Container for lye

[chrysta]

Hey all!

Im trying to work some weekday soaping into my schedule. I just cant wait for the weekend!! Is there a container you all could recommend where I could store my pre-made lye solution?

Would these containers work?
https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=63269

I just dont want to come home and find my lye has eaten through the container and now I have a scary mess to clean =)

Thank you!!

 

[IrishLass]

Plastics with these recycle codes on the bottom are good for storing lye:

HDPE #2
PP #5

I store mine long-term in a reclaimed liquid laundry detergent bottle with a screw-top lid (made of HDPE #2).

I personally wouldn't consider storing lye solution in any container (even though the right plastic type) if it did not have a screw-top lid that screws down tight, because of possible evaporation issues.....and also because accidents happen, i.e., the container could get bumped or tipped over. A screw-down lid will stay on if the container falls or gets bumped and tips over, but a lid like the one shown in your pics would most likely pop right off.


IrishLass

 

[earlene]

A bucket such as you link to will be very heavy and unwieldy to lift, tilt and pour your pre-made lye. I prefer a bottle that when full of liquid is easy for me to lift, tilt and pour safely (give my personal strength & coordination). Of course you may be much stronger and more coordinated than I, but I cannot manage a 5 gallon water bottle full of only water to replace and empty one on a stand-alone water dispenser without dropping it and getting water all over the floor. So no large bottles of liquid lye for me! I stick to the 32 ounce size containers with a child-proof screw on cap that I can easily lift, tilt and pour from. In my youth I could have managed a larger container, my strength has waned as I aged and may continue to do so, if experience around me is any indication.

As IrishLass said,

HDPE #2
PP #5

are the safest and a screw top lid is essential as well. A fairly narrow pouring area is also important for accuracy of pouring. I also like a smooth rounded lip for pouring, which that bucket may have (not sure), but the pouring area is far to huge for pouring small amounts of lye solution into smaller containers.

 

[jcandleattic]

I do exactly as IrishLass for the same reasons.

 

[amd]

I had been storing mine in a rubbermaid container (the kind made for liquids, so it has a pour spout), but it seemed to be pretty flimsy even though it was the right plastic. I had a few empty 2lb lye containers (from essentials depot) that hadn't been tossed yet and those seem to be more durable. Discovered that they perfectly hold the amount of masterbatch that I make: 26.88 oz each water and lye. The only thing I don't like is that I have to handle the premixed lye twice - once to pour it into the pitcher and mix/dissolve everything properly and again to pour it into the lye container.

 

[chrysta]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Super helpful! Weird question, but is there any concern of the top blowing off with a screw top lid? gases fumes accumulating in the bottle?

 

[cmzaha]

No, the top will not blow off. Just cap it off after the masterbatch lye has cooled. I cover my hot lye with a light cloth until it cools. I use 1-gallon dish detergents that have childproof caps. Also #2 or #5

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Super helpful! Weird question, but is there any concern of the top blowing off with a screw top lid? gases fumes accumulating in the bottle?

I just recently started masterbatching my lye water and haven’t noticed any fumes at all after the initial mixing (which I do outside). I use a small recycled laundry soap container that is #5 plastic and let the mixture cool down before I tighten the lid.

 

[Lin19687]

There are several other threads about this that have good info as well.
most use a #5 container

 

[IrishLass]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Super helpful! Weird question, but is there any concern of the top blowing off with a screw top lid? gases fumes accumulating in the bottle?

Good question, but as the others have said- no- the top won't blow off.


IrishLass

 

[runnerchicki]

I got a couple containers from Dollar Tree that work great. They are a cylindrical plastic canister with a blue screw on top. They are HDPE 5. What I especially like is that the lip that is on the rim makes for a super easy pour - no drips even when measuring out those last few grams. They are a wide mouth so I mix and store in the same jug. I'm planning to eventually put it in an empty laundry detergent bottle and see if I like it better- but I have to empty one first.