How to Safely Neutralize Lye and Handle Lye Spills While Making Soap (And It's Not With Vinegar)
This article is part 3 of the Farm Girl's Soap Making Safely Series. Check out part 1 and part 2.
One of the more serious things we have to deal with while making hot or cold process soap is the handling of lye. Yes, friend, if you want to make soap from scratch you must use lye (unless you make melt and pour soap, in which case the lye step has already been handled for you.)
I've made soap for years and years, and I've never had any scary experiences with lye. That's not to say I haven't had my share of spills, splatters, and bloops. Soap making can be messy!
I do treat those spills with respect—lye is a strong caustic and can cause serious burns and eye injury.
But if you handle those spills quickly and correctly, you'll have nothing to worry about.
Here are some tips ALL soap makers, both beginners and seasoned, should know.
Always wear your safety goggles during the entire soap making process through cleanup. No exceptions! In my younger days I routinely so…
One of the more serious things we have to deal with while making hot or cold process soap is the handling of lye. Yes, friend, if you want to make soap from scratch you must use lye (unless you make melt and pour soap, in which case the lye step has already been handled for you.)
I've made soap for years and years, and I've never had any scary experiences with lye. That's not to say I haven't had my share of spills, splatters, and bloops. Soap making can be messy!
I do treat those spills with respect—lye is a strong caustic and can cause serious burns and eye injury.
But if you handle those spills quickly and correctly, you'll have nothing to worry about.
Here are some tips ALL soap makers, both beginners and seasoned, should know.
Always wear your safety goggles during the entire soap making process through cleanup. No exceptions! In my younger days I routinely so…
