I burned myself very badly when I first started making soap. I was wearing sandles, and I spilled a little bit of raw soap on my foot. I didn't notice that it had started to burn me until it was too late. It took several weeks for this to heal, and it hurt like heck.
This picture was taken over a year after the inital burn. The scar is even uglier in real life.
I still believe that although soap making can be a somewhat dangerous hobby that if you handle lye with the respect it deserves, and use a little common sense you won't end up with big, ugly scars like me. Lye is a very dangerous substance. It can blind, or even kill you. Keep it in a safe place, and lable your lye container appropriatly. Do not store it around your food. It is too easy for someone to mistake it for something else and eat it. I have a corner of my kitchen that I keep the lye in. Everyone knows that the lye is kept there and that they need to stay away.
- Always add the lye to the water, never ever add water to lye. When lye and water are mixed together the mixture heats up (to about 200 degrees). I use a heat resistant plastic pitcher to mix my lye water. I do not use glass because of the possibility of shatterting. Be careful.
- Mixing the lye water produces some fumes. I don't think they're that bad, but a lot of people prefer to mix their lye water outside.
- Wear gloves and eye protection while you are making soap. I also suggest long pants and shoes. A lot of people also prefer to wear long sleeved shirts as well. I do not wear long sleeved shirts because I had lye water seep into the cuff of my sweatshirt and burn my wrist.
- Make sure that whatever you are using to make soap in is microwaveable. Anything you use (including utensils) needs to be able to stand up to very high heat for a relativly long period of time.
- When choosing a container to cook your soap in, make sure that it has ample room. This soap really tries to climb out of the pot. I use a 15 quart, heat resistant bucket that I got at a resturant supply company.
- If you get lye in your eye rinse it with cold water, and go to the nearest hospital immediatly.
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If you getlye on your skin wash it off immediatly. Vinegar helps to neutralize the lye as well. I keep a bottle close by when I am making soap.
If you accidently consume lye drink milk or water and get to the nearest emergency room.