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Locating lye and safety precautions
Look where drain cleaners are sold and buy 100% lye (Red Devil is one brand). Don't bother
looking at liquid drain cleaners and don't try Draino (it contains metal). Of all
soapmaking supplies, it seems that lye is the most unfamiliar to new soap-makers and they
don't know where to buy it. New soap-makers are also afraid they will buy the "wrong
kind of lye."
Most good soap recipes list lye by weight for accuracy. Lye in granular form (drain
cleaner) measures differently than lye in flake form (the form of lye from laboratory
chemical suppliers, pool chemical suppliers, etc).
Scales are a necessary part of successful soapmaking and allows you to use any type of
lye. Lye can be nasty if handled improperly. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is also known as
caustic soda.
Keep lye tightly capped.
Upon opening a container of lye, the lye crystals absorb water from the air, which can
weaken the strength of the lye and cause it to form a solid lump. When not in use, keep
lye closely capped.
Lye reacts with some metals: aluminium, zinc, and tin. Safe containers include heatproof
stoneware, glass, enamel, stainless steel and plastic.
Lye can remove paint.
If lye, lye/water or freshly-made soap splatters onto a painted surface, wipe it off
immediately. Wash the area with water and detergent; wash it with clear water, then wipe
it dry. Use old rags, because lye weakens cloth fibre.
Lye, lye/water and freshly-made soap can burn and irritate skin. You'll notice itching
before burning. Lye/water on skin is first noticed by a slippery feeling. Rinse your hands
with vinegar and immediately rinse them with running water.
Since lye can burn skin, you can imagine what it does to eyes! Always wear eye protection!
Wear sunglasses if you have to!
Lye can be fatal if swallowed.
If you have small children, keep lye (and essential oils) in a locked cabinet. Lye/water
sitting at the edge of a counter can easily be reached by children and even swallowed.
Drinking lye/water is like drinking liquid fire. If someone ingests lye/water, do not
induce vomiting or otherwise try to treat them. Take them to an emergency room
immediately.
Fumes from lye/water.
Some people are extremely sensitive to fumes that come from the lye/water. Fumes also come
from the stirring container. Fumes from small batches (1 pound) usually isn't enough to
cause a problem.
Be aware than larger amounts of lye (larger batches of soap) create more fumes. With
prolonged contact, fumes can burn the eyes and skin of sensitive people. If you make soap
in large amounts and afterward feel as if your face is "sun burned," chances are
it was caused by fumes.
Thousands of people make soap without mishap. In order to do so, you must be aware of all
safety hazards. Children, pets and feeble-minded people should not be in the soapmaking
area or have access to stored soapmaking ingredients, especially lye and essential oil.
Saponification Chart
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