Safety Gear
Soapmaking at home can be hazardous. Heat and caustics are the primary potential dangers. If you fear that you cannot sufficiently control your surroundings to keep and use soapmaking materials safely, do not make soap at home. However, soap is made without accident every day by thousands of home soapmakers. The basic safety gear you'll need is eye protection, rubber gloves, long sleeves, oven mitts, a painter's paper dust mask or filter mask, and vinegar, and for applications using a stove, a fire extinguisher.
Eye Protection
Internet soapmaking supply houses and hardware stores stock a variety of eye protection. Make sure that the eye protection you use is resistant to impact, caustics, and heat. If you wear glasses, get goggles that are large enough to wear over them. Be particular as you shop for eye protection. Never take chances with the health and safety of your eyes.
The danger to your eyes comes from the potential of lye particles, lye solution, raw soap, hot oils, and other liquids splashing you in the face. In methods that do not use caustics to create soap, the potential hazards are hot melted soap and steam. As long as you work mindfully, you will experience very few — if any — splashing events. However, you do not want to be caught unprotected in the event that one should occur.
It's always a good idea to post the phone numbers of your physician, emergency room, and poison control center where they are easily seen. If you were to have an accident, you would be able to get the help you need more quickly.
At the very least, caustics will cause surface irritation to the skin on your face. At the worst, you can be blinded if you splash lye solution in your eyes. Be sure to have an emergency plan just in case something horrible should happen.
Gloves
Regular rubber kitchen gloves provide appropriate protection for your hands and lower arms. Make sure the gloves you buy have textured fingers so that you can keep a firm grip on your equipment. Some soapmakers prefer heavy-duty gloves. Just be sure you can use your fingers freely.
Thin “examination” gloves are sufficient for handling partly cured soap. You can find these in the pharmacy section of a mass-market store and at drugstores. If you are sensitive to latex, you can buy gloves made from thin vinyl. Check your gloves regularly for holes and splits. Replace them before you need to.
When you are finished with your soapmaking project for the day, clean your gloves well with soap and water. If you clean them and dry them, they'll last quite some time. Turn them inside-out to dry and store them only after they're completely dry.
Be sure to protect your arms above the gloves with a long-sleeved shirt. An oversized button-up shirt with sleeves you can roll up is ideal.
These safety precautions are not meant to scare you; however, it is always of primary importance to put safety first, fun second. Once you are sure you have the safety measures in place, you can relax and enjoy the fun of soapmaking!
Remember that you're not going to go around carelessly splashing lye. You will have everything prepared so you won't be running here and there, dripping caustics and hot soap around. Just use common sense and be sure you protect yourself and household surfaces.
Painter's Paper Dust Mask or Filter Mask
If you're making soap with lye, caustic steam will rise when you combine the lye and water. Usually it is enough just to stand back and not breathe the steam, but if you are concerned about sensitivity, take the extra precaution of wearing a painter's paper dust mask or filter mask over your mouth and nose.
Fire Extinguisher
Whenever you are working with a stove, hotplate, or other heat source, you need to have a fire extinguisher within easy reach. Make sure your fire extinguisher is charged and ready to go. The time you need the fire extinguisher is not the time to wonder where it is or if it's charged. Read the instructions so that you know how to use it. Also be sure to review basic kitchen safety procedures. For example, you would never throw water on an oil fire, and you would always use protective mitts when handling hot pans and utensils.
Vinegar
Vinegar has traditionally been used as a neutralizer for lye and raw soap spills. As a weak acid, it will help neutralize the alkali, but you should not pour vinegar onto an alkaline spill on skin. It would be a good idea to let your doctor know you are making soap, and ask about the best way to handle skin contact with caustics. If you come in contact with lye or raw soap batter, gently wipe the spill from your skin, then flush the area with water. This is when you would douse the area with vinegar if desired. Then flush again with water and finally wash with soap and water. Don't wait to finish stirring your batch before rinsing and neutralizing a smear of raw soap from your skin. Do it as soon as it gets on you.
