🧺 Laundry Powder Detergent Types
Laundry powder detergents are solid cleaning formulations designed for washing fabrics in both household and industrial applications. They vary according to composition, purpose, and washing conditions. Below are the main types and their characteristics:
🔹 1. Heavy-Duty Laundry Powder Detergents
Used for washing heavily soiled clothes — suitable for industrial laundries, hotels, hospitals, and workwear cleaning.
Key features:
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High surfactant and builder content
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Often contain oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) and optical brighteners
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Effective in both hot and warm water
🔹 2. Light-Duty Laundry Powders
Formulated for everyday household use, for medium or lightly soiled fabrics.
Key features:
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Gentle cleaning system
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Often include fragrance and fabric-safe enzymes
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Compatible with front- and top-loading machines
🔹 3. Phosphate-Free Laundry Powders
Environmentally friendly formulas that replace phosphates with zeolites, citrates, or polymer-based builders.
Key features:
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Biodegradable ingredients
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Low aquatic toxicity
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Suitable for regions with phosphate regulations
🔹 4. Oxygen Bleach Laundry Powders
Contain sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate as active oxygen-releasing agents.
Key features:
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Excellent stain removal (coffee, tea, wine)
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Whitening effect without damaging colors
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Often combined with activators like TAED for low-temperature bleaching
🔹 5. Enzyme-Based Laundry Powders
Use specific enzymes for targeted stain removal.
Typical enzymes:
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Protease (protein stains – blood, food)
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Amylase (starch stains)
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Lipase (fat/oil stains)
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Cellulase (color rejuvenation and fabric smoothness)
🔹 6. Color-Safe Laundry Powders
Developed for colored fabrics — contain no chlorine bleach and mild surfactants.
Key features:
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Protect dye integrity
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Maintain brightness
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Often enriched with anti-redeposition agents
🔹 7. Low-Foam (Automatic Machine) Laundry Powders
Designed for front-loading or high-efficiency washing machines.
Key features:
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Controlled foam level to prevent overflow
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Fast rinsing, low residue
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Suitable for hard water
🔹 8. Hand-Wash Laundry Powders
Formulated for manual washing, especially in areas without washing machines.
Key features:
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Higher foam production
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Mild to skin
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Quick-rinse formulation
⚙️ Additional Classification by pH
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Alkaline powders (pH 9–11): strong cleaning, for whites and heavily soiled textiles
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Neutral powders (pH 6–8): gentle cleaning, suitable for delicate or colored fabrics
💡 Summary
Laundry powder detergents can be customized by purpose (heavy-duty vs. household), composition (enzyme, oxygen bleach, phosphate-free) or washing method (machine vs. hand wash).
Modern formulations balance cleaning power, fabric care, and environmental safety.
