Irrational Fear? :)

[SoapyQueenBee]

I've been using M&P bases for a long time, and I'd like to try to make soap completely from scratch. I've done tons of homework, and have watched a zillion threads here on potential issues, etc. I'm set on CP being my method.
My problem: I'm afraid of raw lye. Go figure, I know! Many are, I realize, but I like to think I'm a fairly logical sort, and it seems silly to me that I'm afraid of it to the point where I've been putting off doing this for months!
I keep telling myself to just dive in, and then determine my comfort level with it, once I've worked with it. So far, my all or nothing pep talks have led to the vast and unproductive 'nowhere.'
Anyone want to share how they got over a fear of working with lye the first time? I'd really appreciate the personal experiences, as I don't want to be offering only M&P artisan bars forever.
(I'm sure this is a challenge to read: I need more coffee!)

 

[Neve]

Huh. It's in little granules so I'm not scared of it at all. Although the first time I made soap the hubby tried to 'help' and the lye ended up all over the kitchen!

Now he is banned while I am making soap...

 

[Neve]

To be fair though, I've done a ton of chemistry at university. Just wear gloves and safety glasses and don't spill it.

 

[Seawolfe]

1) Its not plutonium
2) People have worked with lye since they figured out how to leach water through ashes.
3) Lye is used in FOOD preparation! Bagels, hominy, pretzels etc.. The Aztecs and Mayans used alkali wood ash to support entire ancient civilizations on corn with nixtamalization
4) if you follow basic safety precautions (gloves, goggles, sleeves, ventilation etc..) and keep the kids, hubby. pets out of the way - there is nothing horrible that can happen. The worst that can happen is a spill or a splash, and you can clean that up with a lot of water and maybe a little vinegar.
5) Make it easy on yourself, have everything in place before you mix your lye. I work on a big plastic tray so any spills could be contained.

Its kind of like driving, driving can be scary! Unless you start driving all the time and then its meh

 

[Nevada]

Practice your procedure with salt. Military teaches repetition - practice untill you get it right without thinking too hard. Muscle Memory

 

[jules92207]

^^^that is a good idea. I got over my fear by watching someone else do it a few times. Then it was really scary the first half a dozen batches. After a while you begin to relax with it a bit but I think a slight fear has also kept me very careful, which has worked to my benefit.

 

[Candybee]

I was the same way. Made M&P for years but really wanted to make CP soap from scratch. M&P is nice but you never, never, have complete control of what goes into your soap.

So I stayed in limbo for months. Just like you afraid to take the plunge. I was already prepared with lots of info and read all the safety literature on handling lye. I had my gloves, safety goggles, old long sleeved shirt and pants, and even a respirator. Still kept delaying for fear.

Then someone reminded me that its the same stuff that has been used to clean toilets. Now I have cleaned a lot of toilets and used a lot of caustic cleaners including lye to clean them. That did it for me. If I can clean a toilet using a caustic cleaner I can certainly handle making soap.

So I made my first batch with no problems other than I was a bit nervous and had to sit down and breathe for a few minutes after I finished. I never got nervous again after that and been making soap ever since.

Just go over the safety rules of handling lye before you begin. Make sure you have everything ready to go. You don't want to be running around looking for something once you start. Just focus and practice safety and you should be fine.

 

[lenarenee]

I was afraid for 20 years!! What helped me was going over the procedure after having all of the supplies/materials set up in the kitchen. That way I could envision how to handle a lye spill, and try to identify any pitfalls....like the stick blender cord being too short to comfortably use.

I also have this book what lays out step by step how to make soap. I had it open right beside me so if I felt insecure about something, I could get a quick visual (without having to take the time to read). I'd be happy to send it to you if you'd think it would help. I don't need it any more. It came from Amazon, entitled Basic Soapmaking. It's a ring binder...so it stays flat. Let me know!

Trust me, it's worth fighting through the fear!

 

[wetshavingproducts]

It's really only at it's most caustic when you mix the lye water. Once it's added to the rest of the ingredients, the amount of lye is diluted even further.

In it's storage state, it's water free and in pellets/flakes (or it should be). You'd have to mix a pellet/flake with water to get anything worse than slight skin irritation.

It's not really that much different than bleach, drain cleaner, etc etc etc.

Just don't eat it and you'll live.

 

[SparksnFlash]

Everything that everyone here has said. While I don't have a "fear" of lye, I have a lot of respect for it, and give it a wide berth. In addition to all of the above from others I: Make sure I have extra time so I don't feel rushed or anxious; mix the lye water outside; mix in an over-large container to prevent any sloshing; make certain my path is wide and clear; have 1 specific spot for it when I bring it in (at the last possible moment) to mix; wear good shoes so I can walk comfortably without tripping over myself; put animals in a separate room (they already know when I bring out the 2qt pyrex they are getting locked up for a bit); always have vinegar at the ready.

I follow my same safety procedure each and every time, and have since I started years ago. Hmm, after re-reading this I may be a bit more paranoid than I thought, but still won't change my routine.

 

[Susie]

Practice your procedure with salt. Military teaches repetition - practice untill you get it right without thinking too hard. Muscle Memory

This is brilliant! I am going to go one further and tell you to intentionally spill that salt about half a dozen times and practice cleaning it up. If you are going to practice muscle memory stuff, go for worst case scenario.

I use the dry Swiffer cloth thingies that goes on the "broom" thing to pick up the last of the granules if I spill. They just hold onto the granules better than anything else I have found.

 

[OliveOil2]

I don't think your fear is irrational. but lye isn't dangerous if handled safely. You just need to respect the danger lye poses, and as said above wear gloves, safety goggles, shoes, etc. I mix the lye in the sink just in case there are any problems, use a good container either plastic with a 5 inside a triangle, or stainless steel, don't use pryrex to mix the lye. I also like to mix the lye and oils close to where I mix the lye water, to avoid carrying the lye further than necessary. I also agree watch reliable y tube like soaping 101, if you see that often enough you won't be afraid. I also think keeping your first batch simple will cause less anxiety.

 

[SoapyQueenBee]

Lenarenee - you're so sweet! Thank you, for such a wonderful offer, I really appreciate it!


Thank you all for the reassurance and more to think about! I like the muscle memory strategy, I'm sure to use that one more than a few times.
I've definitely handled more than my share of caustic cleaners, through the years, so I truly have no idea why lye gives me fits lol. I'm going to spill, spill, and then re-spill some salt this weekend and hopefully be comfortable enough to try the real thing in the next week or so. I'm definitely not one to rush, so when I feel I'm ready and jump in, I'll be sure to share my results. I have my great-grandmother's most basic recipe, so that will be the first go.
Looking forward to teaching my 17yo all about the zap test, too...hehe. I'm such a mean mum!

 

[lenarenee]

Hooray and good for you! After you do your first batch and conquer that fear, please come back and tell us how you feel!! (maybe consider cutting a really thin slice of the first soap to frame and hang on the wall!

 

[SparksnFlash]

Yes, please let us know how it goes. Looking forward to seeing a pic of your first CP. Good Luck

 

[LunaSkye]

Safety goggles, a mask, and gloves! I felt secure when I put those on (I also had on a long sleeve shirt which I also needed) and took the leap into soap-making. Whenever you do decide to CP, just remember the golden rules: ALWAYS put on safety gear (especially goggles) & NEVER add water to lye or oil to lye water.

 

[cerelife]

I used to be terrified of lye, too!! And my husband kept telling me (like someone else said here) "It's not plutonium for heavens sake - they clean drains with the stuff!" - but I was still scared of it.
The first time I made soap I was so nervous that I sat down and cried for 10 minutes when I was done :roll:
If a dork like me can get over, you will too!!
It does make me more comfortable to have everything out and in place before I start soaping, and I mix my lye water in nice deep Rubbermaid pitchers in one side of the sink and I have my soap bucket in the other side. That way I'm not carrying the lye water around, and if I spill/splash the lye or raw soap, it's confined to the sink.
Good Luck and keep us posted!

 

[Jeanea]

I studied soap making for over a year or so, why because I was afraid of lye. For me mp was taking the easy road so I was stuck with my fear. After kicking myself for spending the money buying what I needed, I finally dove in. The fear is still there after soaping all this time, but I deal with it better.

 

[cmzaha]

Respect the lye and go for it! My biggest suggestion is have your are well ventilated when mixing your lye and leave it in the sink to cool. I do not mix outside and carry it into my soaping room, the more you carry it around the more chance of a mishap.

 

[navigator9]

I think a slightly irrational fear of lye may be a good thing in disguise. I think it keeps many of us studying soap making for a very long time before we actually try it. Think of all we know before we even make our first bar! But eventually we get to the point where we have to take the leap. For me, it helped to have everything planned out. I did it all in my head before I actually did it. Did you ever watch some of the Olympians before they compete....when they close their eyes and kind of move their bodies back and forth like they're actually swimming, or going over the pole vault, or whatever? That was me! I'd lie in bed at night and go over all the steps from start to finish...... measure the water, measure the lye, hold my breath, slowly pour the lye into the water while stirring, stir til I can't hold my breath any longer.....all the way til I poured the soap into the mold. This took a lot of the uncertainty out of the whole thing for me. I also had my book by my side. And my recipe taped to the kitchen cabinet door. Oh yeah, I was prepared all right! lol But it got me over the hump. It's like when you first learned to tie your shoes and you had to think okay, make a loop, then wrap the other one around it, etc. and now when you tie your shoes, you don't even think about how you do it. Really, some day you will look back and wonder what scared you so much. I have a picture of that first batch, made in a milk carton, no color or fragrance, so creamy and wonderful. That success gave me a lot of confidence. I would highly recommend a very simple recipe for your first time. So take the plunge. Just think, you have a whole team of cheerleaders standing on the sidelines cheering you on! You can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!