Factors to consider in selecting detergents and soap
Products
Phosphate--
Powdered Detergents
Non-Phosphatem
Powdered
Detergents
Liquid Detergents
Soaps
Advantages
Perform well in hard or soft water
Wash all types of fabrics well.
Can be used in hot, warm, or
cold water.
Perform satisfactorily
in soft
or moderately
hard water.
In some areas only non-phosphate
products are available.
Perform well in soft water.
Offer better performance
in
hard water than powdered
non-phosphate
types.
Cleans synthetics and fabric
blends well.
Are excellent as concentrates
for removing spots.
Completely
dissolve even in
cold water.
Perform well in soft water.
Disadvantages
Are not available in some areas.
Generally
do not clean well in
hard water.
May be difficult to dissolve,
especially in cold water.
Should not be used in cold water.
Those containing sodium
carbonate as an ingredient
may
cause harmful limestone deposits
on clothes and washer when
combined
with hard water.
(See page 14.)
May not perform as well as
powdered phosphate
products
when diluted in wash water.
Generally
do not clean well in
medium-hard
or hard water.
May combine with water
hardness minerals to form
sticky soap curd.
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