It is important to keep the NaOH solution covered at all time because sodium hydroxide is a very good remover of Carbon dioxide from the air means sodium hydroxide absorbs the carbon dioxide from the air react with that so the concentration of your solution will also change if you uncover the NaOH.
The following reaction occurs when sodium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide;
2 NaOH(aq) + CO2(g) --> Na3CO3(aq) + H2O(l)
