Kettle vs Microwave
Which is more efficient for heating water – a kettle or a microwave? Suppose you are going to make pasta, …
Dr Chemical Posts
Cleaning and conditioning leather
Joanne asks the following question: I have denim staining from my jeans on my leather shoulder bag. Is there in …
Spot Cleaning
In recent years, laundry prewashes have switched from solvent-based products to enzyme-based products (in water). This has some interesting implications. …
Chemical Toxins in Clothes?
There have been several cases of people experiencing chemical irritation or burns from shoes, shirts, and even furniture, with one …
An Alternative Bleach
Modern laundry detergents are highly sophisticated formulations that are able to remove most stains if used correctly. One of the …
The Chemistry of Clothes Washing #13: Summary
The last dozen posts or so have all discussed various aspects of washing clothes. Now I’ll summarise it all and …
The Chemistry of Clothes Washing #12: Enzymes revisited.
Over the years the concept of the laundry prewash has changed. Essentially, they used to be degreasers. The idea was …
Read moreThe Chemistry of Clothes Washing #12: Enzymes revisited.
The Chemistry of Clothes Washing #11: Prewashes
The story of laundry prewashes is a fascinating story in itself. The first one on the market in Australia was …
The Chemistry of Clothes Washing #10. Liquid Detergents
No discussion of laundry detergents is complete without discussing liquid detergents. It’s probably fair to say that liquid laundry detergents …
Read moreThe Chemistry of Clothes Washing #10. Liquid Detergents