Everything Everywhere Daily A History of Soap and Detergent
Sep 26, 2025
Discover the fascinating accidental origins of soap and its ancient uses in cultures like Egyptian and Roman. Learn about saponification, the science behind soap's ability to emulsify grease. Hear the story of how Ivory soap came to float! Delve into the differences between soap and detergent, including how detergents were developed during WWI. Explore the environmental impact of phosphates in detergents and the evolution of shampoos from soap to detergent-based formulas. Cleaning has never been so intriguing!
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Earliest Soap Was An Accidental Mix
- Ancient soap likely came from mixing animal fat and wood ash around fires.
- Archaeologists found clay cylinders in Babylon with fat-and-ash mixtures circa 2800 BC.
How Soap Actually Cleans
- Soap molecules form by saponification when fats meet alkalis, creating hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends.
- Those molecules surround grease as micelles so oil can be suspended and rinsed away.
Medieval Cities Made Soap An Art
- Medieval centers like Aleppo and Damascus refined soap-making using olive and bay oils to make durable soaps.
- Europe developed Marseille soap and soap-making guilds, but soap remained a luxury for many.