The modern market of detergents is filled with a large number of different options. Despite this, household soap is still the favorite product of housewives, although it does not look attractive and does not have a delicious smell, like modern soap options. Household soap is produced according to GOST, the composition of which was approved even in the Soviet Union. What gives this detergent so many competitive qualities? What is included in household soap?
Storage
Household soap combines several variants of fatty acids. We know saturated (lauric, palmitic, stearic) and unsaturated (linoleic, lenolenic, oleic) types of acids. The melting point of saturated elements varies in the range of 45-70 degrees Celsius.
Palmitic acid, which is part of household soap, performs the function of maintaining the product in a solid state and foaming. Stearin helps to increase the washing properties in warm water. If there is too much palmitin and stearin in the soap, the soaping properties will be less than necessary. So that the soap does not swell and lathers well in cold water, it is made using lauric acid.
The main feature of unsaturated acids is the temperature at which fats begin to melt. It is quite low and keeps in the region of 16 C. This soap is produced in liquid form.
Fatty acids of exclusively animal origin are mixed into the composition of the soap: pork fat, often mutton fat, as well as beef fat. They often resort to the use of marine animal fats.
Another substance of plant origin that manufacturers use in the manufacturing process is salomas. It is quite hard in structure, and with a high content of it in the composition of the soap, foaming and soaping properties are reduced.
Excessive addition of artificial fats to the product significantly reduces foaming and cleaning properties. Thanks to fat substitutes, the soap acquires a dark shade and an unusual smell.
Rosin is also part of household soap. It increases foaming and soaping properties.
“Our” laundry soap is different from soap made in other countries. During production, elements of lower quality than abroad are used.
Manufacturers are actively fighting the problem of stickiness and color range of household soap and in the process of preparation add various substances to its composition.
Manufacturing principle
The production of household soap consists in its boiling. After that, the formed acids are formed with the help of machines.
There are two methods of making soap.
- The first is simpler and is based on the melting of fats at high temperatures, thanks to which soap glue is obtained. Further, the frozen mass is cut into pieces. Soap containing 60% fatty acids is obtained in this way.
- The second method involves adding salt to the mass during cooking, which increases the acid content. The caustic added to the composition of soap with this method of production allows you to get rid of excess fats. This method is used to boil 65% soap.
To obtain 70% and 72% household soap, fatty acids are salted out. With repeated salting, the bar acquires a white color. To increase the cleaning and disinfecting effect, special substances are added to the soap.
Kinds
Household soap is divided into several categories, depending on the method of application, it comes in three types: for hands, for washing kitchen and utensils, and for laundry.
It can have a different consistency and be in liquid, solid and powder form.
Fat content defines three categories of soap: 65%, 70%, 72%. The first are extremely rare.
Laundry soap is sold most often without packaging and can be dark or light in color. Depending on the size, soap bars weigh from 150 to 500 grams and are made in the shape of a rectangle.
Not every fabric can be washed with such soap, for example, it is better not to wash cotton with household soap, as it decomposes into its constituent elements in warm water and can damage the fibers.