Caustic soda: use in everyday life

The use of caustic soda in everyday life is due to one of its properties - to neutralize fats and other organic contaminants. It is the ability to dissolve congestion from dirt and organic accumulations that helps to cope with the sanitation of the private sector and apartment buildings. In addition, caustic soda( caustic soda, sodium hydroxide, caustic) is also used to make soap by hand at home.

Cleaning of drainage pipes and sewerage

There are two ways to clean the drain in a wash basin, bath or shower, as well as a toilet or sewer system in a private house. The first one is more suitable for cleaning sewage in the sewerage system of a private house, the second one is for cleaning siphons and drainage risers in high-rise buildings. Instructions for use, 1st version:

• 2 kg of caustic soda is poured in cold water( 4 liters);
• the resulting solution is poured into the sewer;
• for about an hour it is undesirable to drain water: at this time, sodium hydroxide splits fats and other organic matter.
• after the hour, fill with water( 12-15 liters) with a temperature of 85-90 ºC.

With regular cleaning of sewer pipes this method in the house is guaranteed there will be no unpleasant odor from the pipes, which appears due to the decomposition of food residues and other biological substances. Instruction for use, 2nd method:

• in the neck of the sink or bath is filled up to 150 g of caustic;
• further on the powder gently poured to 2 liters of hot water;
• after 5-10 minutes hot water is poured repeatedly;
• for about an hour should not be allowed to enter the mouth of water.

Advice

Caustic soda can be used after cleaning pipes with acidic substances to neutralize aggressive attack.

Cleaning saucepans

Since sodium hydroxide copes well with grease soiling, it is used to clean pans, pans and other kitchen utensils. It should be noted immediately that such an application is not suitable for dishes made of aluminum or Teflon.but enamelled, cast iron and steel pans bring to an ideal condition. For this procedure, it is necessary: ​​to fill the large metal container with

• ( not less than 10 liters);
• pour into the caustic soda( 200 g);
• add 1 bar grated on a large grater of laundry soap;
• pour 150 g of clerical glue( liquid glass);
• well stir everything and put in the resulting mixture of dishes;
• bring to a boil and keep on low heat for another 2 hours;
• get cleaned dishes and wash well under running water.

Board

In the same way you can fight with old fat on plates, only the boiling time is reduced to 10 minutes.

Soap digging

Caustic is used in another area - for soap making. Its use is mandatory, as caustic soda is the main ingredient in soap:

• caustic soda;
• vegetable oil;
• essential oil;
• purified( distilled) water.

There are many soap recipes in which the proportions vary and specific components are added( this is the secret of soap making), but using the basic ingredients, you can experiment and prepare the soap with your own hands. To do this, the caustic is combined with water, a vegetable and an essential oil is introduced into the solution. Mix the ingredients until a homogeneous mass is obtained, then pour it into the molds, where it freezes during the day.

Advice

For cosmetic purposes you need caustic soda with a high degree of purification. It can be purchased in soap stores.

Caustic Storage and Precautions

To understand how to properly store sodium hydroxide at home, you need to find out what it is. What is caustic soda? First of all, it is a chemical substance - a strong alkali that causes burns. Therefore, both solution and powder should be kept in places inaccessible to children, in tightly closed containers with the appropriate label. Also caustic refers to combustible and explosive substances, therefore, it should be away from heating appliances and sources of open fire.

Caustic soda is stored in a sealed container: powder in paper bags or polyethylene jars, and the liquid in a container of dense polyethylene with a rubber stopper. The shelf life of both liquid and granules is 12 months. The self-prepared 3% solution can also be stored for up to 12 months, but before use it should be checked whether a precipitate has formed. If flakes are observed in the solution, it may have been converted to potassium carbonate and it has lost its properties. Transparency or opacity of the container on the properties of the caustic has no effect.

When working with sodium hydroxide, precautions should be followed:

• work in rubber gloves;
• protect eyes and mucous membranes from chemical attack;
• do not allow to enter.

If the caustic is still on the skin, you should immediately wash it with running water. In case of accidental ingestion or eye contact, it is better to consult a doctor immediately, as this can cause serious vision problems( dying of the corneal tissues) or a burn of the larynx and esophagus, as well as the stomach.

Several other facts

Caustic in everyday life is used for other purposes.

• For disinfection in subsidiary farms with dangerous infectious diseases in cattle, the premises are treated with 4% sodium hydroxide solution. Animals are treated for the duration of treatment.
• When cleaning the metal surface against acid rust, the caustic is the main ingredient for passivation. After treatment with acid solutions, the metal is treated with a mixture of formalin, caustic soda, ammonium and water.
• For removal of hard-to-remove grease stains or oil stains from clothing. Things are soaked for 2 hours in water with the addition of 2% sodium hydroxide solution - 1 tbsp.spoon per liter of water. After that, they are erased in the usual way. If the washing is manual, rubber gloves must be worn.

Warning!

The method for cleaning stains with caustic soda is not suitable for silk and woolen fabrics. In a 10% solution of caustic, they dissolve without residue, but a lower concentration will bring tangible damage to these tissues.