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Soap or Detergent?
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 Chemistry – hopefully, you’ve 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 diapers – well, read the
following article and hopefully it can equip you in making that choice for your family’s laundry.
First things first – a 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
surface – which 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 first commonality 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, and therefore, 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 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 (also called ‘curd’) will be left in the fabric
of your diapers or any of your family’s 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 them more 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 diaper’s
maximum absorption capabilities. We also want our diapers to have every
opportunity to get completely clean – and 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 in the 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. Bronner’s Castile Soaps!
That Peppermint will WAKE YOU UP!
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, they are 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.
2. What is Soap? What is a Detergent?
5. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Great Lakes
National Program Office. Detergent.
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 Pin in 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 at Mothering.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 of Real Diaper Association, owns and manages Clothdiapersale.com and blogs personally at www.ohmystinkinheck.com.
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