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Soap
Flakes
Rajeev
Aggarwal
How does Soap work ?
:
When walking through a store,
have you ever noticed all the different kinds of soap? They come in a
variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and it seems that each is used for
a specific purpose. How did this business get so complex? In order to
appreciate soap, it helps to understand what soap is and learn a little
about it’s history.
Most folks know that oil & water don’t mix. Since water and the
oil produced by the skin (which holds the dirt) do not mix, washing with
water alone will not remove the dirt and oil on the skin. This problem
is solved with soap. A soap molecule contains two portions: a carbon
chain and an ionic end of sodium or potassium. The carbon chain of the
soap molecule is lipophilic, that is it is attracted to organic
compounds (Aloves@ oil compounds) while the ionic sodium or potassium
end of the molecule is hydrophilic, that is it Aloves@ water. In this
way, the soap molecule is active for both oil and water. When you wash
with soap, your skin oils (which contain the dirt) mix with the soap
molecule which also mixes with water. When the soap suds are rinsed
away, the oil and dirt go with it.
The History of Soap :
The Romans are often credited with the discovery of soap around 1000
B.C. Legend says that the fat dripping off an animal sacrifice dripped
into the ashes of the fire below it. Somehow this mixture made it into
the Tiber River where women were doing laundry. They discovered that the
clothes came clean easier with this substance. Since the hill they were
on was known as Sapo, the mixture was named after the hill, which became
the modern word Asoap.” The Romans used soap only for the purpose of
cleaning clothes.
In the 17th century water was seen as a magical solution, and baths were
used only when directed by a physician. It was feared that if the water
bath was used incorrectly, disaster would strike. Over time, however, it
became noted by practicing physicians that people who bathed regularly
were generally of better health than those who did not. Unfortunately,
the general public paid little attention to this fact.
During the 18th century the living standards in Europe increased. The
desire to “smell of flowers” caused an increase in the demand for
domestic soap. Bathing became popular. Until that time, soap was still
generally used only for washing clothes.
In Colonial times, soap was made primarily from pork fat and a crude
form of lye. The lye was tested for suitability by dropping an egg into
it. If the egg floated, the lye was too strong. If it sank, the lye was
too weak. It had to suspend or sink very slowly to be right. The pork
fat base (not the lye) made this soap good for washing clothes, but
often harsh to the skin. During World War I, soap as we know it today
came into existence. The injuries of war brought an increased need for
cleaning agents. At the same time, the lack of ready ingredients for
soap and the aging time required to produce it needed to be addressed to
meet the demands. The answer was found in labs, and detergents were
born.
What many do not know ... :
The truth is few companies actually make “soap”. What we generally
call soap comes from a synthetic chemical base laden with additives
& petroleum by-products. In fact, most of what is sold in the
supermarket is actually classified as a detergent by the U.S.
Government. Most of this base is produced by five independent “soap
makers”. Of these five soap makers, only three companies actually make
their own base, meaning that virtually all “soaps” start from the
same synthetic chemical base despite their differences in appearances.
The chemical base is purchased by manufacturing companies who add their
own fragrances & colors. To make the colors more vibrant and
consistent, other chemicals are also added. During the manufacturing
process most of the glycerine (a naturally occurring humectant) is
removed to be sold to a more lucrative market. The last step is the
addition of a chemical catalyst to harden the “soap” quickly. This
speeds the manufacturing process and reduces damage to the product in
shipment. The ready compound is then injected into molds to form it into
shape. The curing is so quick that in most cases, it can be removed from
the mold in under one hour.
The “End Result”
:
Most of the products you bathe with are actually synthetic detergents
called bath or beauty bars. These names are used to get around the
legality that the products are not actually soaps, while at the same
time, spare the consumer the knowledge that one is bathing with a
synthetic chemical compound. Many people are allergic to chemical
compounds and find some commercial soaps cause them to break out in a
rash. Many of these people, do not have this problem when using
naturally made soaps.
My Soaps are made from natural ingredients. I use only pure oils such as
Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, and
Apricot Kernel Oil. Since the oils are pure, they are costly and are
purchased in small quantities and kept refrigerated before use. The
glycerine that occurs naturally during the soap making process is
retained within the soap. The PH level is balanced to a neutral seven.
The modest coloring of my soap is achieved with simple food coloring.
All of my soaps harden naturally in molds over a period of weeks. I use
no hardening agents to “force” the process. My family tests my soap
batches before sale.
Soap making requires an investment in time and the ingredients are
costly, but the results are worth it. Your skin is cleansed with a mild
and true soap, while the natural oils help reduce the loss of your
skin’s own natural oil. Please try one of my soaps and give your skin
a vacation. Your skin just may thank you for it !
Author:
Rajeev Aggarwal,
HOD - Cottage Industry Technology,
Kigali Institute of Science Technology and Management,
B.P.3900,
Kigali, Rwanda.
Email : rajeev@kist.ac.rw
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