Sometimes I get thoughts stuck in my head, which can be more annoying than a repetitive phrase from a song. Just talking about such thoughts, or writing about them, helps get those thoughts out of my way so I can think about more important things... Tonight, for no particular reason, I seem to be overly fascinated with the subject of laundry detergent (?), probably because I overheard a discussion about what kind of detergent is better for certain clothes... Laundry detergents and soaps have several common components that work together to clean clothes or to give the illusion of cleaner clothes. A surfactant (detergent) breaks down chains of water molecules, making it wetter, so it can better surround particles of dirt. Lubricants (soaps consisting of oils or fats and lye) bond to oils in fabrics, and surround particles of dirt and ensure they go down the drain with rinse water instead of staying on the clothes. Soaps are more damaging to the environment than detergents, require hot water to work effectively, and are required in higher amounts than detergents, which work optimally at very low concentrations, and work equally well in cold water. Just a few drops of detergent per gallon of water is just as effective as the much larger amounts usually used by most people. A texturizer (starch or polymer) makes the wear of repeated washings less damaging to fabrics, can extend the usable lifetime of some fabrics, and also makes the texture of fabrics feel crisp and clean. Catalysts, and enzymes, germ-killing poisons, and sometimes oxygen-based bleach, breaks down common soils that tend to cling to clothing so that the water (with surface tension lowered by detergent or aided with lubricants) can surround and separate particles of dirt from fabrics. Enzymes digest common stains, bleaches oxidize them, breaking bonds to fabrics, and catalysts enhance the action of other components of the detergent or soap. All cold water detergents use components in this category which will kill most common bacteria in laundry, regardless of hot water. Laundry soaps containing lye also kill bacteria, but fats and oils in soaps, when not used in sufficient quantities to kill bacteria, can leave trace residues which can encourage growth of bacteria in laundry that is not dried right away. However some oils used in soaps are also effective at killing bacteria. Soaps are generally better for removing poison ivy oil, because detergents tend to evenly distribute small amounts of the irritating oil to all clothing rather than bonding to the oil to ensure it is rinsed away. If using detergents with clothes contaminated with poison ivy, three wash and rinse cycles may be required, and an extra rinse cycle may be required with laundry soaps. Brighteners, usually phosphates, which hide the appearance of stains using a photoluminescent effect, captures invisible UV light that is present in sunlight and most artificial lights, and releases visible white light, which reduces the contrast of stains against fabrics, making permanent stains less obvious. Fragrances cover odors not completely removed by washing, and make laundry smell fresh. Salts, such as borax, are often added to laundry soaps to soften water, making the soaps more effective. Some people also use fabric softeners which add even more texture and fragrance to finished laundry, and can reduce the effect of static electricity, resulting in fewer lost socks... Other people add bleach or oxygen-based bleach, to sanitize laundry. Borax is commonly used in some areas of the country to reduce hard-water stains. Vinegar is sometimes used to remove odors. Some additives, such as chlorine bleach, require additional rinses to ensure they are completely removed from clothing before handling and drying.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 04:34:01 +0000
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