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History
Soap has existed for 5000 years. Both Egyptians and Babylonians used soap for personal cleaning. Soap then would be a combination of rendered animals fats and ashes. Although its basic principles stay the same, it's now made using a sophisticated chemical and manufacturing process.
During the dark ages the use of soap was considered unnatural. Some historians suggest the rejection of soap, and also the associated lack of hygiene, may have led to the Black Death that ravaged Europe.
Even intolerance of people who continued using cleaners might have been exacerbated. Their religious laws demanded cleanliness so that they continued using soap. The Europeans though, rejected soap at this time because it was considered a devilish product.
Organic Laundry Detergent online
To some people it's a mystery product which they imagine filled with numerous secret ingredients boiled up in a caldron. While not a magical product it's really a substance which has helped transform society. It's something we use every single day to create our busy lives easier and safer.
Detergent isn't soap
Just before World War II laundry was cleaned with soap or soap flakes. Following the war detergent became the predominant laundry cleaning choice. It was less expensive, more convenient, and worked better with the new-fangled automatic washers.
How clothing is cleaned
Most people do not realize that it is the water in the washer that does the majority of the cleaning, not the detergent. Primarily, it is the water that mixing with the dirt around the clothes that lifts off the soiling matter and holds it in suspension. When the washing machine drains water finishes the task by carrying the dirt away with it.
Question: So, if the water will the work, so why do we need the detergent? Answer: Because the detergent causes it to be all happen more efficiently.
Although water appears to be one large body of fluid actually it isn't. In fact it is comprised of minuscule balls water due to a phenomenon called surface tension. The task of detergent would be to break down this surface tension. Once the surface tension is broken the water will mix better along with other water molecules.
By lowering its surface tension water can be made to penetrate the clothing fabric rather than slide off its surface. So in effect the detergent helps make the water more effective. Some people describe it as making water "slippery". The result is that the water can attack the dirt more aggressively, loosen it, and then hold it until it can be washed away.
Also, the detergent assists in keeping the dirt suspended within the water. This is essential to avoid the dirt from reattaching itself to the clothing fabric.
Detergent and difficult water
When detergent can be used in difficult water it creates soap scum. Yes, the same things which makes that ring within your bathtub. The harder the water the greater soap scum.
Water hardness is really a measure of its mineral content. So, the greater minerals, the more soap scum. The greater scum, the less concentrated the detergent. Therefore, if your water is difficult you have to compensate by using more detergent. Conversely, the softer water the less detergent is needed to clean the clothes. If you browse the detergent box it will usually indicate just how much detergent is needed for various water hardness.
Unsure of your water hardness? Telephone your municipality or water provider and request water hardness level. It's quoted in grains. That's, 2-4 grains is soft, 4-6 grains is medium, and above 6-8 grains is hard water. If you do not know your water hardness, then experiment. Reduce your detergent. If the clothes still emerge clean, cut back further.
Once the perfect quantity of detergent required is determined continue to use this same amount for every load. Always employ a measuring cup to dispense your detergent. The plastic one that usually is available in the detergent box is sufficient. Use a marking pen to attract a line around the measure so your proper quantity will be consistent. Simply dumping out a sum from the box is wasteful and can bring about poor cleaning results.