Why are modern dishwashing gels dangerous?

Once upon a time, people washed dirty dishes with clean warm water and, if necessary, polished them to a shine with river sand or ash. In those happy times, no one thought that the fat collected for weeks was difficult to scrape off - they tried to wash it immediately. But everything changed in 1908, when the talented chemist Grigory Petrov found a use for oil sulfoxides, which they did not know how to get rid of. This is how the first surfactants appeared.

What is this beast

Surfactants are the basis of cleaning and washing products of the chemical industry. They are able to change the surface tension of natural compounds, leading to their cleavage and destruction.

It is thanks to this property that dried fat or egg white come off the plates so well. But there is also a second side to the coin. Surfactant, like any oil derivative, is extremely reluctant to be washed off with water - it will take about 5 minutes splash in running water with a single plate in order to confidently declare: it is almost clean.

You don't have to, of course. But in such a case, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the use of surfactants in science: biologists use them to destroy cell membranes in order to get to the insides of cells. Yes, those who are not particularly impressionable can try to explain that dishwashing detergent and laboratory reagent are not the same thing at all. And surfactants are different. Well, there is only one answer to this: have you heard about a drop of nicotine and a horse? Here is the same principle.

Modern surfactants: why does a dishwasher need chemical protection?

Some of these substances are used in medicine as antiseptics: due to the ability to destroy cell membranes, this filth destroys all life, even those as persistent as bacteria and viruses. And this is great, because there is no place for pathogenic microbes on plates and pans. But a person also consists of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, which surfactants are called to fight against. On contact with the skin, this substance destroys the natural protective shell - the upper layer of the dermis, together with a thin layer of fat. Have you noticed how your hands creak after washing the dishes? This sound indicates that the germ door is wide open. And this is not the worst thing - in 5-10 minutes the skin will recover.

Glycerin, chamomile extract and other usefulness in dish detergents are a marketing ploy. Even if these substances are not included in the chemical industry product in the form of aromatic fragrances, they are unable to soften the effect of surfactants on the skin.

Serious consequences become noticeable after frequent and prolonged contact of detergents with hands. The first symptom is dryness and peeling: a periodic violation of the integrity of the protective shell leads to the fact that the body does not have enough strength to restore it. With continued thoughtless contact of the skin with surfactants, microcracks appear and redness indicating serious irritation.

This is already a courteously open gate in front of an army of microorganisms thirsty for human flesh. And if a small Staphylococcus aureus (or its brothers no less toothy) pays attention to them, then a carefree prover "Useful" and "effective" means for removing pollution can get acquainted with costly and very protracted treatment subcutaneous tissue. You can avoid this by simply using rubber gloves.

Aromatherapy or respirator

What is the pleasant smell of the nose when working with dishwashing detergent? An attempt by a caring manufacturer to brighten up a boring daily duty. But he does it only in order to hide the natural, disgusting chemical aroma of his products.

A look from the other side - the smell indicates a lot of microparticles floating in the air. And the more there are, the more intense it is. And since the nostrils have caught the "lemon freshness", or "the breath of the alpine meadows," then quite a lot of this enchanting beauty has penetrated into the lungs. How the detergent affects cells was discussed above. So, perhaps, a gas mask as the completion of the image of a dishwasher would be useful.

"Healthy" seasoning

Detergents do an excellent job of removing dirt. And they are extremely reluctant to wash off even in running water. A thin oily film remains on your favorite dishes and humbly waits for its hour, when something warm and moist is placed on top of it. Then she will gladly migrate to a new object and along with it will penetrate the digestive tract.

If this happens occasionally, and the film is so thin that it does not affect the taste of the dish, then nothing terrible will happen. Even a child's body is able to cope with such a minor attack. But let's remember the unprotected hands - nothing bad happens to them either. At first.

The average user of synthetic detergents and cleaning products annually uses 200 g up to half a liter of surfactants capable of provoking the development of ulcers throughout the digestive tract.

Harmless alternative

Laundry soap is a well-known product for a long time. Since ancient times, it was cooked from animal fat with the addition of ash. Nowadays, vegetable oils and various alkalis are the basis. These are also a kind of surfactants, but of natural, not synthetic origin. And it is washed off the dishes almost instantly, while removing pollution no worse than the chemical industry counterparts.

To prepare an easy-to-use soap solution, you will need only 25 g of laundry soap, 1 tbsp. l. alcohol, 3 tbsp. l. glycerin and 0.5 l of water. First, prepare a soapy solution, which is brought to a boil. Then the remaining ingredients are added to it. The mixture is thoroughly mixed and, after cooling completely, is poured (a gel-like substance is obtained) into a convenient container. Use in the same way as synthetic detergents.

If this doesn't seem safe enough, you can use citric acid, baking soda, and mustard powder. Any of these products is applied to a damp sponge, which is then used to rub the dishes. It is only important to remember that soda is an abrasive that can damage plastic.

A complete rejection of synthetic detergents is impractical - sometimes their counterparts are more expensive or less effective. But this rule does not apply to dishes - it is easy enough to wash it with plain running water, and the same baking sheets are well cleaned with baking soda. And this is a chance to reduce the effect of synthetic surfactants on your body and make a contribution to the cleanliness of the environment.