Expert: Terry Knorr - 6/24/2006

Question
I started making liquid laundry soap with wood ash. I loved it but my clothes became dirtier, dingy and stained :-( So I started using Red Devil Lye. Results were better (no where near what I was used to with modern store soaps) but we could live with it as long as we spot treated all spills.

Sigh...  

But now I cannot find lye in stores, I read where Red Devil brand was not making it any more.

If I can't find help I'll have to go back to cheep store stuff full of man made chemicals.

Thanks :-D


Answer
Hi Jami!

I've run into the same problem.  There are a number of sources for lye,  Rainbow meadow, for example.  You can do a search online for soapmaking supplies and for sodium hydroxide (lye).  Or, if you don't want to look, you can simply go to rainbowmeadow.com.  You can also look in the phone book for chemical suppliers.  Your local high school might also be able to tell you where to get sodium hydroxide - talk to the chemistry teacher.

I hope this is helpful to you.  If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me again.

Have a great day!
Terry