Mechanism of the cleansing action of soaps :
The dirt present on clothes is organic matter and insoluble in water. Therefore it cannot be removed by only washing with water. When soap is dissolved in water, its hydrophobic ends attach themselves to the dirt and remove it from the cloth. Then, the molecules of soap arrange themselves in micelles form and trap the dirt at the centre of the cluster. These micelles remain suspended in the water. Hence, the dust particles are easily rinsed away by water.
Soaps do not form lather with hard water : Soap is a sodium or potassium salt of long chain fatty acids. Hard water contains salts of calcium and magnesium. When soap is added to hard water, calcium and magnesium ions present in water displace sodium or potassium ion present in soap forming insoluble substance called scum. A lot of soap is wasted in this process.
Problems that arise due to the use of detergents instead of soap :
(i) Detergents being non-biodegradable, they accumulate in the environment causing pollution. In soil, the presence of detergents leads to pH changes making soil infertile.
(ii) The entry of detergents into food chain leads to bio-accumulation in living beings and tends towards serious health issues.