How to Dispose of Lye Crystals
While lye can be a helpful household product, it is also quite dangerous. Lye, also known as caustic soda or sodium hydroxide, can cause burns, blindness or other serious injuries if mishandled. It can be fatal if swallowed.
If you use lye in your home, whether for making soap or clearing drains, you must be aware at all times of its highly caustic nature. It is important that you handle it carefully and dispose of any leftover lye properly and safely.
Things You Will Need
- Protective goggles
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Gloves
- Stainless steel container with tight-fitting lid
Tip
When working with lye, keep a large jug of vinegar, apple cider vinegar or milk close at hand. These substances can help nuetralize the acids in lye and stop the burning should lye get on your skin. Keep a telephone neraby as well. Call 911 immediately for chemical burns. Clearly label your lye with a skull and crossbones and the word "poison," so anyone who finds it will immediately recognize that it is a dangerous chemical.
Warning
If you use and keep lye in your home, keep it in a securely locked cabinet away from children, pets, elderly persons or mentally challenged persons.
When working with lye, do so when you have plenty of time, do not need to hurry, and there are no children in the house. Do not let anything distract you. Work outside if possible. Do not leave your work area until you are finished and all lye has been safely put away.
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Consult your the hazardous waste collection agency locally, for specific disposal instructions for your area. Lye is considered hazardous waste and is subject to federal, state and local disposal regulations.
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Do not pour lye down the drain, into a toilet, storm sewer, on the ground, or put it in your trashcan to go out with your day-to-day trash.
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Wear long sleeves, long pants, protective goggles and gloves when handling lye. You may also want to wear a dust mask, as inhaling lye dust or fumes is dangerous.
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Do not pour water into lye, as doing so can cause a serious reaction. Water in lye causes a chemical reaction that generates heat that can reach combustible and even explosive temperatures. Do not attempt to wash lye down a sink with water.
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Use the utmost caution when handling lye. Do not allow it to spill or splash.
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Keep lye away from children and animals. This includes the disposal of lye: Do not dispose of lye in a place that is accessible to children, animals unsuspecting adults.
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Transfer unwanted lye into a container made of stainless steel for disposal. Make sure the container has a tight-fitting lid. Do not store or dispose of lye in any container made of plastic, cast-iron, iron or aluminum, as lye corrodes these materials.
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Do not reuse the container in which you were storing the lye for anything other than storing lye.
The Drip Cap
- While lye can be a helpful household product, it is also quite dangerous.
- Do not pour water into lye, as doing so can cause a serious reaction.
- Use the utmost caution when handling lye.
- Do not allow it to spill or splash.
- This includes the disposal of lye: Do not dispose of lye in a place that is accessible to children, animals unsuspecting adults.
References
Writer Bio
Sandra Rousseau has been writing since 1990, covering such topics as home decorating, fashion, health, beauty, gardening and cooking. Her articles appear her hometown newspaper, the "Aledo Community News," and on various websites. Rousseau holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and advertising from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Photo Credits
- poison symbol image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
- poison symbol image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
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