The myth about the benefits of laundry soap, moreover, the same one made according to the Soviet recipe, is firmly established in our culture. In fact, it is this soap that not only does not have any useful properties but it can even be dangerous.
I remember that this soap used to be constantly in use. Somehow I was not interested, but it turns out I did not know much about the composition and options for using this soap.
What is it made of
In the USSR, the main component of laundry soap was fat - pork, beef, mutton and even fish. Now there is nothing like this in the composition, manufacturers use analogues, adding sodium, lauric acid, lard and alkali.
Which one is better
Contrary to popular belief, Soviet-era laundry soap is no better than modern soap. Kaolin and rosin were added to it, moreover, they were never recommended to wash their body or hair with them.
Purpose of laundry soap
The mark "household" is given to this soap for a reason. It is simply not intended for the body: laundry soap removes fatty deposits and stubborn stains from fabric materials. If you use it as usual, then chemical burns cannot be avoided. Laundry soap very effectively destroys the upper layer of the epidermis - the skin quickly loses elasticity, inflammation and irritation begin.
Modern additive
No better in this regard, and modern options for laundry soap. Now manufacturers often add an increased dose of caustic sodium to it. Such a product really removes stains better, but it threatens with a completely real chemical burn of the body.
Antibacterial properties
The widely advertised antibacterial properties are not a myth. But there is nothing good about this: in the USSR, laundry soap was used on animals, since it perfectly removes fleas from wool. For people, household, as in principle, any antibacterial soap, with constant use, is dangerous. Such soap destroys the top layer of the epidermis, designed to protect against bacteria.
Carcinogenic effect
Today, a refined version of laundry soap is often found on the shelves. This is no longer that brown nondescript bar - it can be white and have a pleasant smell. This soap owes its fresh color to titanium dioxide, chemical element, which has a carcinogenic effect.
Single use
The antibacterial properties of laundry soap can be turned to your advantage. With acne and acne, such soap (with a single use) will soothe irritation. Any prolonged use is dangerous. Forget the "great laundry soap that's better than anything else" myth. Do not risk your health in vain.
Sources
The rumor that stray dogs were allowed into the production of laundry soap was actively exaggerated by the citizens of the Soviet Union. That is why employees special services, engaged in catching stray animals, were feared and hated even by children. However, were dogs really allowed to be washed in the USSR?
Animal fats
The composition of laundry soap has not changed for many years. According to GOST 30266-95, soap is based on alkalis and fatty acids of animal fat (GOST 30266-95, 4.3 Requirements for raw materials and auxiliary materials). The percentages indicated on the bar are indicators of the content of these same fatty acids: 72%, 70% and 65% (GOST 30266-95, 4.5 Marking). What are animal fats and how are they obtained?
According to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, animal fats are a product obtained from animal tissues. As an example, beef and mutton fats are given in this publication. In addition, the encyclopedia also talks about liquid animal fats, which are part of the tissues of marine mammals and fish. No pets, in particular dogs, are mentioned in the article.
Journalistic investigation
On the Sputnik FM radio in Ufa, there is a project called "Lilya is looking for the truth", which is led by journalist Lilia Shakirova. The main goal of this project is to refute the rumors and conjectures that the Internet is currently full of. In search of an answer to the question of whether it is true that dogs were (and are still being made) the basis for laundry soap, Shakirova, together with her colleagues, called several factories specializing in the production of such products.
Employees of the enterprises assured journalists that animal fat is indeed used in the manufacture of soap, but not dog fat, but beef and pork fat. Experts said that dog fat is not suitable for the production of laundry soap. But even if it were suitable, then dogs do not have as much of it as required. And therefore, there would be more losses when using dog raw materials than when using pig or cow raw materials.
Fight against stray animals
Thus, the rumor that it was dogs that were used to make soap was not confirmed. Where did such speculation come from? Most likely, they were associated with the active struggle of the Soviet authorities with stray animals, or rather with the diseases they spread. All ownerless cats and dogs were subject to capture and destruction. Moreover, ordinary citizens could even earn extra money on this. For example, for a stray dog you could get about 1 ruble. Perhaps that is why the rumor about soap making from pets was born.
One of the first documents aimed at eliminating rabies is the Decree dated 10/01/1928 "On measures to combat rabies in dogs". Paragraph 2 of this document states that all captured dogs are to be destroyed. There is no mention of any use of their fabrics for the production of soap. However, already in the 3rd paragraph of the resolution it is said: “In areas where there are recycling plants and special establishments, the corpses of destroyed dogs are to be sent to these establishments for their disposal for industrial purposes. What this industrial purpose is, the document does not indicate.
The rumor that stray dogs were allowed into the production of laundry soap was actively exaggerated by the citizens of the Soviet Union. That is why the employees of special services involved in catching stray animals were afraid and hated even by children. However, were dogs really allowed to be washed in the USSR?
Animal fats
The composition of laundry soap has not changed for many years. According to GOST 30266-95, soap is based on alkalis and fatty acids of animal fat (GOST 30266-95, 4.3 Requirements for raw materials and auxiliary materials). The percentages indicated on the bar are indicators of the content of these same fatty acids: 72%, 70% and 65% (GOST 30266-95, 4.5 Marking). What are animal fats and how are they obtained?
According to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, animal fats are a product obtained from animal tissues. As an example, beef and mutton fats are given in this publication. In addition, the encyclopedia also talks about liquid animal fats, which are part of the tissues of marine mammals and fish. No pets, in particular dogs, are mentioned in the article.
Journalistic investigation
On the Sputnik FM radio in Ufa, there is a project called "Lilya is looking for the truth", which is led by journalist Lilia Shakirova. The main goal of this project is to refute the rumors and conjectures that the Internet is currently full of. In search of an answer to the question of whether it is true that dogs were (and are still being made) the basis for laundry soap, Shakirova, together with her colleagues, called several factories specializing in the production of such products.
Employees of the enterprises assured journalists that animal fat is indeed used in the manufacture of soap, but not dog fat, but beef and pork fat. Experts said that dog fat is not suitable for the production of laundry soap. But even if it were suitable, then dogs do not have as much of it as required. And therefore, there would be more losses when using dog raw materials than when using pig or cow raw materials.
Fight against stray animals
Thus, the rumor that it was dogs that were used to make soap was not confirmed. Where did such speculation come from? Most likely, they were associated with the active struggle of the Soviet authorities with stray animals, or rather with the diseases they spread. All ownerless cats and dogs were subject to capture and destruction. Moreover, ordinary citizens could even earn extra money on this. For example, for a stray dog you could get about 1 ruble. Perhaps that is why the rumor about soap making from pets was born.
One of the first documents aimed at eliminating rabies is the Decree dated 10/01/1928 "On measures to combat rabies in dogs". Paragraph 2 of this document states that all captured dogs are to be destroyed. There is no mention of any use of their fabrics for the production of soap. However, already in the 3rd paragraph of the resolution it is said: "In areas where there are recycling plants and special institutions, the corpses of destroyed dogs are to be sent to these institutions for their disposal for industrial purposes." What this industrial purpose is, the document does not indicate.
Before the war, only two types of soap were produced in the USSR: "marble" household soap in huge pieces and "Egg" soap, which was cut into tiny pieces the size of a quarter matchbox and gave out in the baths, which gave rise to a joke: “But I wanted to wash myself completely ...”
After the war, the range expanded slightly. The most fragrant was considered "Strawberry". “Coniferous” was intended for hands. For a bath - respectively, "Bath". For washing - “Household. From dandruff - "Tar".
The idea of producing soap intended for washing children appeared much later than the idea of toilet and laundry soap. It was created on the recommendation of doctors who came to the conclusion that ordinary alkaline soap adversely affects the skin of babies. Alkaline substances and chemicals. Included in toilet soap, destroy the protective film on the baby's skin and, as a result, lead to allergic reactions, inflammation and irritation.
Special children's soap does not contain any chemicals or perfume additives - only useful: lanolin, glycerin, vegetable oils. This soap not only washed children, but also washed baby diapers and undershirts. It was easily washed off, and the linen after it becomes soft and does not smell like perfume.
Sometimes children's soap from the Svoboda factory was used, for example, by numismatists. They rubbed it on a fine grater, made a rich soapy solution and put especially dirty coins into it. In general, a decent house should have had a special grater for soap, because, for example, for washing in a washing machine and for washing dishes, the housewives rubbed laundry soap on it.
The same operation was done when they were going to wash the windows. So Soviet children's soap can be considered universal and multifunctional.
Natalya Vishnyakova
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