Pure Lye Sodium hydroxide, also known as Caustic Soda or Lye, is a product that is used in the creation of soap, detergent, paper, textiles and drinking water. It is a chemical base and comes packaged as a white solid. Soap making: Fats and oils, by themselves, do not mix with water. Sodium hydroxide breaks up the triglyceride in fats and oils and turns the fatty acids into sodium salts. The salts reduce the surface tension in liquids and allow grease to be easily washed away with water. Try making a pure soap with no perfume, fragrances, dyes or additives that can irritate your skin. Using a pure soap with only the glycerin can cleanse and improve your skin condition - no matter what that condition is. Pure lye soap will sooth insect bites and actually repel insects with its residue. Try shaving your lye soap and using it as a laundry detergent, or rub a bar directly on a problem stain. Lye soap has been found to be as effective as commercial products on the market Show More