Tire changing hardware - recommendation?

Doesn't washing-up liquid contain salt, for which reason it shouldn't be
used for cleaning one's motorised conveyances?

Don't tell me you cook with it as well!

 

Correct. Most detergents are thickened with salt IIRC. Shampoo stings when
it gets in your eyes because of the salt content. Only those products
advertised as "non-sting" or "for children" are relatively salt free.

 

Ah... for some reason, I thought it was okay to use shampoo (or shower
gel) as washing-up liquid (which I've resorted to when camping), but not
vice versa. OTOH, maybe that's not the reason...

 

I thought what they call 'washing up liquid' in the UK is what is called
dish soap in N.A. Also thought that there is a big difference between
soaps and detergents, something like this: soap doesn't scour and it
suspends particles that you have disturbed with hand or water motion
whereas detergents are abrasive. Not saying that's all there is to it,
it's just about the sum of my knowledge on the subject. Would
appreciate any expert clarification.

 

I've no idea about the semantic differences in the UK/US language.

However, soaps are specific group of chemicals made from saponification of
fats & oils. A process that has been around for millenia.

Detergents are compounds. Technically, adding a perfume to a soap makes a
detergent, but common useage implies a detergent is soap free.

Chapter & verse at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detergent

 

thanks, heh, it makes sense that a Tesco guy would know his soaps and
detergents!

 

I don't work for tesco YTC. It's a disposable email domain from a pikey ISP

 

okay, no offense intended. i see that one of your links above does say
that soap has salt in it, i presume that means sodium chloride, so that
suggests to me that too much soap might be a bad thing for most bike
parts that are made of various metals. i'm guessing that painted metal
parts might not be so vulnerable, depending on the makeup of the paint.

 

Yes, as Wessie says. But then swimming in salt water doesn't bother me
either.

Haven't tried yet....

 

lol

 

Sorry all, looks like my blunder, the first link mentioned "salts of
fatty acids". Still, I guess for a chemical ignoramus like me I see
those words "salts" and "acids" and wonder how it is that some people
keep their hands in it for hours every day but it might be un-healthy in
small amounts for metal bike parts.

 

Don't push your luck ;-)

 

Happened to see this gizmo touted today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80854523@N00/1499853402/