Caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide, is a very powerful chemical substance that is used on an industrial level and that can also be used at home but only with the utmost attention.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himLa sodium hydroxidethe sodium hydroxide, is a very powerful chemical substance that is used on an industrial level and that can also be used at home but only with the utmost attention.
In fact the caustic soda in contact with water releases a very high temperature, it becomes corrosive and it can cause serious damage to our skin and eyes. There are therefore very many precautions to be observed if you want to use caustic soda at home.
The most famous use of caustic soda concerns the homemade soap preparation which involves the combination of this ingredient with water and with a fatty substance most often represented by oil. In the past, lard was used more frequently.
- industrial uses of caustic soda are particularly linked to the field of chemistry and large-scale cleaning, but let's not forget that caustic soda in rare cases is also used as food additive, always on an industrial level, for example in the preparation of pretzels and to sweeten olives.
On the other hand, there are fewer uses recommended at home, given that for cleaning and only in case of need, caustic soda must be used with great caution and since fortunately there are more delicate and less polluting alternative remedies.
Let's find out in more detail that what is caustic soda, what are its domestic uses and what are the very important precautions of use to be known and to be adopted promptly whenever you decide to use this ingredient.
Index
Caustic soda for household drains
Especially in the past it was very common to use caustic soda for the maintenance of household drains of kitchen and bathroom sinks. There was a tendency to pour a measuring cup or a glass of caustic soda down the drain and let the water run. Probably some still adopt this method today. Unfortunately, not everyone knows if the pipes in your home are really resistant to high temperatures. In fact, caustic soda in contact with water it can reach very high temperatures which could damage weak pipes, such as plastic pipes.
For this reason, unless you are sure of the resistance of the pipes in your home, we do not recommend using caustic soda for the maintenance of sink drains or to unclog them in case of traffic jams. In fact, it exists a much gentler alternative but still effective for taking care of drains and freeing them from traffic jams. It is about exploiting the reaction between sodium bicarbonate and citric acid.
Read also: 50 FANTASTIC ALTERNATIVE USES OF SODIUM BICARBONATE
So instead of caustic soda we suggest you pour it into your drains 1 small glass of baking soda followed by 1 small glass of citric acid then let the water flow which will allow the chemical reaction between the two ingredients, helping you to remove the traffic jams. This is a much safer method that you can use two or three times in a row in case of difficult traffic jams.
Read also: 10 RECIPES FOR DRAINING WASTE AND SINKS
Caustic soda for the clogged toilet
Use caustic soda only if the clogged toilet problem is very serious and if other simpler and safer remedies, such as the plunger, have not worked, or if it is the only useful ingredient you have at hand, outside the classic products for the drains.
In case you want to use caustic soda to clear the clogged toilet, pour two tablespoons into it (or up to a maximum of 150-200 grams of caustic soda to be poured down the drain), leave immediately and let it work. Caustic soda in contact with water gives off a lot of heat and vapors that you don't have to breathe. We recommend to let the caustic soda act for a long time before trying to check if the toilet drain is free, but use it only as a last resort.
Before resorting to caustic soda, experiment with the classic products to free the drains and also try pouring a glass of bicarbonate into the toilet followed by a glass of citric acid and a pot of water. Again you will have to wait for a while before you understand if the remedy will have worked.
If you have purchased caustic soda specifically to free the toilet or other household drains, always read the instructions on the package before proceeding with use.
Read also: 5 ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES TO FREE THE FLUSH OF THE WC
Caustic soda for cleaning grills and barbecues
A further use of caustic soda at home concerns the cleaning of grills and barbecues. In fact, as a descaler, caustic soda is suitable for cleaning barbecues, ovens, stoves, grills and hoods, by immersing the object in a mix of 3 or 4 liters of water e 200 / 500g of caustic soda flakes. The duration of the dive should be 6-8 hours. Here more information.
However, remember that coming into contact with a solution of water and caustic soda is very dangerous for the skin. If you want to use it for this type of cleaning, wear suitable gloves and follow all the precautions that we will repeat later.
Read also: HOW TO CLEAN THE BARBECUE IN A NATURAL WAY
Caustic soda for making soap
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), better known as caustic soda, is one essential substance for the home preparation of soap, since it makes possible the saponification reaction starting from the chosen oil.
Once the saponification process is finished, soda completely disappears from the final product, giving us an ecological and biodegradable soap, suitable for laundry in its basic version, consisting of olive oil, water and caustic soda.
We cannot obtain the soap and the saponification reaction necessary to form it if we do not use caustic soda as an ingredient for self-production. The presence of caustic soda in the homemade soap recipe can sometimes be scary, but home soap making is really safe if you follow the right precautions and it couldn't happen without this ingredient.
For this reason, those who want to prepare soap at home simply have to be careful not to come into direct contact with caustic soda or with the solution of water and caustic soda with bare hands. It is essential, as we will explain later, to wear gloves and preferably also a mask to cover the mouth and goggles to protect the eyes.
When you follow the recipe to prepare the soap, always check carefully in which order to pour the ingredients. Be careful to use a high temperature resistant container - for example a Pyrex glass container - when you need to mix water and soda. Always pour soda into the water and never vice versa.
Caustic soda does not completely disappear immediately after being mixed with water and soap making oil. The saponification reaction takes a long time to reach its term. It is usually said that the soap has to rest for 4 to 6 weeks. To be safe, so that your soap does not turn out caustic, we recommend that you leave it also rest for 8 weeks before using it.
The longer you let the soap rest, the more time you will give the saponification reaction to take place and the caustic soda to disappear in order to have a product suitable for both doing laundry and cleaning the skin safely.
Follow our recipes if you want to try making soap at home.
HOW TO MAKE THE SOAP AT HOME WITH JUST 3 INGREDIENTS
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN SOAP AT HOME
DO-IT-YOURSELF GENTLE BODY SOAP (VIDEO TUTORIAL)
HOW TO MAKE SOAP WITH FRYING OIL
Here is a useful table for calculate how much soda to use in the preparation of soap.
Caustic soda, dangers and warnings
Caustic soda is highly corrosive and potentially harmful especially when it comes into contact with water. Never touch soda when it is still in crystals with wet hands because soda in contact with water triggers one immediate reaction and really very corrosive to the skin.
The caustic soda attacks metallic materials, particularly when it comes to aluminum, magnesium, zinc and other alloys that contain them.
Not only can caustic soda be corrosive to metals, it can also provoke severe burns e eye and skin injuries.
In case of ingestion of caustic soda, rinse your mouth and do not induce vomiting. In case of skin or eye contact, ingestion, inhalation or other accidents with caustic soda contact your doctor and emergency room immediately.
Caustic soda, all precautions
The caustic soda it must never come into contact with the skin or with the eyes. In handling it wear gloves, goggles and a mask for any home use and for the preparation of soap. Ventilate the room and never breathe the vapors that are released in contact between the soda and water.
While using caustic soda for any operation, open the windows of the room you are in and do not close them until the end. The soda caustic is dangerous for both children and pets both when it is in granules and when it is dissolved in water.
Children and animals could inadvertently come into contact with caustic soda, even simply with small amounts of product dropped on the table or floor. For this reason, when you use caustic soda, make sure that both children and pets are always away from where you are.
Se other people they are with you while using the caustic soda, also ask them to wear gloves, mouth mask and eye protection and in any case recommend that you keep a safe distance from the point where you are using the soda.
Keep within reach ofwhite wine vinegar in order to immediately buffer the action of the soda in case of contact with the skin.
For all activities in which you will use soda choose for greater safety disposable gloves only e disposable containers.
Keep the soda in a place that is as safe as possible, hidden from children and pets and possibly locked up.
Caustic soda, where to find it
Caustic soda can be purchased in hardware stores, plumbing, do-it-yourself and some supermarkets. You can find caustic soda too online and, especially in shops that sell the ingredients necessary for the self-production of soap or that sell industrial ingredients and products.
Marta Albè
