BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Soapmaking Soap pH to high.

My first batch of lye soap has a pH of 10+ after three weeks of aging. Can the batch be saved by melting in some fashon and then re-worked?
Thanks

Hi Neversure;
some people advocate trying to reuse soap that has too much lye. I have found that it is never the same. Either the texture is off or it crumbles. I have a box of soap mistakes like this that I plan to throw out. If the ph of the soap is still high after al this time, I doubt it wil change.
HTH

Hi Neversure,

I don't think you will get a low ph with handmade soaps unless you add something to lower it, it is naturally about 10. I don't test the PH, been soaping for 10+ years now. check to make sure it is not lye heavy, I use the tongue test, heres how, wet finger rub on soap, gently take finger to tip of tongue, now be careful, if it is lye heavy it will make your tongue tingle (we call it zap)it can do this even before it touches the tongue, if there is no zap it is safe to use.

Can I ask if you use a soap calculator to work out the lye for your oils? and do you add extra oil (superfat)to make sure you don't get lye heavy soaps.

I do the taste test too. I rely on it. I won't taste it until it has quit feeling slimy to touch. Once it has a little bit of texture, I think that it is safe to test. When my soap is sweet, it is done.