Selfsufficientish.com

The Chili Monster wrote:Hi all

Metal phosphates and carbonates split to lower the pH of the water, likewise citric and acetic (vinegar) acids.

Sorry CM, phosphates and carbonates actually raise the pH of water ie they are alkaline, hence they help saponify oils and greases.

(Yes now that you ask I am a pedantic SOB )

Nev

So now you've got to explain what weak acids contribute to a wash!

Wulf

Well, Wulf, here is my theory -

The weak acids neutalize any remaining alkalinity, thereby improving fabric "feel".

Nev

wombat wrote
carbonates and phosphates lower the pH ...

Yes, wombat, but the hydrogen ions from the acetic acid and the metal ions from the carbonates (and phosphates when used) lower it!
Anyway, before I'm dragged off back to the treatment room...


Actually, it's probably not the Bronsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases we should be looking at ... rather the Lewis model.
Oh good they've just arrived with my medication.

8)

OK, alternative theory..........

I have been reading up a bit and it seems that soap residues do not rinse out of clothing as well as the modern detergents do, soooooo the acid asissts in removing soap residue in the clothes.

Nev

How, exactly?

Hi, I have this recipe for Fabric Shampoo (can be used on upholstery)

1 Ounce dried Soapwort root or four handfuls whole fresh plant
3 pints water.

If using dried roots they should be soaked for nine hours before preparing. Chop fresh whole plant put in pan with cold water and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for about half an hour. This applied to freh or dried Soapwort. Stir occasionally. Cool and strain. Use solution undiluted.

I understand that soapwort was used for washing all sorts in days of yore.

Sue

I usually just blow the dust off them and eat them anyway :-)

hedgewizard wrote:How, exactly?

Alright smart arse! I don't know, it is just a theory!

Nev

PS Washing off the allsorts.................................

Surely, Nev, in that case it's just a hypothesis.

Anyway, I tried putting vinegar in the rinse yesterday, and can report that I do not seem to be smelling like a chip shop. Whether it made my crusty T-shirts any softer remains to be seen.

Acetic acid is pretty volatile so even in quite high concentrations it buggers off pretty damned quick once it's in the air. While I think of it, a traditional indian treatment for removing turmeric stains is to rinse them in weak lemon juice and air dry in direct sunlight. It works too, I tried it.

It's odd, but the smell of vinegar doesn't seem to linger. I always use it for cleaning, and it wears off within 10 minutes.

I don't think my house smells like a chip shop anyway!! Still haven't tried it in the wash though.

I was talking to a neighbour who is moving to a flat down the road. She said she will not need her washing machine as the building where she is moving to has it's own laundry. This got me thinking:
would it be more environmenally friendly to use a laundry or use your own washing machine? There are a few laundrettes where I live and I have used them when washing my duvet as they have extra large washers just for duvets. I did this all the time for all my laundry when I was a student.

I've finished my trial of soapnuts, and on the whole I've been quite pleased with them. For general washing of grubby everyday clothes they're fine and come out quite soft without anything else- I added a few drops of essential oil to the softner draw so they smelt nice....Maximus' dry skin doesn't seem to have got any worse. I have gone back to using ecover for my whites and for really filthy clothes (son digging for dinosaur bones on the allotment) and the soapnuts couldn't really cope with that.
I also cooked up the used soapnuts for an hour, added some Tea tree essential oil to the resulting amber liquid- and there you have an excellent handsoap! the outer husks were then slung on the compost heap. I have also un-plumbed my washing machine so I can put the out pipe in a bucket so I can water the garden with the rinsings.

kind thoughts
Deb

(I have aslo planted some soapwort to see what thats like later in the year)