THE POWER OF SOAP
WHEN HUMANITY INVENTED SOAP, IT CHANGED THE WORLD
Words by Laura Mears
In March 2020, soap sales in the UK more than doubled. This slippery, bubbly substance has a unique chemical make-up that allows it to rip through viruses, disintegrating microbes in milliseconds. It has truly been a lifesaver during the coronavirus pandemic.
Invented in the ancient world, the first soap was just a paste made from fat and ash. People discovered it while trying to remove grease from wool, noticing that mixing burnt wood with water made the process easier. At a microscopic level, alkalis in the ashes were reacting with fats in the grease to create soap molecules. Over time, people refined the soap-making process, learning to boil the fat and ash together to create soap before applying it to their cloth.