Lye is a strong, alkaline substance that is used in products like soaps or cleaners. It helps break up grease and dirt, making things clean. Full definition
Influential New Zealand abstract filmmaker Len Lye uses a rayograph technique with textured cloth and stencils in Color Cry. (blockmuseum.northwestern.edu)
Looks a little scary, but I got used to working with lye in my homemade soaps, so this can't really be that much scarier once you're used to it. (thegoldensycamore.com)
You have to switch out an oil for an oil, and even then you have to be careful because different oils need different amounts of lye for forming soap. (thethingswellmake.com)