Using Lye Safely

Pouring Lye Lye is a ingredient in the production of soap. No matter what others may say, there is no way to make soap from scratch without the use of lye. Lye is part of a chemical reaction that converts oils and fats to soap. Lye is also one of the key ingredients in drain openers such as drano and liquid plumber because of its unique ability to transform greasy buildup into a soluable substance. This transformation allows the fat solid to leave the drain and clear the clogged line.

Lye is highly caustic and should always be handled with caution. Like other caustic chemicals such as bleach, drain clear or pool chemical, lye should always be stored in a safe location away from pets and children.

If mishandled, lye can be a dangerous chemical and can cause severe chemical burns. If handled correctly these kinds of problems can be avoided. There is no reason why accidents involving lye cannot be completely avoided.

You can substantially reduce your chances of ever having an accident by following these five rules:

1. Never pour water into lye crystals. Always pour the lye SLOWLY into the water. If you pour water onto lye crystals it can cause a violent reaction.

2. Secondly, be careful not to splash or spill the lye solution.

3. Keep lye out of the reach of children and animals.

4. Wear protective clothing such as long sleeve shirts, long pants, rubber gloves and protective eyewear.

5. Always respect the caustic nature of lye. Use common sense and make deliberate actions when working with lye.

Please read the following safety information regarding lye.

Warning: Keep children and animals away from lye. Lye is very caustic and can cause serious injury or even death if swallowed and can cause blindness if splashed into the eyes. By all means wear long sleeves and be sure to always wear safety goggles. Always keep a large cup of fresh water nearby.

If you should splash some lye or raw soap into your eye, IMMEDIATELY pour large amounts of cool water into your eye continuously for 10 minutes, or longer. Visit your nearest hospital emergency room or call 911.

If you should splash lye or raw soap onto your skin, rinse immediately with a large amount of vinegar or cool water. When working with lye, I always keep a gallon of vinegar handy. For more serious skin burns, seek medical care immediately. If lye is accidently swallowed, do not induce vomiting, call a poison control center or 911 for further instructions, get to emergency fast. It is important to have your lye containers labeled. Again, keep lye away from children and when working with lye keep children away from your work area.