Products
Phosphate-
Powdered Detergents
Non-Phosphate-
Powdered
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.
Clean 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
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 Detergents section.)
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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