Someone once asked me why we use soap. The simple answer is because water, the most readily available solvent, isn't sufficient for removing oil-based grime from ourselves or from objects like dishes or clothes. Of course, there are other cleaning options, such as detergents, borax, or solvents like alcohol. Are you interested in learning more about the chemistry of clean? Here are some articles to get you started:
Explore Chemistry
©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.
A part of The New York Times Company.
Comments