Lye soap

[live4christp1]

DH bought a bar of lye soap when we went to Dollywood, I'm talking old fashioned boiled in a kettle lye soap. He bought it because it claims to cure dandruff which he keeps almost year round no matter what kind of shampoo he uses. The label also said that it clears up poison ivy, poison oak, acne, chigger bites, flea bites, etc.

He hadn't tried it yet and this morning I was out of the soap that I use for sensitive skin and since I've been waiting tables (guess it's working in the kitchen area or something) I had been having frequent skin irritations. Decided to try this lye soap this morning and WOW after just one use my skin feels so smooth.

Think I am going to have to order more of this stuff, only $2.25 a bar also - heck of a lot cheaper than Mary Kay.

 

[mainewmn]

I make my own soap using lye as a hobby and our family has not used any store brought soap for the past 2 years. I can tell you that in that time no one in our family has suffered from dry/itchy skin.

 

[live4christp1]

I am so hoping it works for that as well. DD and I both suffer with eczema, hers is worse than mine.

 

[momsgoofy]

My granny ...yeah, like the one from the Beverly Hillbillies, but plumper, used to make lye soap all the time when I was a girl. She was even interviewed by the university newspaper and they ran a full page article on her making lye soap...still have a copy which is about 30 years old. Granny used it for everything from washing people to washing clothes. She also made some nasty smelling stuff she called "Horse Linament"...it was a cure all for bug bites, cuts, etc.

Granny's been gone almost 25 years but these are some of my fondest memories of her...thanks for making me smile when I read your post!

 

[live4christp1]

My granny ...yeah, like the one from the Beverly Hillbillies, but plumper, used to make lye soap all the time when I was a girl. She was even interviewed by the university newspaper and they ran a full page article on her making lye soap...still have a copy which is about 30 years old. Granny used it for everything from washing people to washing clothes. She also made some nasty smelling stuff she called "Horse Linament"...it was a cure all for bug bites, cuts, etc.

Granny's been gone almost 25 years but these are some of my fondest memories of her...thanks for making me smile when I read your post!

What wonderful memories of your grandmother. Thanks so much for sharing them - I'm glad this thread brought a smile your way!

 

[live4christp1]

Okay, I am definately sold on this stuff!!!!! My skin is so much smoother, it's unreal. Haven't had to use a moisturizer or anything. And you know that yucky chicken skin on your elbow that takes a ton of lotion, soft and smooth today, after just two uses.

Anybody know where else you can buy this stuff? I am going to have to have more of it for sure!!!!!

 

[issa]

how do you make lye soap?

 

[live4christp1]

how do you make lye soap?

On the ingredients it says lye, lard, & ? (water I think). They were boiling it in a big iron kettle over a fire. Then you pour it out into pans and let it firm up a bit and cut into bars. Then wrap in plastic wrap.

Maybe the other poster will share their way of making the soap. I am curious to know this as well.

 

[live4christp1]

Found the following places that sale lye soap. Also looked up some info on making it and it sounds like a very tedious process. As long as I can get it for $2.25 a bar I think I'll stick to buying it.

Just wanted to add as I have seen many threads here on the DIS about "lice" - on one company's site it says it is good for getting rid of those.

http://www.texassoap.com/

http://store.mosoap.com/lyesoap.html

http://thompsonbaskets.aic-fl.com/olivia's_lye_soap.htm

 

[momsgoofy]

Oh, I will have to find that article about my granny to see if she told the reporter how to make lye soap. When I read the previous post I recognized the ingredients...lye, lard and water, but the proportions are what I don't remember. Granny never let us kids get too close because of something...want to say it was the lye itself. Granny did add "fragrance" sometimes to help cut the strong lye smell. I'll look for it this afternoon and post back afterward.

 

[live4christp1]

Oh, I will have to find that article about my granny to see if she told the reporter how to make lye soap. When I read the previous post I recognized the ingredients...lye, lard and water, but the proportions are what I don't remember. Granny never let us kids get too close because of something...want to say it was the lye itself. Granny did add "fragrance" sometimes to help cut the strong lye smell. I'll look for it this afternoon and post back afterward.

Yes, I read another article that said you have to be very careful when dealing with the lye because it can burn you.....also you can only use a I think stainless steel as it will eat right through aluminum and other metals. But something about the water and lard neutralizes it.

Very happy with the results I am having with the soap though. Ours doesn't really have a scent but they did have some for sale that was scented with peppermint.

 

[mainewmn]

First of all lye is very poisonous and the process of making soap is basic chemistry but you need to take steps to ensure your safety. I have my tried and true recipe that I use and will continue to use for a long time, However anyone that is just interested in exploring this as a hobby I would say to stick to the melt and pour soaps they sell at the craft stores until you are ready for the true soap making process then start by researching BASIC recipes on line until you find one that you like. When my kids wore little they loved to use the “chocolate” soap, it made pleading with them to wash up this much easier. DH favorite soap was always lemongrass & vitamin E he also likes coffee soap to take out the mechanics grease and smells from his hands you can scent your soap by using good quality essential oils in the mixing stage.

The soap making process requires a initial investment and patience when you get started but like any other hobby can be very rewarding.

 

[live4christp1]

First of all lye is very poisonous and the process of making soap is basic chemistry but you need to take steps to ensure your safety. I have my tried and true recipe that I use and will continue to use for a long time, However anyone that is just interested in exploring this as a hobby I would say to stick to the melt and pour soaps they sell at the craft stores until you are ready for the true soap making process then start by researching BASIC recipes on line until you find one that you like. When my kids wore little they loved to use the “chocolate” soap, it made pleading with them to wash up this much easier. DH favorite soap was always lemongrass & vitamin E he also likes coffee soap to take out the mechanics grease and smells from his hands you can scent your soap by using good quality essential oils in the mixing stage.

The soap making process requires a initial investment and patience when you get started but like any other hobby can be very rewarding.

Thanks for your info. Have been reading up some on the internet and while I find it fascinating, the soap making process, I think it is a little more involved than I am ready for. I'll stick to just buying it for now.

Am very glad we gave it a try though. Now I'm just trying to find the best place to order it from.

 

[momsgoofy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mainewmn
First of all lye is very poisonous and the process of making soap is basic chemistry but you need to take steps to ensure your safety. I have my tried and true recipe that I use and will continue to use for a long time, However anyone that is just interested in exploring this as a hobby I would say to stick to the melt and pour soaps they sell at the craft stores until you are ready for the true soap making process then start by researching BASIC recipes on line until you find one that you like. When my kids wore little they loved to use the “chocolate” soap, it made pleading with them to wash up this much easier. DH favorite soap was always lemongrass & vitamin E he also likes coffee soap to take out the mechanics grease and smells from his hands you can scent your soap by using good quality essential oils in the mixing stage.

The soap making process requires a initial investment and patience when you get started but like any other hobby can be very rewarding.



Thanks for your info. Have been reading up some on the internet and while I find it fascinating, the soap making process, I think it is a little more involved than I am ready for. I'll stick to just buying it for now.

Am very glad we gave it a try though. Now I'm just trying to find the best place to order it from.

Thanks to mainewmn for the chem info...I remembered having to keep my distance as a girl and never really getting to help much, but it's one of those memories of Granny that I treasure. She was such a hillbilly granny, from the bottoms as we call them here...born right near the Mississippi river. She made soap, and home "medical" remedies, bread from the recipe in her head, washed clothes in an old wringer machine, had a wood cook stove in her kitchen, and oh...she made the best sasparilla...not rootbeer...better! And she and the little lady who lived behind her house would get together and make dandelion wine and persimmon beer, which from what I've been told could but hair on your chest.

Well, I'm sorry I got off topic there...I did search for the newspaper clipping and I think it just must be in the bottom of my cedar chest and I can't find it easily. But it seems there are places you can find out how to make the soap if you are so inclined, but like mainewmn said, it's really chemistry. If you decide to give it a go, I wish you luck!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

When I was 12 we went to Silver Dollar City in Tennessee and I bought a bar to bring home with me. It is a nice memory! I don't recall if it was really all that great, but I remember the granny-type lady telling me a list of dozens of things it was supposed to be good for!