Important: Safety Warning
This page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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To Make Soap-makers' Lye
To 1 part of quicklime, slacked by sprinkling on it sufficient water to crumble it, add a solution of 3 parts soda in 5 parts water. For soft-soap lyc, an equal quantity of potash is substituted for the soda. Stir the mixture and allow it to settle; the clear liquid is then poured off, and constitutes the first lye, and is of a strength of 25° to 30° Baumé; the second, third and fourth lye i; cach obtained by adding successively 5 parts water, stirring thoroughly, allowing it to settle, and pouring off the clear liquid; producing respectively a lye of from 12° to 18°, 8° to 10°, and 2° to 5° Baumé. potash alkalies are used in combination, a proportion of from 10 to 20 per cent. of the latter is employed, according to the degree of hardness the soap is desired to possess.