Soap Making 101 - 2

Lesson 2 - Lye Safety

Because soap making can be dangerous if not handled carefully, a little caution needs to be addressed.

Caution! – Lye Safety

• Soap making is not recommended for children because of the potential danger that lye poses.
  
• Carefully read the warning label on the lye bottle. Lye is also known as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide)
  
• Use only pure lye granules — do not make the mistake of substituting drain cleaner. It contains other ingredients that you would not want in your soap.
  
• Be sure to keep the lid tight on the bottle of lye. Moisture in the air will weaken its strength and cause it to form lumps.
  
• Lye can be fatal if swallowed.
  
• Always wear rubber gloves and protective clothing, such as a long sleeved shirt and shielding eye wear when working with lye. No opened toed shoes.
  
• Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. Vapors released from the lye when it is first mixed with water are quite noxious, and can greatly irritate the lungs.
  
• Always have a bottle of vinegar close at hand. Vinegar will help neutralize the lye/water mixture if it happens to splatter on your skin.
  
• Lye can remove paint, so be careful not to let it come in contact with any painted surfaces. If lye, lye/water or even freshly made soap splatters on any painted surface, wash the area quickly with water and detergent. Rinse with clear water and wipe dry.
  
• Freshly made soap can burn and irritate the skin, therefore it’s best not to handle soap with bare hands for at least 48 hours. If your skin does come into contact with fresh soap, rinse your skin with vinegar immediately, then rinse with running water.
  
• Do not use any containers made of tin, zinc or aluminum. Lye will react with them.
  Recommended containers for mixing your soap include glass, plastic, stainless steel, enamel, and heat proof stoneware.