5 Important Uses Of Caustic Soda You Probably Don't Know

Caustic soda

Important uses of caustic soda

Caustic Soda, aka sodium hydroxide, aka lye, is a chemical that is quite dangerous for humans. It is corrosive which makes other objects destroyed when touched.

Even so, it can also be useful as long as we maintain safety when using it. Have to go slow and be extra careful. The water splash is very dangerous.

Pain in the skin when splashed. Besides being used for chemical purposes, such as the benefits of lye for soap, it turns out that this material can also be used for everyday purposes.

Even though it is claimed to be used for daily needs, it does not mean that there are benefits of lye for the face.

Lye is very dangerous if it comes in contact with the skin. So when using lye, we must wear a mask and gloves.

Unlike baking soda, there is no use of lye for plants. So don’t get confused. So, what are the benefits of lye?

5 Important Uses Of Caustic Soda (aka Lye)

1. Caustic soda is useful for cleaning rusted objects, including iron fences.

The lye can be used to remove rust from iron fences. Image from Pixabay

The benefits of liquid lye to remove rust on iron are both effective and dangerous. So before using lye, you must wear a mask, gloves, and glasses. How do you apply it?

Dissolve lye with water in a container. Use a brush to apply lye to the rusted surface of the fence. Wait 10 minutes for the rust to peel off.

If it is visible, you can rinse the fence with water and soap, then dry it with a cloth. As a result, the iron fence looks new again.

2. In addition to the benefits of caustic soda for iron, this chemical is also very effective for cleaning clogged pipelines.

The lye can be used to clear clogged drains. Image from Pixabay

Although many people have tried it and have had success, the use of lye for draining is still debatable. Many people say there is a danger of lye for the toilet. Many people ask, “Does lye destroy the pipe or not?”

The benefits of lye for well water, the benefits of lye for clogged drains, and the benefits of lye for the toilet are true.

This is because the lye works to break down and destroy the sediment that blocks the water cycle in the pipeline so that it returns smoothly.

How to use lye for a clogged toilet is also easy. You only need to put the lye liquid into the water drain or you can brush the inside of the pipe with a brush that has been dipped in lye.

Because of the method directly applied to drains, it is only natural that some people think of the dangers of lye for pipes. So, stay careful!

3. Clean the moss and crusty bathroom walls.

Professional cleaning service. Lye can be used to clean bathroom walls. Image from freepik.com

Still on the theme of a toilet, this time there are benefits of lye for ceramics, including on the bathroom walls. One great way to clean it is using lye.

The strong nature of lye dissolving dirt is what many people use. How to clean it is also not complicated.

You only need to moisten the tiles on the walls and floors of the bathroom, sprinkle with lye and let it sit for about an hour.

If so, all you have to do is scrub all the dirt and rinse it off with water.

4. Household appliances made of stainless steel can be descaled using lye.

The lye can be used to treat stainless pans. Image from Pixabay

Instead of replacing it with a new one, it’s better to descale stainless household appliances with lye.

You only need to dilute the lye with water and rub it on crusty metal furniture. In less than 10 minutes, the crust in your items will break down.

After it disappears, you can wash the item with soapy water until it is clean. Don’t forget to wear gloves to keep it safe. If you don’t want to wash it, you can wipe it with a wet cloth.

5. Finally, the benefits of lye are for removing paint on walls, vehicles, or furniture.

lye for removing wall paint. Image by Laura Shaw from Pixabay

Well, for those of you who want to change the color of the bicycle stem, using lye is the right choice. Later the paint color will be more solid and look like new.

Just like removing rust from fences or metal items, you only need to apply lye using a brush to the surface you want to wipe.

If it has been applied, wait a few minutes before scraping the paint. After that, you have to rinse it with soap until clean.

If you want to repaint, make sure that there is no lye on the surface. It would be better if after removing the paint, wait a night or two first to reduce the risk.

So, those are some of the functions and important uses of caustic soda for everyday life. Lye is a dangerous chemical but it also has benefits, right?