Pure-n-Simple Soap

Lye is the chemical reaction between soda (sodium carbonate) and calcium hydroxide.  It is one of the most important ingredients in not only handmade soaps, but all soaps.  Chemical suppliers supply Lye to manufacturers for a variety of products such as, metal polishes, drain de-cloggers and pool cleaning supplies, fabrics, laundry detergents and soaps.  You want to be sure that when using Lye for soap making that you only use Lye that is 100% Lye or sodium hydroxide, others will have added ingredients that are unwanted in soap making.

Traditionally Lye was leached from hardwood ashes.  Back in the day household soap makers would keep a wooden bin outside to dump the ashes from there stove in.  When it came time to make soap they would pour water through the ashes and siphon off the liquid Lye.  This had to be done very carefully, too much Lye could burn and irritate the skin, and too little would prevent the soap from hardening.  Many hours would be spent over an open fire, stirring this mixture of lard, Lye and water until the saponification was complete.

Today soap makers have perfected the Lye levels in handmade soap making, producing much milder soaps than what one might have experienced a century ago.  Safety when handling lye is still an absolute must when making soap.  You should always wear rubber gloves, long sleeve shirts and eye protection during the Lye stage of soap making, and be in a well ventilated area preferably outside.  Lye can cause serious burns, blindness and permanent scarring.  When water is added to Lye the temperature will rise quickly to temperatures above boiling.

Most folks become a bit fearful of Lye soaps after learning how harmful Lye can be, however the good news is that once the soap is made Lye no longer remains.  This process of transformation occurs during saponification, which is the mixing of water, Lye, and fats or oils.  When a strong Alkali is mixed with oils or fats it produces soap and glycerin.  So no worries! Just remember that if you are making soap to respect the lye and follow all safety precautions before saponifiaction.  Once this chemical reaction is complete it can be safely handled.