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Sodium Hydroxide
Be Aware and Be Safe!
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), also known as lye, is a caustic substance that must be handled with great care. *NOTE - Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) is just as caustic and it is advised that you practice the following precautions when using it as well.
Please bear in mind, this page is not meant to frighten you away from ever making soap. It is however, meant to give you a greater understanding of the caution and attention that must be given when handling this chemical. Just as you would use caution with moving pots of boiling water in the kitchen, so must you with lye.
I started making soap when my children were still in diapers and we had a dog as well as a cat. Planning makes everything run smoothly and has helped me avoid having any accidents.
- Plan to make your soap during a time when you won't be interrupted.
- Make sure pets and children won't be in the general area.
- Have a water source near in case of spills.
- Mix the lye in a well ventilated area (opening some doors or windows is usually sufficient) and make the soap in the same place so you're not transporting the liquid lye around and increasing the chance of spills.
It's a good idea to wear goggles, rubber gloves, long sleeved shirts and pants when using lye. It can cause blindness and burns if spashed on your skin. Any spills on your skin and eyes should be flushed with water for 30 minutes. Large spills and exposure to eyes will also require medical attention after flushing with water. Swallowing lye will require immediate medical attention. Be sure to read the Medical Safety Data Sheet that comes with your lye or request one from your supplier.
Do not under any circumstance swallow lye as this could be fatal! Keep away from pets and children.
Assuming you're still here reading this and I haven't terrified you, lye can be purchased in pellet or flake form at soap supply stores, chemical supply houses, hardware stores and supermarkets. Supermarkets and hardware stores will have it near the drain cleaners. Do not confuse lye with Draino. Draino contains substances you would not want to put in soap.
Here are a few links to some websites that carry Sodium Hydroxide.
Canada
United States
United Kingdom
Austrailia
Special Note: Always add the lye to the water and NOT the water to the lye. An unpleasant, violent reaction occurs if you do. Kind of like vinegar and baking soda is my understanding.
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