Make Homemade Soap: How To Handle Lye Safely

Lye, also known as caustic soda is a chemical used when you make homemade soap. It can cause burns if it touches you, clothing and bench tops and it is worse if there is a small amount of dampness or water present. Some people make a very big deal about cautioning people about the dangers of lye.. If you think about it cooks deal with danger every day such as when cooking with oil or taking a roast out of the oven. You take normal precautions for safe and easy use of hazardous products..

The first thing is to make sure that you store lye safely. You can’t just bring it home and leave it on the bench if there is anyone or any animal in the house other than you. If you have children it is safer, even necessary, to have a locked cupboard to store it in. The one thing we know about children is that they can get to cupboards and containers that you thought were impossible to reach. By putting the lye in a locked cupboard you can be free of worry..

Secondly when you come to make your homemade soaps mix lye with the water in a stainless steel or other container (not aluminum) which will cope with the caustic soda and not react with the mixture.

When you mix the lye and water powerful unpleasant fumes are given off. As a result it is important that your work space has a good air flow so you can breathe fresh air as you mix.. If you are working with the usual small quantities then an open window and the kitchen fan operating is usually sufficient. If you are mixing large quantities they mixing it outside is preferable.

Use thick latex gloves and keep paper towels easily accessible in case you spill or splash some of the lye and soap mix. If the worst happens and some of the lye spills or splashes on you then use lots of water to dilute the caustic soda and continue to keep the water on it as you would any other burn. Remember these tips and you can make your own soap at home safely.