Making lye soap is not difficult or dangerous, and you can do it at home pretty simply.
Lye also goes by NaOH, or Sodium Hydroxide, also called caustic soda. It’s used as a component in making soap. It can be made at home easily.
You need soft water to start to set out. Get some distilled water or set out a rain barrel and collect a couple gallons of rain water.
Next, try to find a local brewer’s supply house and purchase a wooden barrel and a cork that is about 3 inches long.
The barrel can be cask-sized or even as high as your waist.
Next, take the barrel home and drill a hole in it about 2 inches above the bottom.
Since lye is very caustic and dangerous, find a place that it will be left undisturbed. Place the barrel on a bunch of bricks so that you can drain the lye from the barrel when it is resting on top of the bricks.
You’ll then need to gather tree branches, logs, oak, ash, or fruitwoods because the best lye is constituted from hardwoods. Don’t use evergreens. Palm leaves are also a possibility. Burn it outside in a pile or put it in your fireplace or wood stove. Next, scoop the ashes out and put them in the prepped barrel. Then place a pan under the hole and gently remove the cork. Let it sit for 3 more days. See if the lye is ready. Ascertain that you’ll have a wooden crock or glass container to catch your lye when it’s completely ready.
Store the lye in a cool dry place. Now that you’ve got your lye, you’ll be ready to make lye soap.
Before the mid-1800’s, most Americans made their own soap. There is no danger in working with lye if you do it right. There is even lye folklore that lye soap cures poison ivy. Lye soap is fun, natural, and American.
Lye soap is made from lard, coconut oil, water, and lye. There are really no additional ingredients needed. Lye is a soap that can be used for all occasions and purposes, but it really does a good job of cleaning things.
Lye soap is more preferable for cleaning enterprises, while fragranced soap is more appropriate for aesthetic or home use. Of course, both can be used in the bath or the shower to clean off with. Just be careful in making and using lye soap.
