Azul e branco soap

Azul e Branco soap

Azul e branco (Blue and White), also known as sabão Offenbach (Offenbach soap) is a type of soap used in Portugal.[1] It is comparable to household soap, but it has a rugged texture, bulky shape, lack of odour and can generally be purchased in many convenience stores and supermarkets. In Portuguese "azul e branco" literally means "blue and white", which are the distinctive colours of the soap. It can also be found in red and white.

Given the size of a bar of soap (a long 4-sided prism which weighs approximately 1.5 kg), it must be cut to the desired size before use.

Formerly, azul e branco soap was popularly used to wash linen, carpets, floors and also for personal hygiene.

Populars brands include Clarim and Solavar.

Uses

Being more effective than normal soap, it was formerly used to disinfect operating theatres. On the advent of the Influenza A virus, the Portuguese health minister advised the population to use it as a substitute for the alcohol-based hand cleaners that emerged at that time.[1]

Its usage has greatly declined in recent years as more attractive soaps and detergents become more common, but around 6,000 metric tons are still produced every year.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "O sabão azul e branco já tem 150 anos e continua a vender 6 mil toneladas". Jornal de Negócios. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
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