The Positive Impacts of Real Soap

Ellie Jones

AP Literature
Morton
30 October 2015
Outline

THESIS: The fine line between soap and detergent has been blurred through the ingredients

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and evolution of cleansing for the majority of the population utilizing these products.

I. The history of soap and the handcrafting process enrich individuals today utilizing soap.
A. Soaps journey began accidentally but has become a necessity for almost everyone in the world
today.
B. The process of making soap is simple and easy to learn.
C. There is an exact chemistry to making soap.

II. The differences between true soap and detergents are vast and the ingredients is where they
begin.
A. True soap is composed of lye water and oils.
B. Detergent is a man made, chemically based cleaner that many have substituted for soap.
C. When comparing soap and detergent the negativity of detergent is illuminated.

III. The effects of detergent and soap differ resulting in an altering of the general populations
view.
A. Chemicals have a negative impact on individual soap users and our environment.
B. There is a real, positive impact of cleansing with true soap.
C. Individuals should be aware of what they are applying to their bodies everyday.
The fine line between soap and detergent has been blurred through the ingredients and
evolution of cleansing for the majority of the population utilizing these products. After learning a
task and repeating it day after day people tend to lose thought while doing it. Each day people
reach for the soap bar in the shower or the bottle next to the sink without thinking; it is just the
norm. They apply it to their skin, hair, and maybe even their children. What is actually in this
mysterious cleansing agent people use seems to slip their minds. Most soap in the store aisle
today are chemically based detergents which damage skin and are harmful to the environment.

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Soaps journey began accidentally but has become a necessity for almost everyone in the
world today. In the olden days, people roasted meat over a fire and the fat dripped down into the
ashes. When water was added, it bubbled and cleaned the area. This was the beginning of soap.
Shivani Arjuna states in Coming Clean - The Story of Soap that bathing remained a healthy
custom in places like Japan and Iceland but it fell out of favor in Europe. The church thought
filthiness was a sign of holiness therefore bathing was not an option. Large misconceptions led
them to believe it was unimportant resulting in horrible plagues. Doctors even supported the idea
that a layer of dirt would protect people from the diseases. Bathing began to make a comeback in
Europe in the 17th century followed by the discovery of germs in the 1800s which really pushed
people to stay clean. This idea of cleanliness traveled to America with the arrival of several soap
makers on the second ship from England in 1608, for many years soap making was essentially a
household chore (Arjuna). The colonists would boil animal fats to render them into oil. Lye
solution was prepared by pouring water through ashes, and considered to be the right strength
when a potato or egg would float in it with an area about the size of a quarter above the
surface. This was the simple process of soap making that almost every household endured in
order to clean their house and themselves. Highbeam Research in Soap and Detergent Industry
state that the colonies had developed a minor soap market by 1770 where they exported more
than 86,000 pounds of soap worth 2,165 to the West Indies. Following the American Revolution,
they never could recover this amount of trade. The growth of cities and textile industries
continued to grow in the early nineteenth century. By 1840 Cincinnati had become the largest
soap making city in the United States (Soap 1). From then on the process of soap making was
varied and continued to develop and change from the original process of handcrafting soap.

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There is an exact chemistry to making soap. In the early 1800s a French chemist, Michel
Chevrenl, discovered the chemical relationship of fats, glycerin and fatty acids, establishing the
basis for soap chemistry (Arjuna). Soap is made from combining fats and oils which contain fatty
acids. These are weak acids composed of a carboxylic acid group consisting of one hydrogen
atom, two oxygen atoms, and one carbon atom and a hydrocarbon chain attached to the
carboxylic acid group (History). When combining the fatty acids with lye, they create alkaline.
This is a soluble salt of an alkali metal like sodium or potassium. The alkaline divides the animal
fats and oils into fatty acids and glycerin. Next the sodium or potassium part of the alkali
combines with the fatty acid which forms a salt that the world calls soap. This is produced
from the hydrolysis of fats in a chemical reaction called saponification. Water alone does not do
the cleansing job because people are oily. Dirt attaches itself to people and is embedded in this
oil which repels water (Arjuna). When people bathe with soap the water end of the molecule
sticks into sebum. This is an oil that your skin produces. As water circulates during the washing
process, the soap molecules carry away the oil and dirt that is in it (History). The chemistry to
soap is what makes it effective and useful. Many people do not realize the technicality to soap
and its process.
True soap is composed of lye, water, and oils. The amounts of all of these ingredients
depend on the recipe. In older times the only available fats or oils were those from an animal.
Today palm oil, pomace, olive oil, castor oil, soybean oil, and coconut oil are all used in soap
making. These oils produce a nice, hard bar of soap that has good lathering qualities. In place or
addition of oil, some soap makers use apricot, almond, avocado, jojoba, hemp, other nut or seed
oils, and butters such as shea and cocoa (Soap Ingredients 2). Soap can also be made with
goats milk. Goat milk is similar to cow milk but the fat globule is 100 times larger in cows

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milk. Goat milk contains more water which makes it lathery and good for moderately dry skin.
Lye is necessary in all handcrafted soap. The reaction between the lye and oils are what make
soap, soap. After saponification all the lye is converted into soap with zero amounts of lye
remaining in the final soap bar. Susan Miller Cavitch tells us in her book The Soap Makers
Companion that there are two types of lye used in soap making. Sodium hydroxide is used when
making a solid soap. Potassium hydroxide is used to make liquid soap. A combination of the two
create cream soaps. Water is also needed in order to create the lye solution that is combined with
the oils. Fragrance oils and color are also an option in soap making. Fragrance oils are
synthesized from aromatic chemical compounds which are then blended to produce scents people
recognize (Soap Ingredients 2). These are generally made from essential oils or from flowers
which equate to a large cost. Dyes must be approved by the FDA before being used in soaps but
tend to add some flare to handcrafted soap. To create a basic batch of soap, it is easy to find the
ingredients and create.
Through an interview with Dr. Tim Tyndall on The Soap Making Process, the process of
soap making is found to be simple and easy to learn. The three basic ingredients are oil, water,
and lye which are combined to create soap. Before beginning to make soap the proper safety
equipment is required. Goggles or face shield, gloves, and an apron are necessities in order to
protect the soap maker from getting lye on their skin, eyes, and clothes. Lye is the number one
fear of soap making but if the proper precautions are taken it is completely safe. Aluminum does
not exist in the soap making world because the lye will destroy it. Plastic is an okay substitute
but stainless steel bowls are preferred. It is important for the ingredients to stay within a 90 to
120 degree margin while soap making. If they fall below 90 the soap falls apart and if they
breach 120 the soap maker is jeopardizing the quality. Also, a good reminder to any new soap

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maker is that whatever items you dedicate to soap making such as bowls, mixing utensils, and
clothes remain dedicated to soap after their first time through the process. There are two routes to
choose between when making soap; the cold or hot process. The hot process includes boiling and
cooking the mix which drives the water out quickly. The soap will become harder faster.
Although this route is a time saver, it rushes the process while the heat also pulls out some of the
good attributes. Because of these two sacrifices, the cold process is the route of choice. To make
a 30 ounce batch (2 pounds) of bar soap, the soap maker starts by mixing 10 ounces of each oil
together then checks the temperature. Next they will weigh a bowl of water to get the appropriate
amount and also take the temperature. A secret to soap making is to use partially ice and partially
water at this step so that they are able to stay within the temperature margin. The lye will quickly
heat the water therefore the ice keeps it cool. Then they will measure out the lye, add it to the
water, and check the temperature. Always add the lye to the water. If the soap maker adds water
to lye then a steam explosion will take place. Next, they will pour the lye water into the oils. The
soap maker should always strain the lye water mix into the oils in case of debris or anything
mistakenly added. The next step is to add the fragrance. Use one teaspoon per pound of raw oils
of fragrance to start. If the scent isnt strong enough the soap maker is welcome to add more.
Spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and clove and floral scents such as rose, jasmine, and
sandalwood are the most reactive fragrances. The soap does not require a fragrance. This step is
completely up to the soap maker. Next they will stir the lye, water, and oil mix until it is syrupy
and at trace. This means that you can write a letter on top of the mix with a drip off of the spatula
or mixing utensil and it remains visible for a few seconds. Lastly they will pour the mix into a
container (a tupperware will do due to the small batch amount) and place the lid on top but do
not seal! This allows the soap to breathe a bit. Leave the soap in the container for ten days to

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two weeks then take it out, cut it to desired bar sizes, and let it sit on the shelf for four to six
weeks. This allows the water to extract from the soap, making it a firm bar. Olive oil soap is
prone to rancidity after about 9 months but castor oil doesnt really do anything therefore shelf
life for most hand crafted soaps is pretty long time (Tyndall).
Detergent is a man made, chemically based cleaner that many have substituted for soap.
Before the early mid 50s, America bought real soap made from fats and oils. Tide detergent was
the first chemically made soap mass produced and sold. Phosphate compound builders vastly
improved laundry cleaning performance and by 1953 detergent sales in America surpassed those
of actual soap (Arjuna). Clothes did get cleaner with this cleaning agent but the quality began to
descend. By the early 90s, soap had become a caked up piece of detergent. Every commercial
was for detergent unlike today where commercials are primarily for medications. The FDA
established that soap producers could not advertise and label their product as soap therefore the
word was transformed to bar. Ivory soap was the only lasting soap that remained real until
around two years ago (Tyndall). Because there is such a wide variety of detergents, its
impossible to describe how each of them is made. Man has experimented with all kinds of
chemicals mixed with natural substances to find which are best for removing dirt and oils
(Kumer). The bar soaps contain additional chemicals to allow them hold their shape and move
smoothly through factory machinery. Naturally humectant glycerin that is a byproduct of natural
saponification is removed. Liquid soaps are composed almost entirely of chemicals with
varying toxicity. They both also contain petrochemical fragrances and colorants that are toxic.
Much of what is called soap today is this mysterious and harsh, petroleum-based detergent that
dries and irritates people's skin which can cause inflammation, itching, and burning (Arjuna).

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When comparing soap and detergent, the negativity of detergent is illuminated. True soap
does clean but it leaves a lotion on the surface which leaves nutrients to penetrate all layers of
your skin. This is a good component to soap due to the fact that it cleans and heals skin to help it
remain healthy. This is the difference between soap and detergent. When using soap from the
store, it strips your skin of these nutrients. Therefore after a shower, peoples skin is screaming
for help. So, they apply lotion which soothes their skin in their minds. In ten minutes their skin
feels like they have a residue remaining. It is the wax left on by the lotion which is also
unfavorable for their skin (Tyndall). Detergent harms and forces skin to become more and more
damaged throughout utilizing the product many have called soap for so long. Most
antibacterial and antimicrobial contain triclosan. Triclosan is known to cause cancer. According
to the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, manufacturers of a number of
products with triclosan claim that the active ingredient continues to work for as long as 12 hours
after use (Group). This means that users are exposed to this cancer causing chemical for more
than the 20 seconds it takes to wash their hands or face. Detergent is also creating a negative
impact on our environment. Most detergents contain phosphates which vastly improved laundry
performance. Phosphates are nutrients that stimulate overgrowth of algae which depletes the
amount of oxygen in contaminated waters. This restricts airflow and destroys plant and fish life.
It is estimated that 50 to 70 percent of the phosphorus in our lakes and rivers comes from
detergents. Imagine a family with three kids who are all athletes. That family will only inflate
this amount due to the loads of laundry and times showering in one week alone. By 1983 over 2
million tons of phosphorus were used annually in the US with the average American contributing
one and half to two pounds of phosphorus a year to surface waters (Arjuna). These numbers have
continued to increase. One pound of phosphorus can stimulate the growth of 700 pounds of

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algae. A one to seven hundred ratio is insane. This can kill an astounding amount of plants and
fish everyday. Most soaps that are used to wash vehicles at the car wash or in driveways also
contain this terrible chemical. After washing, the soap and water mix runoff to drains that are
almost always directly fed into a stream or river which then flows into bigger waters. This brings
us to the same dilemma of killing wildlife. The intent to stay clean is actually destroying parts of
our wonderful planet which is a surprise to many.
There is a real, positive impact of cleansing with true soap. By using real soap people
reduce the amount of toxicity entering their body and lower the chances of skin irritation and
health issues. Because it is naturally made soap it is not tested on animals. The absence of
chemicals and pesticides that pollute water and air supply are extinguished. Moving back
towards the basics does not equate to moving backwards in the knowledge of the soap market. It
means that people are becoming educated and invested in the material things that they have
become dependent on. This not only improves the physical state of people but also forecasts the
intellectual interest and steps people are beginning to take for the betterment of themselves and
their families.
Individuals should be aware of what they are applying to their skin everyday. The three
top reasons that people are drawn to soap making are curiosity, personal motivation from a child
or family member with a skin condition, and the hope to treat their bodies better. Some people
are looking for a new hobby to take on post retirement while some desire to master an
entertaining craft. Other soap makers have the intent to help others. They travel to the detergent
aisles in corporate businesses and sit down to read the ingredients labels to discover what is
considered soap to the untrained eye (Tyndall). This allows soap makers to educate themselves
on the terrible chemicals used then create a cleansing agent that treats and heals skin for

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sunburns, bug bites, poison ivy, dry skin, sensitive skin due to medications or illnesses, and
anybody looking to treat their body well with ingredients that will only benefit the individual.
This also allows soap makers to educate themselves in order to inform others of the terrors of
mass produced soap sold in stores. Just like soap makers, soap users are capable of looking on
the back of the soap bottle sitting in their shower or on the shelf in the store. Questions should be
asked and answered to determine what exactly is being applied to their skin. No matter what
brings people to soap making, their minds are immensely expanded when they find out what they
have been applying to their skin. The ingredients and effects of what lies in the soap should alter
the habits formed from nurture. These changes will not only improve the health of individuals
but also the environment that the world hopes to live in for as long as possible.

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Works Cited

Arjuna, Shivani. "Coming Clean - The Story of Soap." Coming Clean - The Story of Soap.
Wellness Directory of Minnesota, 2003. Web. 07 Oct. 2015.

Cavitch, Susan Miller. The Soapmaker's Companion: A Comprehensive Guide with Recipes,
Techniques & Know-how. Pownal, VT: Storey Communications, 1997. Print.

Group, Edward. "The Benefits of Organic Soap." Dr Groups Natural Health Organic Living
Blog. Global Healing Center, 21 May 2014. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

"History of Soap, The" The History of Soap. American Soap Company, 2015. Web. 18 Oct.
2015.

"Soap;Detergent Industry." Dictionary of American History. 2003. "Soap and Detergent

Industry."Encyclopedia.com. HighBeam Research, 01 Jan. 2003. Web. 07 Oct. 2015.

"Soap Ingredients." Soap Ingredients. Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, 1998. Web. 07 Oct.
2015.

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Tyndall, Tim. "Soap Making Process." Personal interview. July 2015.