KraftBoyle835
History
Soap has been around for 5000 years. Both the Egyptians and Babylonians used soap for private cleaning. Soap then would be a combination of rendered animals fats and ashes. Although its basic principles remain the same, it's now made using a sophisticated chemical and manufacturing process.
During the dark ages using soap was considered unnatural. Some historians suggest the rejection of soap, and the associated lack of hygiene, may have led to the Black Death that ravaged Europe.
Even intolerance of people that continued using cleaners may have been exacerbated. Their religious laws demanded cleanliness so they continued using soap. The Europeans though, rejected soap at this time since it was considered a devilish product.
With a people it's a mystery product which they imagine filled with numerous secret ingredients boiled in a caldron. Whilst not an enchanting product it's really an ingredient which has helped transform society. It is something we use every single day to make our busy lives easier and safer.
Detergent is not soap
Just before World War II laundry was cleaned with soap or soap flakes. After the war detergent had become the predominant laundry cleaning choice. It was more affordable, easier, and worked better using the new-fangled washing machines.
How clothing is cleaned
Many people don't realize that it is the water within the washer that does most of the cleaning, not the detergent. Primarily, it's the water that mixing using the dirt around the clothes that lifts from the soiling matter and holds it in suspension. Then when the washing machine drains the water finishes the job by carrying the dirt away by using it.
Question: So, if the water does the work, so why do we want the detergent? Answer: Because the detergent makes it all happen more efficiently.
Although water appears to be one large body of fluid actually it isn't. And it's also comprised of minuscule balls of water due to a phenomenon called surface tension. The job of detergent would be to break down this surface tension. When the surface tension is broken water will mix better along with other water molecules.
By lowering its surface tension water can be created to enter the clothing fabric instead of slide off its surface. So in effect the detergent helps make the water more effective. Some people describe it as being making the water "slippery". The result is that water can attack the dirt more aggressively, loosen it, after which hold it until it may be washed away.
Also, the detergent assists in keeping the dirt suspended within the water. This is necessary to prevent the dirt from reattaching itself towards the clothing fabric.
Detergent and difficult water
When detergent is used in difficult water it produces soap scum. Yes, the same stuff which makes that ring inside your bathtub. The harder the water the more soap scum.
Water hardness is a measure of its mineral content. So, the more minerals, the greater soap scum. The more scum, the less concentrated the detergent. Therefore, if your water is difficult you have to compensate by using more detergent. Conversely, the softer the water the less detergent is required to clean the garments. Should you browse the detergent box it'll usually indicate how much detergent is needed for different water hardness.
Unclear about your water hardness? Telephone your municipality or water provider and ask for the water hardness level. It is quoted in grains. That's, 2-4 grains is soft, 4-6 grains is medium, and above 6-8 grains is difficult water. If you don't know your water hardness, then experiment. Reduce your detergent. If the clothes still come out clean, reduce further.
When the perfect quantity of detergent required is decided continue to use this same amount for each load. Always use a measuring cup to dispense your detergent. The plastic one which usually is available in the detergent box is enough. Use a marking pen to attract a line around the measure so that your proper quantity will be consistent. Simply dumping out a quantity in the box is wasteful and can bring about poor cleaning results.
