Laundry powder

General information

General purpose washing powder (also called “heavy duty”) for hand and machine laundry. See also laundry liquids.

In addition to the specification, other items may be considered (with effects on cost). To be defined by the requester according to local regulation for positive and negative lists of ingredients, and to local cultural habits.

Information on the washing powder components:

• 1- Anionic surface active agent (surfactant) is the main washing ingredient. It normally works on non-fatty dirt. Common washing powder usually includes 10% to 15%.

• 2- Non-ionic surface active agent (surfactant) is a co-washing agent. It works on the elimination of fat and grease dirt that cannot be dissolved by the anionic surfactant. Common washing powder usually includes 5%.

• 3- Builder and water softener. Builder is a component whose role is to maximize the efficacy of the surface active agents. It works by neutralizing the negative effect that mainly calcium and magnesium salts naturally occurring in water can have on surfactants. Common washing powder usually includes 20% to 25%.

• 4.1, 4.2, 4.3- Co-builders bring other important functionalities to the formulation. For example Sodium carbonate (usually 12% to 15%) is a source of alcalinity to the formulation when dissolved in water as a result of its chemical characteristics. Similarly the alkali (usually 3% to 5%), thanks to its high pH, will attack the fatty soil and chemically transform it so that it can be solubilized by the non-ionic surfactant. It helps maintaining an alcaline pH in water. The sodium polycarboxylate (usually 3.5% to 5.5%) inhibits the precipitation of inorganic salts reducing incrustation in fabric.

• 5- Foam regulator limits the formation of important quantities of foam during washing that will otherwise result from the mechanical effects of hand or machine wash which incorporate big quantities of air in the water. It is present in commercial products.

• 6- Anti-redeposition is necessary to avoid that during the wash process some of the dirt (organic soil and mineral soil) that is not readily soluble in water deposits back on fabrics.

• 7- Active oxygen bleach allows particularly in a cold wash process to obtain a bleaching effect on white fabrics without affecting colored fabrics. Sodium perborate which was widely used in the past only works at temperatures above 60° C and  has a negative (discoloring) effect on colored fabrics.

• 8- Optical brighteners (also called fluorescers or optical azurants) by depositing on fabrics enhance the light reflected on fabrics to make them appear brighter and whiter.  Can be present in commercial products.

• 9- Enzymes: Effective in the elimination of food stains and body secretion stains. It is one of the expensive components of washing products. May be allergenic to sensitive persons. Common washing powder usually includes 0% to 1%.

• 10- Perfume will help alleviate the chemical base odor of the product and will give a nice smell to fabrics. May be allergenic to sensitive persons.

• 11- Water  is present in the powder detergent from two sources, mainly from the ingredients which for many of them are not delivered in 100 % pure form and for the rest as formulation water that can be necessary to make the manufacturing process easier. There is always some residual humidity in most formulation components therefore there is an actual water concentration in the final product. In a dry powder it will be maximum 10 % and in most cases below 7 %.

• Sodium tripolyphosphate. Not in the Formulation. Water softener and pH buffer. To be avoided. Not authorized by EU and North American regulations. Check with local regulations.

• Recommended dosage : 75g to 100g per wash (5kg laundry)

The complete list of ingredients should be specified by the supplier with characteristics, as well as the raw materials specification, the materials and production process traceability, and the quality assurance process.

Potential suppliers should be requested to provide their own products formulations and specifications including packaging. This should help evaluate their capability, the quality level of their products, and the professionalism of their operations.

Some specifications may vary to meet national standards and local market conditions. For locally sourced items, it is a prerequisite to check the relevant national regulations or specifications. Any important variation from the EIC standard needs to be approved by a specialist.

Specifications

Washing powder for laundry. The product must be safe under normal conditions of use.