SALE OF SOAP.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1927, Page 4

SALE OF SOAP.

NEW REGULATIONS ISSUING. Following numerous regulations which have been issued controlling the preparation, manufacture, and sale ol' foods, sale of fuels, and many domestic article, the Department of Health, is about to bring into operation new regulations governing the manufacture and sale of soap. They hate been approved by Cabinet, and arc to bo gazetted shortly. Hindiv soap for human use may only he sold in three grades, and the use of “purest,” “highest grade,” “first quality,” and similar descriptions may only be used on the labels or impressid on soaps of the first grade, and descriptive names may not be used unless the material so mentioned is used in the manufacture of that part icula r soap. An explanatory statement of the action of soap and washing compounds lias been made by the Department. Soap is a chemical compound in which an alkali, such as caustic soda or cantic potash, is combined with a fatly acid, such as tallow or rosin acid. Suds are an emulsion of air in the solution, and their value in washing is considerable, creating a cushion of air, which lubricates and reduces friction, carrying oxygen within the ‘loth to whiten the fibres, and removing dirt by agitation and buoyancy. Salt water interferes with the normal colloidal action of soap solutions. The commonest adjunct to soap for general laundry purposes is carbonate "f soda, commonly called washing soda. Praeiieally all soda adjuncts have sonic dost met tve action on fab-

(iome-made soaps are often considered to he better than bought soap-. Lilt this is usually due to the presence of free caustic which they carry, there being more caustic added in the mixing or making of the soap than is necessary to take up all the fat used. Caustic is, no doubt, a great cleanse;-, but it is also a great destroyer. Borax has been Used for wool and silk washing. and lias slight bleaching action on textiles, but its detergent and

< lea using qualities are of doubtful quality.

Silicate of soda is the substance known as waterglass, commonly used for preserving eggs. Originally its value lay in the fact that it enabled more water to be added to bars of soap, which led to the commonplace Unit the suapmaker’s art was to make water “stand on end.” It has a detergent value of some merit, yields a reasonable amount of active alkali, assists in the removal of dirt, and lias less tendency to cause fabrics to turn a bad colour than caustic or carbonate. .Many of the better class soaps sold for laundry and household purposes are used for toilet purposes, benc-c the regulations have been framed to include all such soaps. Provision is made for the limitation of silicate or carbonate and caustic, especially in toilet soaps, which contain more fatty acids, and are richer soaps. Castile, barilla, shaving and other snap preparations are dealt with to ensure the highest degree of purity, freedom from irritants, and truthful labelling.