What is the most common ingredient in laundry detergent?

Author: Emmanuel O'Conner MD  |  Last update: Saturday, October 25, 2025

Main Ingredients in Laundry Detergents Surfactants: Composed of long chains of molecules, surfactants have an end that is attracted to water and another end that repels water. Because of this, surfactants have the ability to tug on impurities and allow them to be washed away.

What is the main ingredient in laundry detergent?

Surfactants. Anionic surfactants: branched alkylbenzenesulfonate, linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, and a soap. Surfactants are responsible for most of the cleaning performance in laundry detergent.

What is the most active ingredient in detergent?

Alkylbenzene sulfonic acid – Also sometimes listed as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, this is one of the most widely used anionic surfactants in the world. It's been around since 1964, and can be found in many liquid soaps, shampoos, dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents.

What is the healthiest laundry detergent to use?

Better Non Toxic Laundry Detergents
  • Truly Free Laundry Wash
  • Puracy Laundry Detergent
  • Grab Green
  • Molly's Suds Laundry Powder
  • Rebel Green
  • Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder
  • Aspen Clean Laundry Detergent Pods
  • Good Juju Laundry Detergent Strips

What is the main chemical used in detergent?

Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), also known as soda ash is a sodium product primarily used to make detergents and soaps. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is an inorganic compound found in large natural deposits and mines. Its common name is washing soda and it is manufactured by the Solvay-ammonia process.

How To Make Homemade Laundry Detergent ll My Tips and Truths

What is the best laundry detergent?

The Best Laundry Detergent
  • Top pick. Tide Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Top pick. Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Runner-up. Persil Original Liquid Detergent Everyday Clean. ...
  • Also great. Tide Pods Free & Gentle Laundry Detergent. ...
  • Also great. Dirty Labs Free & Clear Bio Laundry Detergent.

What is the general formula for detergent?

They are usually made up of surfactants and are effective because they have an amphipathic structure which means that one side of the compound is hydrophobic which will avoid water whereas the other side is hydrophilic which will easily attach to water. The chemical formula for detergent is: C 18 H 29 NaO 3 S .

What is the #1 dermatologist recommended laundry detergent?

all Free Clear is the #1 recommended detergent brand by dermatologists, allergists and pediatricians for sensitive skin. 100% free of perfumes and dyes, all Free Clear is Tough on Stains, Gentle on Skin.

Does it really matter what laundry detergent you use?

But our tests of dozens of laundry detergents show there are significant differences from one formula to the next. Some detergents are effective at getting clothes clean while others barely clean better than running a wash cycle using nothing but water.

What is the best substitute for laundry detergent?

Baking Soda + Lemon Juice

Many people know that baking soda and lemon juice are the go-to combinations for many cookies, cocktails, and cakes. However, these two powerful ingredients are also the greenest replacement for laundry detergents.

What is America's #1 detergent?

America's favorite detergent, Tide, has every laundry detergent you need - whether it's HE detergent or Tide PODS® with Febreze. Learn More. Our heritage - celebrating the last 75 years.

What is no 1 detergent powder?

We think that the Surf Excel Easy Wash Detergent Powder, Rin Advanced Detergent Powder, and Tide Plus Double Power Detergent Washing Powder are the best detergent powders in India.

What did people use before laundry detergent?

Before the arrival of modern detergents, ancient civilizations utilized animal fat or lye for washing clothes. In certain instances, they also made use of chamber lye, a more informal term referring to urine. It wasn't until 1914 in Germany that Otto Rohm created the concept of adding enzymes to washing detergents.

What makes a good laundry detergent?

It is important to look for surfactants and enzymes to remove soil and stains. Bargain brands have fewer of these components and will not clean as well. You may find that having two formulas on your laundry shelf will serve your needs; one detergent for lightly soiled clothes and one for heavily-soiled clothes.

Are Clean People laundry sheets sold in stores?

Another option is to find Clean People sheets in a store near you. We're in Walmart – so you can either pick up your detergent sheets next time you're shopping in person, or visit Walmart's online store to get those Clean People detergent sheets in your cart.

What is the number one best laundry detergent?

The Best Laundry Detergents, According to Rigorous Testing
  • Best Overall. Tide Hygienic Clean Power Pods. Read more.
  • Best Overall Liquid Laundry Detergent. Persil Advanced Clean Oxi + Odor Power. Read more.
  • Best Overall Powder Laundry Detergent. Tide Plus Bleach Powder Laundry Detergent. Read more.

Is it better to use pods or liquid detergent?

If I'm doing an easy load that doesn't require any extra care, I'll toss in pods. For items that come home dirtier than usual, it's time for a tougher bio detergent probably in pod form. For anything that requires a gentle or handwash cycle, then a liquid detergent customized for silk or wool is a must.

What is the least toxic laundry detergent?

What Is the Best Non Toxic Laundry Detergent?
  • NaturOli* (Our Top Pick)
  • Truly Free*
  • Ecos Free & Clear*
  • Meliora Unscented Powder Detergent*
  • Molly's Suds*
  • Aspen*
  • ATTITUDE*
  • Clean Cult*

What laundry detergent do hospitals use?

OTEX is considered the gold standard in laundry disinfection, trusted by hospitals, care homes and other social care organisations.

Is Persil better than Tide?

The ONLY detergent that gets out tough stains better than this stuff is Persil. And the difference is very very very small. So small I miight even be just imagining there is a difference when there is none really. I have seen a study that said Persil is 2% better so, I might be influenced by that study.

What is the most gentle laundry detergent?

  • Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent.
  • Seventh Generation Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent.
  • All Liquid Laundry Detergent.
  • Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent.
  • Ecos Laundry Detergent Liquid.
  • Molly's Suds Laundry Powder.
  • Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent.
  • Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets.

Are detergent sheets good?

Even the best detergents can't remove every stain completely. But laundry sheets as a group didn't perform well—netting scores that range from mediocre to lousy. “In fact, they had lower performance as a group than our lowest-performing liquid or pod/packs detergents,” Handel says.

Who invented laundry detergent?

Well Who Invented Laundry Detergent I hear You Ask? This incredible breakthrough can be attributed to Dr. Otto Rohm in 1907 who was the owner of Burnus, a company established in 1836 originally as a candle and soap maker.

What is the detergent name one detergent?

Detergents are generally ammonium or sulphonate salts of long chain carboxylic acids. The charged ends of these compounds do not form insoluble precipitates with the calcium and magnesium ions in water. Example of detergent is sodium lauryl Sulphate.

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