When respected and with the proper safety precautions (like all chemicals) lye (sodium hydroxide) is very safe to use. Lye has many uses. It’s used as a drain cleaner, used to strip crusty cast iron, used to make soap, and it’s used to cure olives and make foods like pretzels (to name a few things). Eye protection and gloves are a must. I’ve had the lye solution pour into my glove. It’s also gotten into the glove from a tiny hole I didn’t notice until my skin felt rubbery. Alkali burns break dow