Cold Water Laundry Washing

Environmental & Science Education, STEM, Sustainability, Climate Change, Science & Society

Ed Hessler

Long ago lye soaps, washboards and elbow grease were used to wash clothing. Today cold water laundry detergents have really advanced clothes washing. The journey has involved a considerable body of complex chemistry.

This episode of Cup of Joe with Joe Schwarz reviews what had to be done to allow us to use cold water laundry washing and be happy with the outcome, the reason it appears to be a good environmental choice and some pocket economics. Dr. Schwarz's explanations about chemistry are clear so you will learn or re-learn some chemistry as well.

This is an amazing story and you can follow along in a transcript that appears at the right of the video.

All of this in 3m 37s.

 

Schwarz directs the Office for Science & Society at McGill University, Montreal.