Lesson 2: Getting started with soapmaking
This Lesson will cover safety, soapmaking equipment and supplies, and how to make your own soap molds. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to gather all the equipment you need to begin making soap.
Safety Guidelines
Please review the following important safety guidelines. Lye, or sodium hydroxide, is a powerful alkali and therefore caustic (or corrosive). Lye can be FATAL if swallowed and can cause BLINDNESS if it gets in your eyes. Please follow the safety precautions discussed in the class and use extreme caution when using lye to keep yourself and others safe.
Remember:
- Label all soapmaking containers with “LYE”, “NOT FOR FOOD”, and “SOAPMAKING ONLY” to ensure that no one mistakes your soapmaking equipment for kitchen equipment. I do this with a giant black marker.
- Use all of your soapmaking equipment for soapmaking ONLY. When not in use, store your soapmaking equipment out of reach of children and others who may mistake it for regular kitchen equipment. DO NOT store them in your kitchen.
- Do not make soap with pets and children in the vicinity. Never leave lye unattended or where it can be reached by children.
- Leave yourself enough time to make your soap. If you get interrupted, you may neglect some of these safety guidelines. Soapmking can't be rushed.
- Use safety goggles and rubber gloves throughout the soapmaking process to protect your hands and face. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks and shoes when making soap to further protect your skin.
- Do not lean into the lye solution. Do not breathe in the fumes from the lye solution, they are also caustic and can burn your face and mouth.
- Remember that soap remains caustic throughout the curing process and soap that is not fully cured should be handled with rubber gloves and should be kept out of reach of children and pets and not used on the skin.
- If lye gets onto your skin or in your eyes, follow the first aid instructions listed on the lye container.
Safety should always come first, and not just for yourself, but for all others in your house that may come into contact with lye or uncurred soap. I hope many of you don't read these safety instructions and decide not to go ahead with making your own soap at home. I have been using lye in my home safely for over five years. About three years ago I became a little cavalier in my attitude toward lye - after all the safety goggles and gloves can be very cumbersome - and did get some lye on my wrist. I immediately rinsed the area in cold water, but it left a small red, sensitive burn that took a few weeks to go away. In my opinion, if you are careful, use safety equipment, and respect lye as a caustic agent you will never have to experience a lye burn. I went back to using full safety gear after the incident.
Let's move on to the equipment and supplies you will need to make soap.
