Caustic Soda Is Used in? 5 Things You Should Know

Do you know what caustic soda is used in? If so, there are several applications of this product in our daily lives. Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide or lye, is used in a wide variety of industries from manufacturing to cleaning. Due to its high pH and caustic nature, it can be very dangerous if handled improperly or allowed to come into contact with skin or eyes, but that doesn't mean it's useless in other applications. In fact, it has many different uses beyond the typical ones you might expect! Check out this list of five surprising uses for caustic soda that will open your eyes to its potential even outside of manufacturing plants and industrial cleanups.

 1. Make Deodorant

Use caustic soda as a dry deodorant. Add drops of essential oils to give it a better scent. Be careful! This concoction can irritate your skin if not used properly, so test it on a small patch of skin first. Mix equal parts water and ammonia (or water and caustic soda) into a spray bottle. Apply before going to bed, and wake up with fresh, clean armpits in the morning! Caution: you will smell like ammonia when you go to bed, but that smell disappears by morning.

 2. Caustic Soda Is Used in Cleaning Microwaves

When it comes to cleaning your microwave, there are a lot of options out there. But nothing beats caustic soda's all-around ability to cut through tough messes in just a few minutes. Wipe away stains and gunk in your microwave by mixing 1 cup water with 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 tablespoon caustic soda, then heating it in a microwaveable container until boiling (approximately one minute).

 Once boiled, leave it sit for five more minutes; then wipe clean. Before you toss that old sponge and call it quits on scrubbing clean again, consider what else you can do with that mixture besides disinfecting your kitchen appliances: Wash dishes: By hand or by machine-your choice-you can tackle dirty dishes more effectively when you use an equal amount of water mixed with two parts baking soda and one part white vinegar as well as some dish soap before rinsing thoroughly.

 3. Remove Paint from Walls

Paint can be one of those things that's easy to ignore until it reaches crisis mode. That smudge on your window has been there since you moved in, and while it's barely noticeable, you know it bothers you. It's time to remove it once and for all-not with a scraper or razor blade, but with caustic soda. Caustic soda is used in removal of paint from walls. Don't worry; even though it sounds terrifying, caustic soda is very safe and effective at stripping paint from walls.

 Just make sure you have adequate ventilation when using it. Dampen an old towel with water and sprinkle a generous amount of caustic soda over the painted surface. Let sit for 30 minutes or so before removing stains by scrubbing them away (the detergent will loosen dried-on paint). Rinse well with plain water and let dry completely before painting over any rough spots left behind.

 4. Clean Leather Items

You can clean leather items with caustic soda to help remove dirt and stains from jackets, purses, shoes, and more. It is a very effective cleaner that breaks down grime and grease easily. The high pH of caustic soda will also strip away any wax or polish on your leather item. If you are unsure if it is safe to use on your particular item of clothing or accessories, you can always do a small test first by applying some onto an inconspicuous area.

 Suppose there is no damage after 24 hours, then you know it should be fine! You can also try using a small amount of vinegar instead; it's also suitable for most clothing types (although not silk).

 5. Caustic Soda Is Used in a Mixture of Baking Soda to Fight Foot Odor

If you don't want to use traditional antiperspirants or deodorants, and if natural home remedies don't work well enough, try mixing 1 part baking soda with 2 parts caustic soda. Mix these into a paste and apply on your feet, leave it on overnight and rinse off in the morning. This mix is sure to provide you with effective foot odor control.