculator yet? That's going to be your best friend. Also, how much do you want to make for your first batch? I would suggest about a pound. You'll need something to use as a mold too. Maybe a cardboard milk carton or something similar

[@ifcelandscapes5051]

Does fume creates any problem or effects to soap?

[@unclejonssoap]

None

[@transparentfamily]

Do you use tap or distilled water

[@unclejonssoap]

I use tap water since we have good water here.

[@transparentfamily]

@@unclejonssoap I have lots of fragrance oils that obviously have to have some dpg in them, can i use these in soaps

[@unclejonssoap]

Not all fragrances have to have dog. But they can be safe for bath soaps. It really depends on the manufacturer of the fragrance. They should say somewhere if they're safe for soap and the safe usage amount. Without knowing who made it I can't really speak to that particular one.

[@transparentfamily]

@@unclejonssoap can i use mica for coloring soap or do i need to get the liquid coloring?

[@michellegurung7793]

Oooh, man! I'd never be able to pour straight into the water pitcher - if you overpour the lye, good luck getting it back out! But, kudos!

[@unclejonssoap]

Confidence!😁

[@debbiebillman6262]

@@unclejonssoap distractions ! i always measure separately, but that's me, we all have our own way... you should still wear gloves though Jon, just sayin

[@Truthnlovedailydiary]

Where did u get the pitcher from

[@unclejonssoap]

These are sterlite pitchers from Walmart😁

[@Truthnlovedailydiary]

@@unclejonssoap ok thanks for the reply back.. ☺️

[@Sandifitzy23]

Quick question.. I finally got palm oil. What percentage should I use? I used 20 oz palm 10 oz olive oil 2 oz castor oil What do you think? Good?

[@unclejonssoap]

Sounds like it should be good.

[@Sandifitzy23]

Uncle Jon's thanks so much!! You da man!! 👍👊

[@silvertonguedaywalker9116]

Do yiu use Distilled water? I read that one should not use Tap water x Did you wear gloves and safety goggles when you started out? How long would you leave your Lye to cool down? A Newbie to your great Vlogs x

[@unclejonssoap]

I use our tap water. We have good water. If you're unsure, distilled or even bottled spring water are both great choices. No gloves but yes on the safety glasses. Most of the time, I don't care how hot it cool the lye is. I general just like to make sure the solution went clear. This means all the lye dissolved and is ready to use. I'll let it cool more for difficult fragrances though.

[@Theogrebel]

You’re so cool and handsome🔥

[@nightblade7409]

Thanks! Soaping101 showed this but she didn't explain if the ice weight was considered the same as liquid water weight! Awesome!

[@unclejonssoap]

She does some great stuff over there!

[@jennettedawson3361]

@@unclejonssoap I been making soaps for a min now sometimes my soaps be Turing white and white ash be on it like fur what am I doing wrong?

[@nicoleendsley1229]

I'm completely new at making soap and I would like to know how do you measure the lye which type of ounces is it?

[@unclejonssoap]

So measurements when making soap is by weight. I use ones because that's the way I was raised. But metric seems easier for many.

[@nicoleendsley1229]

@@unclejonssoap so does that mean lb oz instead of fl oz

[@nicoleendsley1229]

I ask because my digital scale has both and I don't want to mess it up

[@unclejonssoap]

Yes.. weight = pounds and ounces

[@unclejonssoap]

I wouldn't trust the scale to give accurate fluid ounces. I have one too and I ignore that setting..lol

[@mrstnfmly]

I mix mine this way, but wear gloves just in case, LYE burns and wear light goggles, we don’t want lye in the eye, otherwise I make mine inside, in the sink and sometimes set it in a bowl of ice to cool it down faster,

[@debbenjo5875]

I'm curious. I thought you should only use distilled water for soapmaking. The ice from the fridge isn't distilled. Can the soap be affected by that? I'm not a soapmaker, just curious.

[@unclejonssoap]

It's really a non issue for most people in the US. Tap water and regular ice work very well for soap making. Now, some water should be tested just to make sure the mineral content and bacteria isn't too high.

[@debbenjo5875]

@@unclejonssoap Thank you for the quick reply.

[@debbiebillman6262]

Distilled is cleaner, so yes, i would use it

[@grandmachickenscluckingoodsoap]

I've been using ice, and a fan pulling air out of the kitchen in front of where I make soap. Zero issues so far, and I have asthma so my lungs are usually unhappy

[@jennpenn1274]

Stupid question but does ice and water weight the same? So if I'm using 16 ounces of water, can I use 16 ounces of ice? thanks!

[@unclejonssoap]

Yep! Exactly the same.

[@jennpenn1274]

@@unclejonssoap Awesome, thank you!

[@jodynorris1]

Ugh..I was excited to try this. I know I measured correctly. No fumes but my lye solution never got above 60 degree. What did I do wrong?

[@unclejonssoap]

It wouldn't since you're mixing it with ice. Should be fine to use

[@jodynorris1]

Thanks. I just found your channel. I’m new to soaping and love your common sense approach. Even following the rules, I’ve had a couple of failures. I thought the oils and lye solution had to be between 120- 130. I guess I’ll keep watching.

[@unclejonssoap]

They can be cold or hot. Just depends.

[@jodynorris1]

Maybe you could talk about that in a future video. For now, I’ll keep googling. Thank you! :)

[@unclejonssoap]

Are you having trouble with a batch? I wouldn't over think it..lol. if you mix your lye with ice to cut down of fumes, you just make sure your solid oils are melted and go for it.

[@joemoment-o1275]

If you can help me find lye without a ton of BS I'd love that. My town is really weird. I also cannot perfect a scent of Hoppes.... I have to buy it at insane prices from the fragrance conglomerate

[@unclejonssoap]

Hops is going to be a tough one. I would buy Cascade hops (or whatever is cheapest) and then a few green fragrances to see how close you can get. Honestly, even the good ones that smell EXACTLY like hops won't after a few weeks in most cases. So, you get in the ballpark to give the feel of hops and beer. The lye really depends on where you live as far as local goes. Lowe's has it in most cases as does Ace hardware. Online I would go with essential Depot. What do you consider insane prices? For example.. what does a 16 ounce bottle cost with shipping?

[@gracelynnrosesoapsandmore969]

Uncle Jon's could you tell me what brand of lye it is at Lowe’s or Ace Hardware. Cause I can’t find it at either location. And I can’t find it on there websites. The only thing containing to lye is drainer fluid. And that can’t possibly be safe to use in soap. Thank you

[@unclejonssoap]

@@gracelynnrosesoapsandmore969 lye is drain cleaner...lol. You just need to make sure the ingredients list says 100% sodium hydroxide. As long as that's all that's in it you're good to go.

[@gracelynnrosesoapsandmore969]

Uncle Jon's wow really good to know. Thank you 😊

[@jasonstouder]

the lye kicks my butt if i stand there stirring it. i just hold my breath and stir. i stop and walk away, take a breath, go back and stir for a few seconds more. no problem.

[@Sandifitzy23]

Look mom.. No gloves!! 🤣👏. You’re bad. 😉

[@unclejonssoap]

It's fine as long as you have running water. Not as much a safety hazard as some would have you think...lol

[@ElizabethGonzalez-jt7ns]

I used to relax my hair so the smell of lye is very familiar to me. I started making soap 2 months ago. My soaps have that strong smell of hair relaxer. Ugh. 🤢 Does that smell ever go away?

[@unclejonssoap]

Lye really doesn't have a smell of its own. Just an odorless fine that takes your breath away. So, if there's a smell it's from the added oils or fragrance. But, the smell should get better as it ages. What oils and scent did you use?

[@ElizabethGonzalez-jt7ns]

Uncle Jon's ... thank you for replying to my comment. My first soap was 100% coconut oil and the lye mix was with coconut milk (no water). I didn’t use any fragrance.

[@unclejonssoap]

It's the coconut milk that's doing it. I would make some batches with water honestly I'd you're not going to use fragrance or essential oils. But, that amonia smell should go away after a while. Usually a day or two. Milks in soaps can be tricky.

[@ElizabethGonzalez-jt7ns]

Uncle Jon's ... awesome! I’ll let you know how it turned out after it cured. 🙂

[@StanWatt.]

Some people react like they're mixing cyanide gas and freak out as if the entire life forms in the kitchen or wherever are going to instantly drop dead.

[@sierakh8249]

But tap water has chemicals added

[@unclejonssoap]

So does bottled water, and "spring water"...lol. The trick is to test your water source to see what's actually in it and determine what's going to work for your soap.

[@karinblair1367]

Have you seen the KZbin commercial (Soup for Dudes)? drsquatch.com

[@unclejonssoap]

I've seen their ads.. Yep