
The purpose of this experiment was to test the cleaning ability
of "natural" laundry cleaning products versus brand-name
detergents. To carry out this experiment, eighteen pairs of socks
were rubbed in with fifteen cc of mud. Then the socks are separated
into three different groups, six in each group. Each group of
six was washed with the specific detergent (All, Wisk, or Ecover).
They are then compared with the control (a new white sock). The
socks can be compared getting exact measurements on the computer.
The data revealed that All cleaned the best, Wisk cleaned the
second best , and Ecover cleaned the worst.
Group A and B were washed by ALL and WISK. Group C was washed
by ECOVER What happened was that the non-natural detergent cleaned
better then the natural detergent. The limitations of this project
was that there was variation in the cleanliness of the socks.
More RGB measurements of the socks would give a more accurate
rating. To improve the project the step of placing mud on the
sock should be altered be dirtying the socks with other agents.
For example pouring cranberry juice on each sock, a much harder
substance to get out.
The effect of this experiment on other people is that it proves ECOVER is not as effective in cleaning as the other detergents and people can save money by not buying the non-detergents that do not work as well.
As mentioned above you can expand this experiment using different types of clothing, stains, water cycle, and water temperature.