What is sugar soap?

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QUESTION: What is sugar soap? 07 Jul 2003, California USA

What is sugar soap?

I do not have lead, I have a contamination with cotton and wool dust which won't wash out of clothes. If the sugar soap releases lead particles I thought it might help with the wool and cotton particles which cling to materials and can't be washed out by normal methods, though they become airborne in vast quantities when slightly moved.

ANSWER: 07 Jul 2003

Dear Joyce,

sugar soap is a high phosphate detergent normally used for removing dirt and grease prior to repainting a painted surface. I believe the phosphate has a chemical reaction with the lead and grease so I am not so sure that it would be useful for washing out cotton and wool fibres. Perhaps you could phone a wool mill or cotton fabric manufacturer or any of the detergent manufacturers and ask them what they would recommend for washing out cotton and wool fibres.

Good luck
Yours sincerely
Elizabeth O'Brien