Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Geezer on 20/01/2011 21:10:55

Title: Does liquid soap leave less scum?
Post by: Geezer on 20/01/2011 21:10:55: Mrs G tends to inhabit the upper apartments, whereas I tend to be confined to the subterranean zone, of "Maison Geezer". However, the other day Mrs G had occasion to enter the downstairs lavatorial facilities. Shortly thereafter, I was handed a bucket containing various cleaning materials and advised in no uncertain terms that I better get it cleaned up PDQ on account of it being "worse than the toilet in a bleeding gas station". (I cleaned that bit up a bit.)

While attending to my new assignment, I observed a significant amount of nasty crud that was adhering to the porcelain handbasin which I had to remove mechanically. We have rather hard well water here, so I assume it was caused by a combination of soap and minerals in the water.

If I switched from solid soap to liquid soap, would this reduce my domestic cleaning workload in any way?
Title: Does liquid soap leave less scum?
Post by: Don_1 on 21/01/2011 11:24:57: I can just here Mrs G now...... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VgcxE9Lpw)

I assume that the high level of lime in your water must have its effect on the caking agents in hard soap bars. I think tallow is often used to help solidify soap.

Presumably a liquid soap would solve this problem or one of the cream bars which has more oils and extracts such as that spiky plant stuff, what's it called now?

Knock knock"Is anyone at home?"

"Oh hello Vera, come in."

Ah yes, that's the stuff, aloe vera.

Of course you could just wipe the ~~stink~~ sink (I don't know, I could have been right first time) and bath (US = tub) with a little washing-up detergent after use. That's what we do.

Alternatively, you could just find a new and more amenable Mrs G.

I hope she didn't see that.

LOOK OUT!!! She's coming, I'm off (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fparanoid%2F2.gif&hash=b6c89a93fcdc26f07540419a36cc278d)
Title: Does liquid soap leave less scum?
Post by: Bored chemist on 21/01/2011 18:24:57: Most liquid soaps are not, from the chemical point of view, soaps at all and they don't form a precipitate of calcium salts with hard water(i.e. scum).