How to Handle Lye While Making Soap

Whenever the word "lye" is mentioned in regards to making handmade soap, it tends to make some people leary. The dangers of lye should always be respected, but they don't have to feared when you know how to safely handle it.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• safety goggles
• long sleeves
• gloves
• face mask
• accurate scale for weighing
• tall plastic pitcher
• long stainless steel spoon
• well ventilated work space
• vinegar
• access to running water

Safely Handling Lye

1. Put on the necessary personal protection equipment. You will need goggles to keep accidental splashing and fumes from burning your eyes. Long sleeves and gloves will help keep any splashes off your skin. A face mask placed over your mouth will help ensure that you don't accidentally breathe in fumes from the lye.

2. Set up your scale on a surface that is hard, smooth and even. Carefully measure out your water and lye amounts in separate plastic containers. You should have already checked (and double checked) to make sure the needed amounts were accurate.

3. Place your pitcher of water in a sink in a well ventilated area. Open a nearby window to help with ventilation if possible. Slowly pour your lye into the water. Never reverse this process and pour your water into the lye as it will cause a volatile reaction that will be difficult to control. Do not put your face directly over the pitcher while adding the lye. You will be exposed to fumes.

4. Slowly and carefully stir the water and lye together with a stainless steel spoon. You may hear a hissing sound, almost like a teapot that is ready to boil. This is normal. It is the water heating up from the lye. If you carefully feel the side of the pitcher, you will feel the heat that is caused when you combine water and lye. Continue stirring until all the lye is dissolved.

5. If you happen to get lye or the lye mixture on your skin, flush it thoroughly with cool running water. Some people also like to first douse the area with vinegar, as it is said to neutralize the burn from the lye. The vinegar is used in addition to the water flush, not in place of it.

6. Your water and lye mixture is now ready to use for making soap.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a tall pitcher for you mixing helps to keep the fumes more contained, and acts like a chimney.
• Be sure any metal equipment you use is stainless steel. Any other metal will cause a reaction with the lye.
• Once your soap is fully cured, there will be no more lye left in your soap. Your soap will be completely safe to use.
• Keep all lye, including your mixture, away from children and pets. Make sure they can not reach it.
• It is best to keep your personal protective equipment on while mixing up your soap. The lye is still reacting, which means it is still generating heat.
• Never pour your water into your lye! Always pour the lye into the water.