Talk:Laundry detergent/Archives/2016

WHY is soap inadequate for laundry?

The most screaming question is WHY is laundry detergent needed over basic soap? The article mentions that soap is inhibited by hard water hence the need for something different. But why is hard water only an issue for laundry but not everywhere else? Let's address this question prominently in the article. Then everyone understands WHY about detergent. Rtdrury (talk) 05:19, 7 November 2015 (UTC)

- Because lime soap (Ca-soap) is not soluble in water and builds sharp needles which will go to the fabric surface and can take damage to it (there are other ingredients, e.g. polymers or other surfactants which can dispers them). This is why you cannot use it as a surfactant, BUT as foam controlling agent and Ca-ions catching additive. Chris 80.150.176.194 (talk) 07:42, 28 July 2016 (UTC)

3rd paragraph of history describes a more general answer. If we can get a citation on the above calcium ion needles, we can add that. Tarl N. (discuss) 13:27, 28 July 2016 (UTC)

Australia begain to phase out phosphates starting 2011

That's what the reference says, so it's right for Wikipedia.... but, actually, it's complete balony: Australia started phasing out phosphates in the 60's or 70's, when it first became an issue. All the big brand washing powders switched to low-phosphate or almost-zero-phosphate formulations at that time. In 2011 Australia started to finish phasing phosphates out of laundry detergents. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.206.162.148 (talk) 09:11, 8 December 2016 (UTC)