University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Curiosities: What’s the difference between dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent and dish soap? Why aren’t they interchangeable?

All detergents — whether intended for hands, hair, clothes or dishes — work on the same principles: Break up oils and dirt and wash them away. However, different products are formulated for specific conditions and are not interchangeable. The main differences are in the pH, presence or absence of bleach, and the types of surfactants …

Curiosities: Why do people sometimes develop late in life an allergy that never bothered them before?

Most allergies — especially to airborne allergens associated with runny noses and itchy eyes — come on in the teenage years or early twenties, according to Mark Moss, a professor of pediatrics and immunology. If you have the potential for an allergic reaction, it’s probably always been there, waiting for the right mote of dust …