Happy 50th Birthday Sophie!

Sophie the Giraffe made in France by Vulli

Sophie will be exactly 50 years old on May 25, 2011 – St. Sophie’s Day.  She was created by Monsieur Rampeau, an expert in rotational molding of rubber.  The process of making Sophie to this day involves more than 14 manual steps.  Sophie is made from 100% natural rubber derived from the sap of the Hevea tree.

Not all detergents are created equal!

There are many laundry detergents on the market.  Some brands we are all familiar with are Tide, Cheer, All, Arm & Hammer and so on.  But do they all clean cleanly?  Definition of clean from Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “clean” (used as an adjective) as free from dirt or pollution.  “Clean” (used as a verb) means to rid of dirt, impurities, or extraneous matter.

Basically there are 4 main areas of concern where the definition of  “clean” is in conflict with detergents:

1. Fragrances  – are chemicals added to the clothe fibers to emit a scent.
2. Dyes – adds a slight color to clothes enhancing the brightness.  According to the EPA, “Studies indicate that certain colorants may cause cancer or other adverse health effects in humans.”
3. Enzymes – aids in the digestion of organic matter thus speeding up the cleaning process. However it may cause irritation of the skin, especially in the baby, when the enzyme have not completely washed off the clothes.
4. Brighteners – FWAs acts almost as a “permanent” dye on the clothes.  It works by binding to the fibers of the cloths and reflects the blue portion of the light spectrum.  It is evident with the use of a UV lamp (black light) thus the flourescent blue glow.  This reflection of the blue light creates a masking effect ultimately making whites whiter and colors brighter.