What Is the Difference Between Detergent & Soaps?
Detergent and soap are often used for the same things; they are, however, fundamentally different. They are made from different ingredients, and their use results in different effects on the environment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Composition
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Detergents are made with nonrenewable resources. Petroleum-based oils are the base of detergents.
Soaps are made with renewable and natural resources, such as olive oils and vegetable oils. Soaps also can be made with rendered animal fats, called tallow.
History
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Detergents were developed in Germany during World War II in response to a shortage of available oils and fats to make soap.
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Detergent
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Sale of laundry detergent rose above that of soap flakes in the 1950s in the United States. Detergent did a much better job of cleaning heavily soiled clothing and was less likely to cause the machine to clog with suds.
Hard Water
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Detergent rinses well in hard water. Soap tends to leave soap scum behind when used to wash clothes in this type of water.
Environment
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With the exception of a very few products, detergents contain phosphorous. Phosphorus causes algae to grow too fast, which changes the ecological balance in water supplies and kills fish. Fish are the food source for some wildlife; these animals go hungry and die because of phosphorous in lakes and streams.
Green Living
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Soaps are almost always nontoxic and biodegradable, making them a much better choice for the health of the environment.
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