Natural Nerd
Sodium Hydroxide (For Soap Bars)

Ingredients: Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH).

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong alkaline chemical (pH 14) that is used to make soap bars from scratch, including natural and organic soap. Sodium hydroxide is an essential ingredient for the saponification reaction which converts oil into soap.

Following Natural Nerd's beginner soap bar recipe, 500g of sodium hydroxide will allow you to make approximately 5 litres of soap (+/- 50 bars).

Sodium hydroxide should not be handled by anyone who does not understand the safety of soap-making. Although it is perfectly safe when used correctly for soap-making, by itself it is a hazardous substance that is harmful to touch, ingest or inhale. Therefore, it should be handled and stored far out of reach of children and pets. Protective clothing should be worn when handling sodium hydroxide (i.e. gloves, dust mask, safety glasses). After the soap-making reaction is complete, there is no presence of sodium hydroxide in the final soap bar (when measured correctly).

Storage:

• Ensure that the container is securely sealed between uses to prevent it from reacting with oxygen.
• Store in a cool, dark place, and clearly labelled.
• Store far out of reach of children and pets.

How to use:

• Always measure sodium hydroxide in weight with a scale. Never in volume.
• Always follow a trusted recipe, unless you know how to formulate your own soap recipes.
• Don't allow sodium hydroxide to come into contact with any other metals except stainless steel.
• If you accidentally touch sodium hydroxide, rinse the skin thoroughly with cold water, and then wipe with vinegar to neutralise the base.
• Plastics that are resistant to sodium hydroxide: Polypropylene (PP), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE).

Learn How to Use This Ingredient:

• If you would like to learn more about soap-making, enroll in Natural Nerd's online soap-making course which covers lye safety (click here for info).
• Alternatively, follow Natural Nerds step-by-step recipe on how to make soap bars from scratch using sodium hydroxide (click here for instructions).

Packaging: Recyclable HDPE tub, and a paper label.