We are frequently asked if we use lye in our soap. The simple answer is "yes". You cannot actually have a true soap without lye. If it doesn't have lye, it is actually a detergent.
However, since lye is a strong base and can be caustic just like a strong acid, it can be harmful if you do not take proper precautions. But lye is a necessary for any real soap.
 "I am so impressed!! I have super sensitive skin and have wasted so much money trying to find the perfect soap. I’m happy to say I finally found it! This Lavender soap is safe, smells amazing and left my skin feeling soft and clean." - Megan G. |
What is Lye?
You might be thinking about trying your hands at soap making using lye, and that's why you're reading this blog. Also, you might have an idea of how harmful lye is, and you’re wondering how you can make your soap without having to use this ingredient.
But what is lye? Lye is a strongly alkaline component that has been used in the soap-making industry for the longest time. Besides soap-making, it is often used in the cleaning and food manufacturing industries.
 "It took a couple weeks for our clothes to get used to this new natural Laundry Soap, but now our clothes feel softer than before and it's great knowing our kids have cleaner/safer clothes to wear!" - Deb T. |
Generally, lye is a combination of two alkaline compounds made from metals, that is, Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH). Given that they are both metal hydroxides, they have extremely high PH levels.
Their high PH levels make the combination caustic, which means, if you do not handle it correctly, any contact with your skin can cause a chemical reaction that ends up burning the contacted area.
The two compounds are sometimes referred to as caustic soda due to their high water solubility.
How Lye is Made?
Years ago, those who came before us used to make lye by boiling wood ashes. As time went by, some soap makers began to use sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, and calcium oxide to create an alkaline solution.
By using these methods, ancient soap makers used to come up with inconsistent lye whose potency was difficult to measure. This likely made it hard for them to determine the number of fats they needed to add to make safe soap.
 "This Calendula soap has been wonderful for my daughter who has pretty severe eczema. It has hydrated her skin overall, does not dry it out at all and has helped some of the bumps on her skin go away. It’s also all natural and safe so I feel good putting it on her skin!" - Emillie L. |
With further advancement, soap makers started using ordinary salt, which is still being used today. It is obtained following a non-complex process that involves dissolving salt (sodium chloride) in water, where salt crystals settle at the bottom of the container.
Graphite rods are then inserted into the mixture, and electricity is passed through them. Due to the charge in the metal rods, lye crystals attach themselves to their surfaces, and thereafter, the liquid is left to evaporate until only the lye remains.
The obtained lye is now ready for use, depending on what you want to make.
Lye and Soap
As we mentioned above, many people are not sure whether lye is a good component in soap making. Due to its high PH nature, this product can burn your skin if not handled well. However, to come up with the best quality soap, the component is necessary.
 "This Oatmeal Milk & Honey goat milk soap is amazing! My skin and hair is so soft. No need for lotion, at all. Thank you so much for creating safe, natural, and effective soaps for the whole family!" - Laci |
Some of the reasons that make lye a necessary component in soap making include:
- Lye contains highly cleansing properties. Lye contains naturally cleaning properties making it good for handmade soaps
- Lye prevents soap makers from using harsh synthetic chemicals. Anyone can tell you how much they prefer natural components for their health. Given its natural formation process, lye is the best natural way to make soap making it the most preferred option.
- Lye is the only way to make a real soap. Whether bar soap or liquid soap, it is only "soap" if it is made using lye.
Although some detergents are made without using lye, bar soaps or liquid soaps are best when the component is used. By the way, do you know the difference between soap and detergents? Telling them apart helps you understand why soaps need lye while detergents can be good even without it.
Difference Between Soaps and Detergents?
Soaps have been used for ages. Although they function the same way as detergents; for some reason, detergents were invented. One of the reasons was the shortage of animal and vegetable fats during the World Wars.
Soaps are made using natural products that include plant or animal oils. For animals, mainly lard or tallow is used; while for plants, olive oil, sunflower, coconut, soybean, and safflower oils, as well as rice bran, are commonly used.
 "LOVE IT!! Have been searching for awhile for dish soap that is effective, natural and in planet-safe packaging. Dish Washing Goat Milk Soap checks all the boxes, and, as an added bonus, has a great fresh smell." - D.M. |
During the World Wars, animal or vegetable oils were not available. So, soap makers started making detergents that did not necessarily need such products as natural fats or oils.
Another thing that led to the invention of detergents is that some soaps may cause soap scum when used in washing machines, leaving buildups. Detergents do not often cause this issue, but they are frequently made using petroleum chemicals combined with sulfuric acid-based surfactants. Sounds healthy, right?
While lye is necessary for soap making, detergents or cleaning liquids do not require it. For this reason, any soap that does not contain lye is not actually a soap but a detergent. An important point to note is that lye is needed in the soap-making process but, if the soap-making is done correctly, it's not present in the final product.
Is Lye Safe in Goat Milk Soap?
Usually, people have a lot of questions regarding using lye in the making of their soaps. Their concern arises from their fear of the burning nature of these alkaline products when not handled correctly.
If you remember the PH scale from high school chemistry, the lower the number on the scale, the more acidic the substance. On the other hand, products whose PH is on the higher end are strong alkalis.
Strongly basic substances can burn your skin just like acidic ones. Lye is strongly basic, it has a PH of 13-13.5 which is not safe for the skin.
At Goat Milk Stuff, we take a lot of precautions to ensure safety while handling lye.
 "I recently purchased your Purity Goat Milk Soap and I am amazed. My skin feels so soft! Thank you for a safe and natural product I feel great about buying for my family!" - Wenona M. |
Soap is made through a chemical reaction called saponification. In Latin, ‘sapo’ means soap, thus, saponification means soap making. The formation of soap involves a combination of acids and bases. In this case, the acid is the animal/plant fats/oils and the base is lye.
As we said earlier, the early soap makers used to make lye by running water through wood ash. In this method, there was no specific measurement of the lye required for a particular amount of soap. This led to the production of different soap qualities. Sometimes, the soap could be gentle and other times, harsh.
This harshness is the reason people are skeptical about using lye in their soapmaking.
 "This one (Lemongrass Liquid Goat Milk Soap) is great to have in the kitchen. After food prepping, removes food smells from your hands w/o the harshness of commercial soaps." - Shonda G. |
Saponification
In the saponification process, the fats/oils release glycerol, which becomes glycerin, and the hydroxide ions from lye come together to form soap. A perfectly made soap contains balanced amounts of soap and glycerine.
It's an exothermic process, meaning it releases heat, and manufacturers need to consider the scents used to ensure they can stand the heat in the process without losing their strength.
Many companies use water in the making of their soaps. At Goat Milk Stuff, fresh raw goat milk obtained from our dairy goats is used in place of water. With all the health benefits obtained from goat's milk, we use it purely to give you and your skin the best natural soap possible.
 "This (Tea Tree) soap has tremendously helped both my son and my acne. I threw away all my other cleansers. They never made my skin feel like this. You will experience an amazing clean face like no other cleansers can provide." - Abby J. |
When too much milk is added, the soap dissolves quickly, and if too little is added, the benefits of the milk are not attained. Therefore, we have done a lot of testing and found the perfect measurement to ensure our soaps meet all the necessary conditions.
Conclusion
Lye is a necessary component in soapmaking. As much as it's harmful to the skin when mishandled, the product is needed for the soap making process. But remember, if the soap is made properly, it is not present in the end product.
We make sure to use a perfect ratio that balances the ingredients to make you a goat milk soap perfect for your skin’s needs. At Goat Milk Stuff, we have a vast collection of soaps to choose from. From those that could provide a solution from acne and eczema to those for your regular skin routine, we're certain you'll find a wonderful and healthy option for you and your family.