soap or detergent

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Soap or Detergent? http://www.thediaperhyena.com/clothdiaperarticle_soapordetergent.htm

Just what is the difference between soap and detergent?

By: Heather L. Sanders

The SDA (Soap and Detergent Association) logically states:To understand what is

needed to achieve effective cleaning, it is helpful to have a basic knowledge of the soap and

detergent chemistry.(1) Now, this is not going to be a lesson in Chemistryhopefully,

youve already made that rite of passage in high school and/or college, BUT we do want to

give you a bit of basic knowledge regarding the difference between soaps and detergents. We

get many questions regarding what to use for laundering cloth diaperswell, read the

following article and hopefully it can equip you in making that choice for your familys

laundry.

First things firsta lesson on surfactants. I know, you are saying, Sur-what?

Surfactants, also called surface active agents are the chemicals necessary to reduce the

surface tension of water. What that means (basically) is that water will hold to itself because

each water molecule is surrounded by and attracted to other water molecules. This property

of tension with water causes it to bead-up on surfaces like fabric (you know, like a drop of

water on a counter it does not spread-out, but beads up instead) and will slow the wetting

of that surfacewhich inhibits the whole cleaning process. In order for the water to spread

and wet/soak into a surface (like your laundry)you need surfactants, chemicals that

effectively cut the surface tension and are said to make water wetter. (1) So, the firstcommonality between soaps and detergents, even though they are not exactly the same thing,

is that they are both surfactants. Any surfactant that is not a soap is a detergent. (2)

Both soaps and detergents perform the same task.As far as removing dirt or poopies

(since we are specifically concerned about getting your diapers clean), the difference between

soaps and detergents are in their composition. Soaps, on the whole, are made of materials

found in nature, and detergents are labeled synthetic (although some of their ingredients are

natural). (3) An interesting point is that some chemists will argue that the actual production

of a soap molecule from the naturally occurring fats and oils is still a synthesis step, andtherefore, soaps are synthetic products as well. (2) The EPA states, The word 'detergent

refers to household cleaning products which are based on non-soap, synthetic surfactants and

which are primarily used for laundering and dishwashing. (5) Whichever side of that

argument you lean toward, recognize that soaps have been around for centuries and that they

are better overall for our health and easier on our environment than detergents.

So why the production of detergents if soaps are tried and true? Well, there is one big

drawback in soaps that seemingly pushed the detergent industry, and that drawback is the

principal difference recognized between soaps and detergents. Soaps and detergents behave

differently in hard water. Soaps form a scum in hard water and this scum will not rinse


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away easily and is known to turn laundry a grayish hue. The insoluble film it leaves can leave

a residue on your laundry much like you would see in a shower stall where hard water is

present. Detergents react less to the minerals it comes up against in water and will not leave

this same residue. (3) If you live in an area where the water is soft, you will have more

success with soaps, but even then, a gradual build-up of calcium and magnesium ions (alsocalled curd) will be left in the fabric of your diapers or any of your familys laundry over

time.Another disadvantage cited with soaps is that they will deteriorate in storage and

lack the cleaning power when compared with the modern synthetic surfactants.(4) Because

of this, detergents have steadily become the cleaning agent of choice since World War II,

because for all practical purposes (not to be confused with environmental purposes)

synthetic or not, they will leave your laundry cleaner.

Those concerned about the environmental effects of soaps and detergents do have

options. Since both soaps and detergents are surfactant based, you can make the effort to

choose a product whose surfactants are made from oleochemicals, instead of those made from

petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are a nonrenewable resource and actually a waste product

of the petroleum industry derived from crude oil or natural gas. (1,4) Oleochemicals are from

fats and oils, which are renewable resources.

As we mentioned earlier, the surfactant raw materials of both soaps and detergents must be

chemically converted. That being the case, in its final form, the surfactant with an

oleochemical base is similar to one with a petrochemical base. (1) The obvious question then

is why do manufacturers choose to use a non-renewable petrochemical when there is another

option - oleochemicals. Well, hmmmm . . . say it with me . . . "M-o-n-e-y!" It costs themmore to produce.

We prefer the use of detergents with regards to washing cloth diapers. Obviously,

finding a detergent that is environmentally-friendly is not easy, but for our diapers longevity,

we prefer to stay away from the build-up that would detract from the diapers maximum

absorption capabilities. We also want our diapers to have every opportunity to get completely

cleanand with a build-up, we feel that is not possible over time with just soap. Because we

are asked so often, we will tell you that we have used Arm & Hammer Detergent

(liquid/without bleach), however, because of the less than satisfactory Phosphate content inthe Arm & Hammer, we began sampling other detergents as well. To our surprise, we have

found that some of the groceries generic brands are more environmentally sound than a good

portion of their name-brands.

What you should look for is a product that is Phosphate Free or low (containing trace

amounts) in Phosphate, Fragrance and Dye Free (these can serve as irritants to babies'

sensitive skin as they are usually just a medley of chemicals - not natural fragrance or dyes)

and does not contain Fabric Softeners. With regards to our bodies, we use all natural soaps

we particularly love Dr. Bronners Castile Soaps! That Peppermint will WAKE YOU UP!


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One note of caution. There is a misconception that all products labeled environmentally safe

are safe across the line and that just is not true. Detergents are responsible for many

household poisonings according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Part of the

problem is that detergent boxes are brightly colored and attractive and commonly stored in

low, accessible places while low phosphate detergents are safer to the environment, theyare 100 to 1000 times more caustic than phosphate detergents. (5) In other words, they can

cause serious burns even if only a small amount is digested. In homes with young children,

powder (rather than liquid) detergents are recommended because it is more difficult to

swallow powder granules. Please, if you have small children, keep the detergents stored well

OUT OF REACH.

Sources:

1. SDA - The Soap and Detergent Association, Chemistry.

http://www.cleaning101.com/cleaning/chemistry

2. What is Soap? What is a Detergent?

http://www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au/discovery/9.5.5-short/9.5.5_soapdetergent.html

3. The Difference Between a Detergent and a Soap.

http://www.care2.com/channels/askannie/2001/06/25

4. Synthetic Surfactant or Soap?http://www.fabrics.net/deterg.asp

5. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Great Lakes National Program Office.

Detergent.

http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/deterg.htm

Content Copyright Heather L Sanders.

May not be reprinted without permission.

About the author :: Heather Sanders lives in Huntsville, TX with her husband and 3 kids.

Heather has started and sold two successful online cloth diapering businesses, including

The Diaper Hyena. In addition to those two businesses, she has written exclusively for

Diaper Pinin the Cut of Cloth section. Shortly thereafter, she wrote a few articles for

Natural Family Online and in 2004, served as one of the Moderators for the Cloth

Diapering Forums atMothering.com. Later, she worked as the Assistant Administrator for

the entire forum and served on the Expert Panel at Mothering.com for Cloth Diapering.

Heather was one of the founders ofReal Diaper Association, owns and manages

Clothdiapersale.com and blogs personally atwww.ohmystinkinheck.com.
http://www.cleaning101.com/cleaning/chemistryhttp://www.cleaning101.com/cleaning/chemistryhttp://www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au/discovery/9.5.5-short/9.5.5_soapdetergent.htmlhttp://www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au/discovery/9.5.5-short/9.5.5_soapdetergent.htmlhttp://www.care2.com/channels/askannie/2001/06/25http://www.care2.com/channels/askannie/2001/06/25http://www.fabrics.net/deterg.asphttp://www.fabrics.net/deterg.asphttp://www.fabrics.net/deterg.asphttp://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/deterg.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/deterg.htmhttp://www.diaperpin.com/http://www.diaperpin.com/http://www.mothering.com/http://www.mothering.com/http://www.mothering.com/http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/http://www.ohmystinkinheck.com/http://www.ohmystinkinheck.com/http://www.ohmystinkinheck.com/http://www.ohmystinkinheck.com/http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/http://www.mothering.com/http://www.diaperpin.com/http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/housewaste/house/deterg.htmhttp://www.fabrics.net/deterg.asphttp://www.care2.com/channels/askannie/2001/06/25http://www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au/discovery/9.5.5-short/9.5.5_soapdetergent.htmlhttp://www.cleaning101.com/cleaning/chemistry


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