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A display of laundry detergent
A display of laundry detergent

Laundry detergent, or washing powder, is a substance which is a type of detergent that is added when one is washing laundry to help get the laundry cleaner. A detergent (as a noun is a material intended to assist Cleaning. Laundry can be items of Clothing and other Textiles that require Washing the act of washing clothing and textiles It is often colloquially called laundry soap or simply detergent or soap but because detergents lack glycerin, they are not true "soaps". It helps wash the fabric in a manner rather analogous to the way soap helps wash hands, other parts of the body, or other things cleaner than washing with water alone. SOAP (see below for name and origins is a protocol for exchanging XML -based messages over Computer networks normally using Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Laundry detergent has traditionally been a powdered or granular solid, but the use of liquid laundry detergents has gradually increased over the years, and the popularity of liquid detergent now rivals that of solid detergent. A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. Liquid is one of the principal States of matter. A liquid is a Fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of Some brands also manufacture laundry soap in tablets and dissolvable packets, so as to eliminate the need to measure soap for each load of laundry. In some countries where washing clothes by hand is more popular, detergent bars are more popular. Recently, environmentally friendly detergents have enjoyed a surge in popularity.

Contents

Contents

Detergent molecules are long and the detergents can mold into different forms of matter so they can be asymmetrical: one end attracts long pieces of dirt while the other end attracts water, which is why detergent lifts dirt from wet clothes. Detergent molecules come in two forms, straight and branched - a difference that affects sudsing but not cleansing ability. The suds of the straight molecules of detergent break down quickly, while the suds of branched molecules break down slowly if at all.

A key ingredient in both solid and liquid laundry detergents is a surfactant. Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the Surface tension of a liquid allowing easier spreading and lower the Interfacial tension between two liquids A surfactant is a substance which, when added to water, significantly reduces the surface tension of the water. For the work of fiction see Surface Tension (short story. Surface tension is a property of the surface of a Liquid that causes it to This effect allows water to wash surfaces better. There are many different types of organic compounds which can function as surfactants. An organic compound is any member of a large class of Chemical compounds whose Molecules contain Carbon. Many surfactants are thick, viscous liquids; however, some are soft, waxy or greasy solids.

Surfactants typically have somewhat longer molecules which may or may not have an electric charge. In Chemistry, a molecule is defined as a sufficiently stable electrically neutral group of at least two Atoms in a definite arrangement held together by Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some Subatomic particles which determines their Electromagnetic interaction. Surfactants with uncharged molecules are non-ionic surfactants. Surfactants with positively charged molecules (or ions) are cationic surfactants. Surfactants with negatively charged molecules (or ions) are anionic surfactants. Surfactants with both positively and negatively charged part in the same molecule are zwitterionic surfactants. Most brands of laundry detergent have anionic or nonionic surfactants or a mixture of the two, although cationic surfactants have been used in laundry detergents. The use of cationic and anionic surfactants together is incompatible in the same detergent. The usual content of surfactants in a typical detergent is about 8-18%.

In powdered or granular solid detergents, the surfactant is soaked into the solid ingredients. In liquid laundry detergents, liquid or even solid surfactant are blended into the liquid detergent. There is usually a limit on how much liquid surfactant can soak into powder or granular solids without making the solid detergent mushy. More liquid surfactant can usually be blended into a liquid detergent. The liquid detergents commonly contain at least some water to help liquefy the other additives and still have the detergent pourable. The liquid detergents may also have other solvent liquids, such as alcohol or a hydrotrope, to help blend all the additives together. A solvent is a liquid or gas that dissolves a solid liquid or gaseous Solute, resulting in a Solution. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon A hydrotrope is a compound that solubilises Hydrophobic compounds in aqueous solutions

Laundry detergents may have ingredients to help control the pH of the wash water. pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a Solution. For example, solid detergents usually contain sodium carbonate (soda ash) or sodium bicarbonate to maintain pH by neutralizing any acidic materials that may enter the wash water. Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash), is a Sodium Salt of Carbonic acid. Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the Chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3 pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a Solution. In Computer science, ACID ( Atomicity Consistency Isolation Durability) is a set of properties that guarantee that Database transactions are

Compounds called "builders" are often used to enhance ("build") the surfactant effect. Their role is to lower the water hardness by scavenging the calcium and magnesium ions and adsorbing them or chelating them. Hard water is the type of Water that has high Mineral content (in contrast with Soft water) Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 Some form of sodium phosphate can be used here, such as trisodium orthophosphate, monosodium orthophosphate, or a form of tripolyphosphate (TPP). Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 A phosphate, an Inorganic chemical, is a salt of Phosphoric acid. Trisodium phosphate (TSP available at most hardware stores in white powder form is a cleaning agent stain remover and Degreaser, commonly used to prepare surfaces for In some locations, phosphate is no longer used as an additive due to environmental concerns as phosphates in surface waters stimulate algal bloom. An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of Algae in an aquatic system As alternatives, other chelating agents are used. Chelation is the binding or complexation of a bi- or multidentate Ligand. Sodium carbonate precipitates insoluble calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula Ca[[Carbon C]] O 3 Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3 is a white Solid that occurs in nature as a Mineral. Organic chemicals similar to EDTA can be employed, eg. EDTA is a widely used abbreviation for the Chemical compound ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (and many other names see table nitriloacetic acid (NTA). Borates can be used as well. Borates in Chemistry are Chemical compounds containing Boron bonded to three Oxygen atoms written as B(OR3 Ion exchange materials are frequently used in modern formulations; the most common kind is based on synthetic zeolites, often with polycarboxylate based polyelectrolytes. Ion exchange is an exchange of Ions between two Electrolytes or between an electrolyte Solution and a complex. Zeolites (Greek zein, "to boil" lithos, "a stone" are hydrated Aluminosilicate Minerals and have a micro-porous structure Polyelectrolytes are Polymers whose repeating units bear an Electrolyte group The usual content of such materials in a typical detergent is about 20-45%.

Many detergents contain bleaches. A bleach is a Chemical that removes color or whitens often via Oxidation. In North American countries, sodium hypochlorite based bleach additives are more common. Sodium hypochlorite is a Chemical compound with the formula NaClO These work at lower temperatures and do not need activation. In Europe, peroxide-based bleaches are prevalent instead. A peroxide is a compound containing an Oxygen -oxygen single bond. The chemicals employed are usually sodium percarbonate and sodium perborate, or other compounds that release hydrogen peroxide. Sodium percarbonate is a white crystalline water-soluble Chemical compound of Sodium carbonate and Hydrogen peroxide. Sodium perborate ( PBS) is a white odorless water-soluble Chemical compound with Chemical formula 3 Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water Peroxide bleaches either need higher temperature (60 °C or more) to become effective, or a suitable catalyst or activator (eg. Catalysis is the process in which the rate of a Chemical reaction is increased by means of a Chemical substance known as a catalyst manganese or iron complexes, or TAED) which lowers the required temperature down to 40 °C or even to room temperature. Manganese (ˈmæŋgəniːz is a Chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Tetraacetylethylenediamine, commonly abbreviated TAED is an Organic compound with the formula (CH3C(O2NCH2CH2N(C(OCH32 Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed The usual content of bleaches in a typical detergent is about 15-30%. It is possible to overdo the bleaching; the Persil Power fiasco is a good example of deployment of too powerful bleaching activator. Persil Power is a Laundry detergent product developed and sold in the mid-1990s by Unilever.

The detergents that promise to make the laundry "whiter than white" usually contain optical brighteners, acting as phosphors that convert some ultraviolet radiation to blue light and optically offset the yellowing of the material. Optical brighteners, optical brightening agents (OBAs, fluorescent brightening agents (FBAs or fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs are Dyes A phosphor is a substance that exhibits the phenomenon of Phosphorescence (sustained glowing after exposure to energized particles such as Electrons Ultraviolet ( UV) light is Electromagnetic radiation with a Wavelength shorter than that of Visible light, but longer than X-rays The usual content of optical brighteners in a typical detergent is about 0. 1%.

Fillers are a bulk component in many detergents. Their primary role is modifying the physical properties of the material. In solid detergents, sodium sulfate or borax can be used to make the powder free-flowing. Sodium sulfate is the Sodium salt of Sulfuric acid Borax (from Persian burah) also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is an important Boron In liquid detergents alcohols are added to increase the solubility of the compounds and to lower the mixture's freezing point. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Corrosion inhibitors can be added to prolong the lifetime of the washing machines; sodium silicate can be used here. A corrosion inhibitor is a chemical compound that when added to a fluid or gas decreases the corrosion rate of a Metal or an Alloy. E550 redirects here For the Italian locomotive see FS Class E550 Sodium silicate, also known as water glass or liquid glass, available Anti-foaming agents are added to lower the production of foam and to make the presence of detergents in wastewater less obvious. An antifoaming agent is a chemical additive that inhibits the formation of Foam. The most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas Bubbles in a Liquid or Solid. Distinguish from Wastwater (a lake in the Lake District in northwest England The usual content of fillers in a typical detergent is about 5-45%.

Some laundry detergents have enzymes to help in removal of biological stains (eg. Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins grass or blood), often enzymes produced by the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. Bacillus subtilis Sporejpg|thumb|right|Sporulating Bacillus subtilis ]] Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive, Catalase -positive Bacillus licheniformis is a bacterium commonly found in the soil The content of enzymes can reach up to 0. 75%. These are known as biological detergents in the United Kingdom. A biological detergent is a Laundry detergent that contains Enzymes. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Some laundry detergents have fabric softeners though the technology needed to deliver softness within a detergent product is very different to the technology when applied independently. Fabric softener (also called Fabric Conditioner) is used to prevent Static cling and make fabric softer Natural products such as clay can be used as well as long change polymers. Similar ideas to how hair conditioners work by attracting fat molecules to fibres. Some brands of detergent add more ingredients to enhance the perfume and/or color of the product. Perfume is a mixture of fragrant Essential oils and Aroma compounds Fixatives and Solvents used to give the human body animals objects and living The perfume is designed to smell attractive in many situations, when the product is smelled by the user, when the washing is wet and finally when the washing is dry. Advanced materials allow slow release of perfume so that consumers can continue to smell it after several days.

During the late 90's, there was a big push for developing solid tablets that would dissolve in the washing machine. This idea was done to make it easier to dose the right amount into the washing machine, and make it an easier task for consumers. Two competing technologies were developed for the European market, one a solid tablet (Unilever) and a coated tablet (Procter & Gamble). Kao Chemical of Japan also developed a powder bag that would dissolve. The tablet market became very large in Europe, though mainly within the UK, but the idea didn't take off in America or Japan. Europe continued with this type of innovation and single dose liquid tablets were launched by the two big detergent companies. This is a technology using PVA films, which dissolve in contact with water. Therefore the liquid detergent contained within the PVA capsule, has to be especially developed not to contain any available water. If a consumer touches a PVA capsule with wet hands, they can leak. They need to be stored within dry conditions. Due to the formulation restrictions of no water, all of the technologies used in other forms may not always be applicable to this form. The capsules prevent the consumer from sensing the smell of the detergent, so companies often spray small amounts of perfume within the box to keep this important experience available.

Other brands, however, are left without these additives, marketed to those who avoid these because of allergies or individual preference. Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy. There are also detergents made with vegetable-based surfactants which are popular in health food stores. The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however The term Health food has been used in the United States since the 1920s to refer to specific foods claimed to be especially beneficial to Health.

In terms of cleaning performance, typically ranking is as follows: Powders Powder Tablets (soluble) Liquids Liquid soluble packets.

Containers and sizes

Solid laundry detergent is commonly sold in cardboard boxes and plastic tubs. See also Box See also Corrugated fiberboard Cardboard boxes are industrially prefabricated Boxes which are primarily used for Packaging In many parts of the world, laundry detergent is also sold in single-use packets or sachets. This single use allows the consumer to buy the detergent they need for the day rather than having to spend a larger amount upfront. The size of the boxes can vary from small single-use boxes sold from vending machines in laundromats to large economy-size boxes. A vending machine is a machine that provides various snacks beverages and other products to consumers A self-service laundry is a facility where Clothes are washed and dried In some cases, plastic measuring scoops have been included inside the boxes. Liquid detergent is sold in plastic bottles, usually high density polyethylene or sometimes PET or other kinds. Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products High-Density Polyethylene ( HDPE) or PolyEthylene High-Density ( PEHD) is a Polyethylene Thermoplastic made from Petroleum Again, various sizes are available. On large size bottles, a handle to carry the bottle is often pre-formed as part of the bottle. Above 1. 5Litre it is difficult to carry a bottle without a handle. The bottle caps are often made large enough so they can be used as cups for measuring out the liquid detergent, however this can make the cap very large as the dosage can be as much as 120ml.

Dosing balls became popular during the 1990's as a way of promoting liquid detergents. The argument was that some percentage of detergent poured into the drawer of the washing machine was lost in the sump. Putting the detergent into a dosing ball that is placed directly onto the clothes, would reduce the loss to the drain. These dosing ball devices became more sophisticated including roller balls, allowing pretreatment. One of the disadvantages of the dosing ball was noise, and some of the more recent examples are coated with softer plastic material.

Environmental Impact

In the 1960s, detergent manufacturers waged an advertising battle over who had the longest lasting suds, and detergent compounds quickly appeared in the waterways. Suds began to appear in streams, rivers, lakes, and at the foot of Niagara Falls, where piles of discolored detergent foam rose eight feet high. The Niagara Falls are massive Waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario

Detergents also contain phosphate additives to soften the water and thereby improve the effectiveness of the detergent molecules. It was noted that between 1940 and 1970 the amount of phosphates in city wastewater increased from 20,000 to 150,000 tons per year. A phosphate, an Inorganic chemical, is a salt of Phosphoric acid.

With the increase in phosphates, algal blooms grew splendidly on the excess phosphorus and consumed most of the oxygen in the waters, killing fish and plants. An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of Algae in an aquatic system

As part of the switch to go green and protect the environment, by 2008, almost all liquid laundry detergent will be sold in small bottles and in concentrated form, which supposedly helps protect the by introducing less plastic into the environment. Some stores around the US are already carrying concentrated laundry detergent while some in the Northeast and Midwest States are only carrying the small bottles that are used for High Efficiency Washers.

Brands of laundry detergent

The name "Ultra" is not brand specific and many "Private Label" store brands use it in their product name. Surf is the name of a Brand of Laundry detergent made by Unilever. OxiClean is a Sodium percarbonate (C2H6Na4O12 detergent and bleaching agent which produces Hydrogen peroxide when Persil is a brand of Laundry detergent manufactured and marketed by both Henkel in some countries (including Germany, France the Netherlands Purex is the brand name of a popular Laundry detergent in the United States, Canada and other countries Radion may refer to Radion (physics, a scalar field in quantum field theory in spacetimes with additional dimensions A DC comics Rinso was the Brand name of a Laundry Soap most commonly used in the United States, the United Kingdom Seventh Generation Inc is a company that sells Non-toxic, Hypoallergenic cleaning paper and personal care products Sunlight is a brand of household Soap originally produced by the British company Lever Brothers in 1884. Surf is the name of a Brand of Laundry detergent made by Unilever. Tide is the name of a popular Laundry detergent on the market in Canada, the United States and other countries Twenty-mule-team Borax is a brand of cleaner manufactured by the U Stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club, Smart & Final, Sears, Walgreens, Longs Drugs, Albertsons, Lucky, and Stater Bros. sell an "Ultra" detergent. Wal-Mart Stores Inc (or Walmart as written in its new logo is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores Costco Wholesale Corporation ( is the largest membership Warehouse club chain in the world based on sales volume headquartered in Issaquah Washington, Sam's Club is an American chain of membership-only retail Warehouse clubs Founded in 1983 it is owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc Smart & Final is a chain of warehouse style food and supply stores based in Los Angeles California which has developed through a series of mergers and expansions Sears Roebuck and Company, commonly known as Sears, is an American mid-range chain of International Department stores founded by Richard Walgreen Co ( d/b/a Walgreens (without an Apostrophe) is a leading Pharmacy chain, mail service and pharmacy benefit manager Longs Drugs ( is a Pharmacy chain store located on the West Coast of the United States. Albertsons (officially New Albertson's Inc) a wholly owned subsidiary of Eden Prairie Minnesota -based Supervalu, is a Supermarket retailer Lucky Stores (frequently referred to as "Lucky's") is an American Grocery chain founded in Alameda County, California in Stater Bros Markets is a privately held Supermarket chain, based in San Bernardino, California, consisting of over 160 stores located throughout They are all manufactured by the same company, Huish Detergents. CVS Pharmacy also sells a private label "Ultra" laundry detergent, but it is not manufactured by Huish Detergents. CVS/pharmacy (commonly called CVS) is a Pharmacy and Convenience store chain in the United States.

External links

References

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