Washing powder

Prompted by Squeaky, here is some information about the chemicals in washing powder. I used to work in a laundry care research & development laboratory.

Washing powder can be formulated to lift dirt from your garments, prevent re-deposition (stop the dirt laying back onto the garment) by keeping the dirt in suspension, enzymes to eat up the stains, to bleach and brighten whites.......it all depends on which product you buy.

Some washing powder boxes list the contents. You'll see ingredients like:

Anionic surfactants, nonionic and cationic surfactants. Surfactants is an abbreviation of surface active agents. Imagine the water and washing powder being negatively charged and the dirt on your garment being positively charged..........the washing powder acts like a magnet to draw the dirt out of the garment.

Enzymes. These are added to the formula for biological washing powder. Enzymes deal with stains like mud, sweat and poo.

Bleaching Agent. This is added to the formula to keep your white garments white.

Optical Brightener. This is added to the formula to make your whites and coloured garments 'bright'.


I keep my white garments white by using Persil automatic powder. I don't use a fabric softener. I've got some sports socks that are years old and still brilliant white........thanks to Persil. It gave the best results under normal light and UV light testing/panel in our lab tests.

For heavily soiled/stained garments only, I use Ariel biological automatic powder. It was the best performing stain removal product in our lab tests. I will also use Lenor fabric softener.

For general soiled/worn garments, I use Surf automatic powder and Lenor fabric softener.

For anyone concerned about using a product laden with chemicals, remember that if you are an 'Old Style' fan of vinegar, you are also a fan of the chemical Acetic Acid.;)