Can't find lye anymore

[David Young]

Local stores don't seem to carry lye anymore. (Southern Calif.)
Anyone know where to get it for cleaning?

[Sandy Glenn]

Welcome to WAGS, David.  I've found Roebic Crystal Drain Opener at Lowe's.  It's 100% sodium hydroxide (lye).  If you had been buying Red Devil, I understand it's no longer available anywhere.

[Steve_Stephens]

Rooto drain opener also has an all lye drain opener.  Do a Google search for it.

Steve

[John Knapp]

Pure Lye is available from:
Texas Herbal Body Solutions
866-975-9753...ask for Hollie
I ordered 40 pounds and it came to about $2.00 per pound.
John

[Tom Penkava]

Rooto drain opener also has an all lye drain opener.  Do a Google search for it.

Steve

Ace Hardware usually has the Rooto drain cleaner.
Tom

[Steve_Stephens]

Two local supermarket chains here carry pure lye crystal Drano in 18 oz. cans for less than $6.  It should be available nationally I would think.  Though I haven't opened a can the label only mentions sodium hydroxide (lye) so I would expect it to be pure lye.

http://www.drano.com/clogged-kitchen-drain/

[size=18]PS:  My information here is not accurate.   I just got off the phone with Drano and he confirmed that Drano Lye Crystals have more than lye in them.   See post below.  I would recommend hightly that one does NOT use Drano Crystals for cleaning iron.  The other ingredients could be harmful in some way.[/size]

Steve

[livens]

Two local supermarket chains here carry pure lye crystal Drano in 18 oz. cans for less than $6.  It should be available nationally I would think.  Though I haven't opened a can the label only mentions sodium hydroxide (lye) so I would expect it to be pure lye.

http://www.drano.com/clogged-kitchen-drain/

Steve

I also purchased a bottle of the Drano Crystals, but it is not pure lye. Here is a quote from the MSDS on it:

(http://www.scjohnson.com/msds_us_ca/US_brands/drano/126018001_Drano_Crystal_Clog_Remover.pdf)

(%'s by weight)
Aluminim Flakes: 1 - 5 %
Sodium Chloride: 7 - 13%
Sodium Nitrate: 15 - 40%
Sodium Hydroxide: 30 - 60%

They do not have a MSDS listed for that particular one, the Kitchen Crystals, but I would bet its the same stuff.

I used it anyway and it still worked pretty well. I dont think any of the other ingredients are harmfull to the iron... but not sure if they offer any benifit either.

I did find Roebic's Heavy Duty Crystal Drain Opener at Lowes for a similar price and its 100% lye.

[Steve_Stephens]

[size=18]Thanks Jeremy, your information is correct and mine was not.   I phoned Drano and asked about their current Drano Crystals.  Though the can mentions only sodium hydroxide the product does contain other ingredients and I would recommend that people do NOT use that product for cleaning iron cookware.  The MSDS data sheet is pretty interesting.

Steve[/size]

[Shearylon]

Ace Hardware here in NC has lye. I bought a case :D ;D

[Carolyn Shlafer]

David --

I found it online at this website:

http://www.aaa-chemicals.com/?gclid=CMyK69Xwlo4CFQwfYAod2jiIVg

[mprivat]

Hi,

I may have a dumb question here, but how do I dispose of the lye solution once I'm done with it?

[Sandy Glenn]

Hi,
I may have a dumb question here, but how do I dispose of the lye solution once I'm done with it?

Not a dumb question at all.  Just pour it down the drain.  It is a drain cleaner and your drain will love you for it.  I'd pour it through a sieve/strainer to catch any sediment.  BTW, welcome to WAGS.

[mprivat]

Thanks!  I said the same thing to my husband, but he was worried.

[maloney108]

Hi,
I may have a dumb question here, but how do I dispose of the lye solution once I'm done with it?

Not a dumb question at all.  Just pour it down the drain.  It is a drain cleaner and your drain will love you for it.  I'd pour it through a sieve/strainer to catch any sediment.  BTW, welcome to WAGS.

Shame on you, Sandy, the correct response is: "Since you already have it prepared, you might as well go find more dirty pans to "rescue" and bring home!"   ;)

[mprivat]

HA HA HA!  I better start looking!!!  For as long as it's taken me to get my griddle seasoned right (still in progress), my husband would say otherwise.   ;)

[Sandy Glenn]

Shame on you, Sandy, the correct response is: "Since you already have it prepared, you might as well go find more dirty pans to "rescue" and bring home!"   ;)

You're right Jim... my bad  :-[  
Monica, as a side note if you dispose of your lye solution, wear safety glasses, long sleeves and rubber gloves to protect yourself against any backsplash.  I have a lot of respect for lye.  

[billz]

Hi,
I may have a dumb question here, but how do I dispose of the lye solution once I'm done with it?

Not a dumb question at all.  Just pour it down the drain.  It is a drain cleaner and your drain will love you for it.  I'd pour it through a sieve/strainer to catch any sediment.  BTW, welcome to WAGS.

Just one caveat to that advice - you probably don't want to put it down the drain if you're on a septic system - it could kill the bacteria and enzymes that break things down and cause your system to back up...

[Scott Sanders]

Just as a thought in regards to the septic systems.....since lye is a caustic substance, is there anything you can add to the lye solution to neutralize it to where it is not harmful anymore??? If so, what and how much???  I know you have to be careful what you mix with a lye solution because of chemical reactions and poisonous gases.  If it is neutralized, couldn't you just pour it in the dirt??

Scott......in blazing So. Calif.

[maloney108]

Lye is a really strong base, but not a very poisonous substance at all.  Once it's nuetralized, it's pretty much gone.  You neutralize it with acid. VERY CAREFULLY!  It'll get hot just like when you mix it.  Acids that are cheap are white vinegar and muriatic acid (Hydrochloric acid), which you can get at hardware stores.  You'll need a couple gallons of vinegar, I guess, but one bottle of muriatic acid will probably do the trick.  It's a very vigorous reaction, and you could actually make it boil if you go too fast.  I'd do it in small portions and add the acid to the lye (dilute the muriatic 3:1 or so if it's concentrated, once again, add the acid to the water not vica versa).  There are no poisonous gases to worry about

You'll also need an idea of when the lye is neutralized.  You can find pH indicator strips on the web, but you can also make a cheap and fun indicator with red cabbage:

http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa012803a.htm

This is not safe to do unless you make it safe!  Try a small batch first to get to know what you're in for and wear protection - especially eye protection - a full face shield is a really good idea.  I'd also advise you to have a batch of ice around in case it starts to get too hot. Do it outdside if you can since a little spill on the ground will not cause permanent harm.  

Once it's neutralized, it's only salt water (if you use muriatic acid) so it should be safe to put down the drain.  It becomes sodium acetate with vinegar and I'm not sure if this affects septic systems, but I doubt it, it might even be beneficial to the bacteria.  It's not poisonous.  You could pour it out in the dirt, but the salt concentration could kill grass or plants.

Scott, I'll say a prayer for you and your fellow So Cal's.  I lived near San Bernadino and I've seen what the Santa Ana wind can do.  Be safe!

[Scott Sanders]

Thanks for the information on neutralizing a lye solution....it sounds like a science project.  Also, thanks for the thoughts and concerns during this fire season we are having.  Last night we could see three, possibly four different fires burning to the west of us and to the south of us.  San Bernadino county is having it's share of fire problems also with all the fires up around Lake Arrohead and Big Bear/Fawnskin.  I think it was last year when the fires came right down the mountains into the homes at the base of the mountains and destroyed a lot of the homes in the neighborhoods.  We have a small, undeveloped lot up in Crestline, with a lot of tall trees on it and around it.  So far, the fires have not hit Crestline, but it is close......I think Blue Jay has been hit, but I haven't heard how bad.  Anyway, thanks for the info and the thoughts and prayers.

Scott