Three Types of Laundry Detergents: Performance in Soft and Hard Water

Abstract

The performance of phosphate‐built, carbonate‐built, and unbuilt liquid laundry detergents was evaluated with standard controlled tests to determine soil re moval, soil deposition, and carbonate deposition in soft and hard water using home laundry appliances. Light reflectance data were analyzed using analysis of variance procedures. All three types of detergents performed better in soft water than in hard. The unbuilt liquids and phosphate‐built powders were more effec tive in soil removal and whiteness retention than the carbonate‐built products, and differences in results were magnified as the number of washings was in creased. At present, unbuilt liquids are a practical and effective alternative to phosphate‐built laundry detergents.