"Old Fashioned Lye Soap"

[kssoaper]

I have made this soap many times through the years using just plain old lard and lye, but it ALWAYS goes bad, gets the dreaded orange spots. I think I've tried no lye discount, to a 5% discount and get the same results....is it something anyone else runs into or is it just me?? I have people asking for it, but I hesitate to make it because of my spot problem!

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Judy

[Candybee]

I've only made lard and coconut oil at 50/50% for laundry soap. Have a batch thats a year old and no DOS. Haven't tried 100% lard.

Is there any way to extend the shelf life of lard?

[kssoaper]

Huh, just did a Google search and it looks like the general opinion is lard is good 'on the shelf' 4-6 months.... I want the 'Lye Soap' for poison ivy and laundry stains... but it goes bad on me so quick (

[chuck_35550]

Try using Rosemary extract (Rosemary Oleoresin) and vitamin E, as well as lowering your superfat. Today's lard is hydrogenated and there shouldn't be an issue of rancidity. I have some lard bars that are quite old and no sign of dos. My brother makes pure lard soap and never has dos issues that I know about. Do you render your own lard by any chance? Leaf lard is the best but it is very expensive and hard to locate. HTH

Steve

[Candybee]

So you add the rosemary oleoresin to the melted lard just before you add your lye water? I can't see how else you would add it.

I generally use the lard that comes in the big tub from Walmart. It makes great soap!

[kssoaper]

I use the Manteca (sp?) brand, in the green and white bucket...I don't have any ROE or Vit. E, dang it....does anyone make this soap with 0% superfat? Doesn't it come out brittle with no superfat? (Impossible to cut)..

[cmzaha]

I have used Manteca brand with no problems. I do not add ROE to my lard soaps. I always soap at 0-3% superfat and have no problems with brittleness.