First lye accident

[Dharlee]

I wondered about the vinegar. A while back I saw a post from the BB blog where someone had said they'd had a lye accident with a child. The child reached up when the mom turned her back for a second and the lye water fell on him. He was hurt quite a bit but thankfully got better. His eyes were what they worried about most. The EMT knew the woman when he got there and said next time to use vinegar. I guess the reasoning was that the acid would nullify the base in his mind. I bought a jug of vinegar and thankfully never had to use it but since then have heard some folks say not to use it. I guess the ones who say no are correct then? Thank you!

 

[notapantsday]

Well, there's word of mouth and then there are official safety data sheets like this one:

http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924998

The idea of vinegar neutralizing the lye isn't directly wrong, but it's a too complicated solution to a simple problem.

If someone is on fire, you could of course get some ice cubes to neutralize the heat of the fire. Because cold is the opposite of hot. Makes sense, right? Well, it's the same with the lye and the vinegar. Technically correct, but too complicated to be a good solution.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with water, it works fine on its own. As soon as you dilute the lye, it becomes harmless and that's what water does - without causing any damage (as long as it's neither ice cold nor scalding hot).

EMTs often have a ton of practical experience and very good training when it comes to the most common emergencies. But a lye accident doesn't happen all that often and even then, most of the time nobody calls an ambulance. Many EMTs have never actually seen a lye accident. All they can refer to is theoretical knowledge that they may have picked up somewhere during their training - or word of mouth. Even most doctors have little experience with this. That's why large chemical factories have their own EMTs and sometimes doctors who are specifically trained for these accidents. For everyone else, there are material safety data sheets so they can read up on what to do.

 

[snappyllama]

Vinegar does indeed neutralize lye quickly. That reaction also produces A LOT of heat. So if you use vinegar on a lye burn, you stand a very good chance of also thermally burning yourself in addition to the chemical damage you already have. As the other folks posted, there is a reason MSDS always say to rinse with water. Just use cool running water...

Now, you can use a bit of vinegar water on your counter top or floor if you get a spill there. Maybe that's where the confusion comes in? Or maybe it was that scene in Fight Club that really cemented the wrong idea? Either way, the poster you mentioned was irresponsible on two points: 1. Letting a child get anywhere near soap making 2. Not reading the MSDS for a chemical she is using. Not going back and rereading it after an accident is really reprehensible.

Sorry if that's harsh, but I have no patience for people who endanger children through any means including ignorance.

 

[Dharlee]

You're right. I won't let anyone near my lye solution or raw soap when I do it. And yes, I myself should have read that. I am off to read that post that notapantsday posted now. I guess I have been irresponsible not to do so myself. I don't think pets should be near either. I know my dog would probably lap first, and cry second. Nothing is worth that.

 

[shunt2011]

I don't allow my husband or dog in the kitchen when I'm making soap. Too many distractions=disaster in one way or another.

 

[Spice]

No vinegar!!!!!! only running cold water and lots of it.

That's what I learned as well. Don't know where that vinegar idea originated, I've never seen it in any MSDS.

I never use vinegar either to rinse lye, water works as well. I once did an experiment, no I did not put lye on myself, but what I did was used vinegar, when I had to wash my utensils out and the one container that had my soap batter, I was able to wash it out better. It seem as if it diluted the oils and lye. could be just me too.:crazy:

 

[BWsoaps]

This has happened to me, I've been cleaning my mixing bowls out with no gloves and the next day my hands where dry and my cuts where so sore. Lye is bad but not that bad, I would compare it too bleach really, and I've had bleach on my hands more than I care to remember, Hope your ok anyway

 

[mymy]

I've been soaping like a plain warrior. No gloves, no apron, no goggles. (i have them all but kinda lazy to put on). Just need to be extra careful and I always use long stick to stir the lye solution.

 

[gigisiguenza]

I've been soaping like a plain warrior. No gloves, no apron, no goggles. (i have them all but kinda lazy to put on). Just need to be extra careful and I always use long stick to stir the lye solution.

I can't imagine soaping without goggles. All it would take is one small splash or a barely distinguishable splatter to hit the eye and you could have permanent damage. I can see how some, after years of experience, could feel fairly confident that they can go without gloves, but I still don't think it's safe to do so. No matter how confident a person is, an accident can happen, and gloves provide a measure of protection, so I'll always want to wear gloves. And considering how sensitive my skin is, who needs yet another thing to make it itch?

 

[mymy]

Gigi, me too have super-sensitive skin. I just don't like to wear 'em all. The SB is always at the bottom of the pot when I'm running it. Slowly. Haha

 

[Cactuslily]

Speaking of gloves, does anyone know of really small ones? My hands are freakishly small, and they all feel so awkward and floppy on me. When I was a RN, they had to stock extra small sterile gloves for me, but that's really expensive for soaping.

 

[kchaystack]

Speaking of gloves, does anyone know of really small ones? My hands are freakishly small, and they all feel so awkward and floppy on me. When I was a RN, they had to stock extra small sterile gloves for me, but that's really expensive for soaping.

Here are some I found on Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O0W94TM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

box of 100 lasted me almost 8 months.

 

[cgpeanut]

Gigi, me too have super-sensitive skin. I just don't like to wear 'em all. The SB is always at the bottom of the pot when I'm running it. Slowly. Haha

You can try to rationalize it all you want. Safety first. IMO you are being reckless. What you do in your own soaping room is your business but to come on this board and flaunt your lack of safety is not "cool" in my book.

 

[mymy]

Relax, I know it's not right at all. I'm not stressing people to not use proper personal protective equipments. I'm just stating that I'm being uncomfortable to wear them. My major is in Occupational Safety and Health and I've witnessed extreme damage compared to lye accident. It's just my preference.

 

[Saintlysoaper]

Relax, I know it's not right at all. I'm not stressing people to not use proper personal protective equipments. I'm just stating that I'm being uncomfortable to wear them. My major is in Occupational Safety and Health and I've witnessed extreme damage compared to lye accident. It's just my preference.

I have to say mymy PLEASE at least wear the goggles. I had my accident a few months ago now while I was hand stirring some freshly mixed HP soap batter. I had taken off my goggles to leave the room but for some reason I just went back to move the batter to check it wasn't sticking at the bottom. What happened next made no sense and I would never have expected it but a blob of batter flew up and went straight into my eye. I was in the emergency department till gone midnight and trust me having your eye flushed with a full litre of saline burns like hell! That was after I had flushed it thoroughly with water at home because they were struggling to get the pH of my eye back to normal. Then I had to attend the eye clinic the next morning as the dye they used showed damage on the surface of my eye.

Eventually it all healed up okay, but honestly, the panic I went through and the shame I felt for being so blasé and stupid was not fun:sad:

Just wear the goggles if nothing else ( but the other bits would be good too!)

 

[cmzaha]

While I do always wear gloves, I do not wear goggles but do wear glasses, maybe that is not great, but better than nothing, I just cannot tolerate goggles over glasses. I do not wear long sleeves or aprons or enclosed shoes. Like mymy stated it is my preference and I am not telling people they should or should not suit up, it is personal preference. If I have an accident it is solely my responsibility or irresponsibility and will have to deal with the results. As for gloves I find them totally useless if they do not fit properly. The only time I spilled lye was when I was wearing a pair of nitrile gloves that I use for dishes. Now I will only wear the medical nitrile gloves since they fit tight. I also know safety guidelines well and what happens when they are not followed. We had a couple of employees lose finger tips because they refused to use the supplied safety equipment when using saws. As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but cannot make it drink."

 

[notapantsday]

If you don't like goggles over glasses, a face shield might be another alternative. You can get them for about $15 on Amazon.

 

[mymy]

Saintlysoaper - sorry to hear about your lye accident. Like Carolyn, I always have my spectacles on, just not goggles though. Gloves are also occasionally worn. I just make sure that I do all of the processes beside a water source like a sink. I'm not encouraging others to follow my steps, wearing PPE is always the best.

 

[seven]

Like shunt2011 i also like to be alone in my soaping room. I found it hard to concentrate if someone is there asking me what i'm making this and that. I got my 1st lye volcano a few days back. Dunno what i was thinking, i put honey in stinking hot lye solution. As soon as i started mixing, it bubbled up

 

[shunt2011]

I'm going to be another rebel, I soap like Carolyn. The only time I've ever had a soaping issues is wearing gloves. I didn't know I had soap on the side of a glove and I rubbed my itchy nose, next thing I knew it was itching more and I ended up with a burn between my nostrils and the tip of my nose. It was quite the look for awhile. I am extremely careful. I do wear gloves and my glasses. I can stand goggles or a shield as they steam up and are extremely hampering of my process.

Safety is important, however, sometimes the safety items can actually cause more issues.