Does Lye Water Need To Be Refrigerated?

Adding lye to water causes a exothermic reaction that causes the lye water to reach temperatures up to 200 ° F. Because the lye solution becomes so hot,

it needs time to cool for soaping

. … If the lye solution is too cold, it can solidify the oils and butters upon contact.

How long can you keep lye water?

To ensure the lye works properly, we recommend using it

within one year of

purchasing. It needs to be sealed tightly and stored in a dry place. Lye is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture. If it’s exposed to moisture in the air it won’t be as effective in your recipe, and the soap may not saponify fully.

How long does lye water last?

The shelf life of lye, sodium hydroxide, when properly stored is

one year

. After a year it is possible for your lye to work, but you should do a small batch to test whether the lye is still good. If it is actually expired, then it may not come to trace quickly or could separate after it is poured or set up.

How do you store lye water?

Plastic

. The right kind of plastic container is the best choice for mixing and storing lye solution. Some plastics are resistant to alkali, others are not, so it is important to KNOW, not guess, what a plastic container is made of.

Can you make lye water in advance?

A –

Master batching

is simply making up a large batch of soapmaking oils and/or lye water ahead of time and using it as needed. … Melt the solid fats and combine them with the other oils in a large bucket. Each time you want to make a 5lb batch of soap, you will measure 55 oz from your master batch.

Can I pour lye water down the drain?

If you’re using lye to unclog a kitchen sink, clear the sink first. … Using a plastic spoon,

pour a few tablespoonfuls of lye directly into the drain hole

. Then, pour in about a quarter cup of water to disperse the lye as far as it can go. Leave it to do its job for a half hour or so then flush the drain with hot water.

What can I substitute for lye water?

It can be replaced by a homemade version made from two extremely common ingredients –

baking soda and water

. There are two approaches to making alkaline solution at home: one that uses baking soda and one that uses baked baking soda. However, baked baking soda is recommended for both mooncake and ramen making.

What happens when you add water to lye?

The liquid dissolves the lye and creates a lye solution. Mixing water and lye creates an exothermic reaction that causes a dramatic temperature increase. Adding lye to room temperature water can cause

the water to reach temperatures up to 200 ° F

. The mixture also creates fumes, which should not be inhaled.

Is lye water bad?

Lye water (sometimes called ‘Lime Water’) is a strong (caustic) liquid that is safe to use in very small amounts in cooking, but

it can be dangerous if lye water is swallowed undiluted straight from the bottle

. It can cause severe corrosive burns to the throat, oesophagus and stomach with permanent damage if swallowed.

What does lye do to dead bodies?

A body is submerged in a solution of heated water and lye. After a matter of hours, everything but the bones dissolve into a liquid made up of water, salt and other

components

safe enough to go down the drain. The remaining bone fragments can be crushed into ash for scattering, burial or memorialization.

What will lye eat through?

Reactions of Lye and PVC

Since lye is so basic and caustic, it can harm

PVC piping

. The chemical should not react with the surface of the PVC piping, but if used incorrectly at high concentrations, it could eat away at a crack or flaw in the piping, causing it to fail.

Does vinegar neutralize lye?

Vinegar can neutralize lye

, but in doing so it generates heat as a by-product. We don’t want that reaction happening anywhere on our counter tops, floors, and definitely not the skin. There are safer ways to neutralize lye spills when making soap, my friend, so read on.

Can you reheat lye water?

You can safely reheat lye water when making soap, but you need to be careful. Heating it on the stove top can be dangerous and even microwaving it can cause problems. They trick is to heat it in a safe place and slowly. The best way to reheat lye solution is to use a

hot water bath

.

How do you make lye water solution?

1. Fill a glass or stainless steel pot with ashes.
2. Add soft water to barely cover the ashes.
3. Boil the slurry about half an hour.
4. Let the mixture cool and the ashes sink to the bottom of the pot.
5. Skim the liquid from the top and store it in a plastic, glass, or wooden container.

What is the pH of lye?