Detergent

A detergent is a powder or liquid soap used to wash clothing, dishes and many other items. Synthetic detergents work similarly to soap, however there are many different kinds that work better for different cleaning applications. Anionic detergents, having a negative ionic group, are the most common type. http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/558detergent.html

Detergents work by lowering the surface tension of water and allowing grease to dissolve from the surface being cleaned and into the water. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/surten.html This web page contains detergent fast facts, information on common additives to detergents and their function, links to reviews on different commercial products, and links for cleaning tips. A section on How to Make Laundry Detergent is included as well.

Aside from fragrances and colors, there are many ingredients in detergents that help clean a surface or material:

1. Abrasives. Some contain abrasives the will scrub the surfaces. This is common in heavy duty hand washing detergents. Abrasives in commercial products include ground pumice, silica (sand) and soluble slica. You can also use baking soda as a mild abrasive or salt as a moderately strong abrasive. Diatomaceous earth, which is silica, is commonly used in toothpaste fomulations. http://bandrjan.com/newws/helpfulhints/iframe/Chemicals.asp

2. Oxidants are used to bleach and break down organic material so that it can be suspended in the wash water and removed from the clothing. There are color-safe oxidants such as sodium percarbonate (commonly called oxygen bleach) and there is sodium hypochlorite which is the type of liquid bleach that is most common and is only used with white clothes. Dilute sodium hypochlorite (from 5-10% in water on a volume basis of a 5.25% concentrate) also can disinfect are commonly used as an economical disinfectant in hospitals. http://www.sdahq.org/sdalatest/html/soapproducts1.htm

3. Enzymes are added to help break down organic substances such as food stains. There are a variety of enzymes that are used to help clean stains, including alpha-amylases to break down starches, proteases to break down proteins and lipases to break down fats. These help in presoaks, in wash cycles and in many other industrial and institutional applications. http://www.specialtyenzymes.com/detergents.shtml

4. Ingredients like water softeners, pH adjusters and foam reducers help the detergent work more efficiently. Mild acids such as citric acid can help detergents work more efficiently in hard water.

5. Acids are used to help remove hard water deposits in areas like bathrooms. Cleaners containing both citric (mild) and hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid, strong) are commonly found for this use. Phosphoric acid detergents are recommended for the cleaning of hard water deposits from tile. http://www.castlecleaning.net/cleantips.html Vinegar can also clean hard water deposits, but it is less strong and may require more frequent application and more time to clean off the deposits.

6. Fabric softeners and color brighteners help the material look and feel better but are not associated with cleaning the material. Color brighteners are sometimes called bluings. These agents have a dye that attaches to the fabrics in the wash or rinse cycle. These dyes absorb yellow light to help the yellowing of fabric that happens naturally over time. http://www.sdahq.org/sdalatest/html/soapproducts1.htm

Making your own laundry detergent is an economical and fairly simple thing to do. There are advantages as well, such as having a detergent that is unscented cleaner without have unnecessary additives or too much soap that will irritate sensitive skin. Laundry detergent formulas given in How to Make Laundry Detergent are also heavy duty enough to clean greasy work clothes and cloth diapers. Recipes for liquid detergent and powdered detergent are given that are as good as or better than what you will buy in the store. A featured video below has one recipe for making a gel laundry detergent.

Detergents may contain many substances that may be harmful if handled. Acids, solvents, surfactants, and other ingredients can be irritable to the skin. Always carefully read the label of every detergent and take precautionary measures if required, like wearing rubber gloves. Always use as directed and never mix detergents with other cleaning products. Gas may be produced that could be deadly.

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