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Understanding Your Laundry
Detergent
by Donald Grummett
History
Soap has been around for 5000 years. Both the Egyptians and Babylonians
used soap for personal cleaning. Soap then was a mixture of rendered
animals fats and ashes. Although its basic principles remain the same,
it is now made using a sophisticated chemical and manufacturing process.
During the middle ages the use of soap was considered unnatural. Some
historians suggest the rejection of soap, and the associated lack of
hygiene, may have contributed to the Black Death that ravaged Europe.
Even intolerance of people who 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 because it
was considered a devilish product.
To some people it is a mystery product that they imagine full of
numerous secret ingredients boiled up in a caldron. While not a magical
product it is definitely a substance that has helped transform society.
It is something we use every day to make our busy lives easier and
safer.
Detergent is not soap
Prior to World War II laundry was cleaned with soap or soap flakes.
After the war detergent became the predominant laundry cleaning choice.
It was less expensive, more convenient, and worked better with the
new-fangled washing machines.
How clothes are cleaned
Most people do not realize that it is the water in the washing machine
that does most of the cleaning, not the detergent. Primarily, it is the
water that mixing with the dirt on the clothes that lifts off the
soiling matter and holds it in suspension. Then when the washing machine
drains the water finishes the job by carrying the dirt away with it.
Question: So, if the water does the work, why do we need the detergent?
Answer: Because the detergent makes it all happen more efficiently.
Although water appears to be one large body of fluid actually it’s not.
In fact it is made up of miniscule balls of water because of a
phenomenon called surface tension. The job of detergent is to break down
this surface tension. Once the surface tension is broken the water will
mix better with other water molecules.
By lowering its surface tension the water can be made to penetrate the
clothing fabric rather than slide off its surface. So in effect the
detergent makes the water more efficient. Some people describe it as
making the 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 helps keep the dirt suspended within the water. This
is necessary to prevent the dirt from reattaching itself to the clothing
fabric.
Detergent and hard water
When detergent is used in hard water it produces soap scum. Yes, the
same stuff that 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 more soap scum. The more scum, the less concentrated the
detergent. Therefore, if your water is hard you need to compensate by
using more detergent. Conversely, the softer the water the less
detergent is required to clean the clothes. If you read the detergent
box it will usually indicate how much detergent is needed for different
water hardness.
Unsure of your water hardness? Telephone your municipality or water
provider and ask for the water hardness level. It is quoted in grains.
That is, 2-4 grains is soft, 4-6 grains is medium, and above 6-8 grains
is hard water. If you don’t know your water hardness, then experiment.
Cut back on your detergent. If the clothes still come out clean, cut
back further.
Once the perfect amount of detergent required is determined continue to
use this same amount for every load. Always use a measuring cup to
dispense your detergent. The plastic one that usually comes in the
detergent box is sufficient. Use a marking pen to draw a line on the
measure so your proper quantity will be consistent. Simply dumping out a
quantity from the box is wasteful and will contribute to poor cleaning
results.
New products
In recent years the front-loading washer has become common. They have
attracted much attention because they use substantially less water and
electricity. A front loader uses about 40% less water and 50% less
electricity.
The clothes no longer are suspended in a large tub of water. Instead
they roll inside a horizontal tub and only pass through water when at
the bottom of the tub. The clothes are constantly being picked up and
then dropped into the water. This tumbling action takes the place of the
agitator used in a top load machine.
Along with the introduction of the front-loader has come a new
generation of laundry detergent. It is called high-energy, or
high-efficiency detergent. Generally referred to as HE detergent. This
type of detergent produces very little suds.
A low sudsing detergent is necessary for a front loader washer. If suds
were present they would form a cushion at the bottom of the tub, between
the clothes and the water. This would drastically reduce the cleaning
action of the water.
Also, the front-loader machines generally require less detergent per
load of laundry.
Some sources indicate this is because less water needs less detergent to
obtain the same water to detergent ratio. Other sources suggest it is
because the HE detergent is more concentrated, and so less is needed to
produce the same cleaning action.
The Future
What will the future bring to the field of laundry detergent and
cleaning?
Manufacturers have been hinting at a type of washing machine that
requires no detergent. Some think it will take the form of a microwave
washer. The dirt is radiated to the point where it is virtually
vaporized. Sounds like something out of Star Trek.
Others suggest washers may use electrically charged particles to do the
cleaning. The dirt would given an electrical charge different from the
clothing. In this way the dirt can then be drawn away from the fabric
and then disposed of into a filter.
These things seem rather far-fetched and theoretical.
But then the same is always said until someone learns how to turn a
crazy theory into a practical device.
About the author
Copyright 2005 by Donald
Grummett. All right reserved.
In the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and
technical trainer. For more information about appliances including FAQ,
Stain guide, Recycling, and Newsletter visit
http://www.mgservices.ca
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Grummett
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