Lye is the common name of various alkaline solutions, including soda lye (a solution of sodium hydroxide) and potash lye (a solution of potassium hydroxide). Lyes are used as cleaning products, as ingredients in soapmaking, and in various other contexts. . History. The word lye derives from the root *lau, meaning to wash (compare lave, lather) and has cognates in all the Germanic languages. Traditionally, lye was made by leaching wood ashes in water, creating an alkaline liquor rich in potassium carbonate or potash.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lye
Lye is the common name of various alkaline solutions, including soda lye (a solution of sodium hydroxide) and potash lye (a solution of potassium hydroxide). Lyes are used as cleaning products, as ingredients in soapmaking, and in various other contexts. . History. The word lye derives from the root *lau, meaning to wash (compare lave, lather) and has cognates in all the Germanic languages. Traditionally, lye was made by leaching wood ashes in water, creating an alkaline liquor rich in potassium carbonate or potash.
