My dad and I are having a debate about the importance of using washing up liquid and I need your help!!
He proffers that water in itself is clean, so why can we not just use water to clean our plates etc.
He also gave an example of how we would likely feel cleaner after “trudging through the jungle”, if we had a wash in a big jungle waterfall without soap.
I showed him that his glasses come out looking cleaner (no water marks) when he washes them with washing up liquid to prove my point that it is important to use it.
But can anyone tell me the actual science behind why we should use it? Or is my dad right? 😂
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You can win this with a practical demo. Have him put some oil on his hands (olive oil, salad dressing, etc.) and try and rinse it off with just water. It will be nearly impossible, because oil and water don’t mix. Water alone can’t carry away oil because it can’t mix with it. If he gets the oil off at all it will take a long time and a ton of scrubbing.
Almost all food has at least some non-zero oil or fat level. When oil is on something it forms a layer that water alone physically can’t penetrate or remove.
What soap does is act as an “intermediate” substance that allows oil and water to mix, which allows the water to carry the oil away. Add some soap to his oily hands and let him try clearing them in water again. He will see for himself how much faster, easier, and more thorough the removal of oils/grease/fat is when there’s soap to let the water do its work.
And since removing oils/grease/fat is exactly what you’re doing when washing dishes, you need soap for that too.
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