Every household has to do laundry, for better or for worse, and of course needs detergent for that. But have you ever wondered what detergent actually consists of, and are you always unsure which detergent is needed for what? We'll explain on our blog. In this article, we'll give you a general overview of detergents, and in the next blog entry, we'll go into more detail about the different types of detergent.
The basis of detergents
Detergent is needed to remove various types of dirt from textiles. To ensure that all dirt is reliably removed, detergent contains a few general ingredients that are present in every detergent. First and foremost, surfactants are a main component and have a washing-active property. In an older post, we explain what surfactants are and what they are good for. There are also water softeners that "soften" the water, so to speak. As we know, water hardness varies depending on the region (there is already an informative blog entry here too). In order for the washing-active surfactants to be more effective, the water must be soft. Next, washing alkalis are present in detergents to increase the pH value. The higher pH value causes the fibers to swell and the dirt can be removed much more easily . Enzymes are needed to remove dirt containing protein and starch, which are therefore also present in every detergent. Finally , dirt carriers prevent the dirt from sticking to the textiles again . Curd soap and silicones reduce foam formation. The ingredients mentioned form the basis of detergents.
The different types of detergent
The range of detergents is enormous and the choice is huge. There is a specific detergent for every type of dirt and every type of fabric. There are different types of detergent on the market. On the one hand, detergents differ in their composition and on the other hand, detergents differ in their washing properties. There is liquid or powder detergent, detergent in the form of gel, tabs, pods or caps. There is also heavy-duty detergent, color detergent, delicate detergent , white detergent and various special detergents for special washing occasions. Various additives such as fabric softener, hygiene rinse or even scented pearls can refine the laundry.
Continuation of the blog series follows
In the first part of our blog series, we gave you a rough overview of detergents. In the second part, we will look at the different types of detergent. We will go into more detail about what each detergent is suitable for and what you need to pay attention to. In the third part, we have tips for keeping the washing machine hygienically clean and cleaning it.
