NATURAL SOAP MAKING WORKSHOP (PART 2)
A word about lye
Lye is extremely dangerous and can be temperamental. The first time you think you don't need to use your safety equipment will be the day Murphy comes back from vacation and passes judgement on you for tempting his law.
If you are mixing your lye inside or on a surface you care about, cover it with newspaper. Lye will eat through wood and Formica leaving ugly indention and discolored areas.
Make absolutely sure that you label the jar, or measuring cup, you are working you lye in. This will avoid anyone seeing it and thinking that it might be a nice drink. I have read a number of letters from people who have inadvertently sent their spouse or child to the hospital from drinking or being splattered with a lye solution. Lye is not something to fool around with.
Always, and I cannot stress this enough, always put the lye INTO the water.
NEVER, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PUT THE WATER INTO THE LYE.
This will cause a violent volcanic eruption of lye water from whatever container you are using. This WILL result in major chemical burns and a trip to the emergency room. I don't think I can repeat this enough: ONLY PUT THE LYE INTO THE WATER AND MARK ALL OF YOUR CONTAINERS THAT YOU STORE YOU LYE IN.
When you mix the lye, a chemical reaction occurs. The water heats up to around 210 degrees and produces a caustic steam. Avoid all contact with this steam. Do not breathe this in. If you are tempted to sniff it, don't. I can tell you it smells like boiling water. I can also tell you from experience that it can and will, if it has a chance, burn your lungs and throat. I mix my water and lye outside near my flag so I know exactly which way the wind is blowing so I can stay down wind of the fumes. The first time I mixed the lye and water, I was inside and didn't know what to expect. I will never mix this solution inside again.
Do not reuse anything that you have mixed lye with if it is wooden or porous. I have a large Rubbermaid container that I use specifically to mix my lye/water solution in. It is a heat resistant, tall, pitcher pours easily when I transfer it to the fats. I do not use it for any other purpose. I know that some people do reuse their containers for drinks, but I feel it is MUCH easier to label it and put it away.
Scared yet? Don’t be. If you do have the unfortunate experience of getting lye on you, that is where your apple cider vinegar comes in. Vinegar neutralizes the lye. Once you have put the vinegar on, you want to wash the area with soap and water.
If you use all the precautions, it is actually pretty safe to make your own soap.
Continue on to Part 3
