The benefits you gain from making homemade soap is extremely incredible, that has been mentioned a million times, but there is one thing that you need to take into consideration whenever you take on a homemade lye soap project. One of the main ingredients used to make homemade lye soap is, you got it, lye. Also known as Caustic Soda and Sofium Hydroxide it is a chemical you might be more familiar with than you think as it is also used a drain cleaner. So, what you probably could figure out just from reading this little introduction Lye is a caustic chemical and does require safety precautions when being used for whatever reason.
I can see a couple of people backing up as they are reading this. Don’t worry, thousands of people make homemade lye soap every day without mishaps. Treat lye with the respect it deserves as a dangerous chemical, follow the proper safety precautions, take care and you could have endless fun in creating and designing your very own soap. Remember to read the manafacturer’s notes for any chemicals that you use and do a bit of research on your own. Here are a few basic safety instructions to ensure that your soap making process is a fun and rewarding experience. These tips however do not overrule any proper safety instructions of a professional, medical practitioner or manufacturer’s notes. Work carefully and you will have all the fun in the world.
Safety First:
* If any Lye comes into contact with your skin you should immediately rinse it with vinegar and then with cold water.
* Always make sure that the room is adequately ventilated.
* Always wear eye protection goggles (The goggles should preferrably seal eyes in the same manner as swimming goggles would).
* Always use chemical-resistant gloves.
* DO NOT SWALLOW. Lye can be fatal if swallowed. If ingested do not induce vomiting. Go to the emergency room immediately!
* Keep Lye and any essential oils out of reach of children. Keep it in a locked cabinet and NEVER leave it unattended for one second once you start using it.
* Lye has very strong fumes, so ALWAYS wear a safety mask that covers your mouth and nose.
* Wear an chemical resistant or rubber apron when working with Lye to protect your skin and your clothes.
* If Lye spills on your counter tops you should immediately wash it off, because it can remove paint and varnishes.
* ALWAYS KEEP AWAY FROM PETS, CHILDREN and anyone else NOT COMPETENT to work with Lye.
Containers:
* Always keep your Lye in an air tight container.
* Use safe containers like glass, enamel, plastic and stainless steel.
When using Lye always make sure that you are well versed in the safety precautions. If anything happens you need to act quickly so take the time to prepare properly! Have a bottle of vinegar on standby and work close to a water tap. Know where you keep your emergency numbers, in fact, paste your emergency numbers next to your telephone. Don’t be shy to ask for advice or help from medical professionals, your doctor just might have some elixer of sorts tailor made for lye accidents. Safety comes first, then all the fun will follow especially if you are making your very own Homemade Lye Soap.
