In the last blog post, we explained what ingredients a detergent has and what types are available. Today, we'll look at the different detergents and take a closer look at what additional ingredients they have and how effective they are. As already mentioned, there are various detergents on the market. Whether liquid or in the form of tablets or powder, the goal is to get clean laundry in the end. But what are the differences between the detergents?
Heavy-duty detergent – a kind of all-rounder
One of the most common detergents is heavy-duty detergent, which is available as a powder, liquid or pod. Heavy-duty detergent can be used at all temperatures (30°C to 95°C) and for most textiles and wash programs . When using heavy-duty detergent, it must be noted that in addition to the basic ingredients, the following extra ingredients are included. Bleach is an additional ingredient that removes stubborn, colored dirt. This is particularly effective at high washing temperatures. It also contains bleach activators that support the bleach at low temperatures. Optical brighteners are often also included for white laundry. The additional ingredients mentioned mean that colored textiles are also lightened, causing the color to fade. Therefore, when using heavy-duty detergent, care should be taken not to wash brightly colored clothing with heavy-duty detergent .
Color detergent – makes colored clothes shine
Color detergent, or color detergent , as the name suggests, is best suited for colored clothing . Color detergent is suitable for washing temperatures between 30° and 60°, most textiles, and all washing programs . In addition to the basic ingredients, color detergent also contains color transfer inhibitors to protect the color of the textiles and also prevent the colors from rubbing off onto other items of clothing. Additional ingredients generally have the task of preserving the colors of the textile and supporting its brightness.
Detergent for delicates – the sensitive detergent
Delicate detergent is suitable for delicate items of clothing and fine fabrics . As with color detergent, delicate detergent does not contain optical brighteners or bleach. The advantage of delicate detergent is that it is effective at low temperatures of up to 40°C . This means that delicate fabrics are cleaned even at low temperatures and last for a long time.
More special detergents in the next part
In addition to the three most common detergents, there are various special detergents for different textiles. These are explained in more detail in part 3 of the blog series. We also look at washing additives such as fabric softener and hygiene cleaner. Have fun washing!
