by Denise Neville

Created on: August 11, 2009

Laundry detergent has come a long way from the time of homemade lye soaps. Today we have choices when it comes to laundry detergent and the basic options are wet or dry. Of course, there are many name brands attached to these detergents as you can see in any supermarket. Some of these may have a little extra added here and there but basically they are made the same with just a different process. Here is the difference between wet and dry laundry detergents.

Detergent materials

Simply put detergents have different molecules in them. While a part of the molecule is attracted to water the other part is attracted to dirt. The molecules that are attracted to dirt break up the dirt on the clothes and release it into the water to be flushed out during the washing process.

The wet detergent process

The ingredients that go into detergent are dropped into a large box like container that is shaken from the outside by machinery. This box inside operates like a kitchen blender but on a much bigger scale. There are blades inside which mix the ingredients and when it has reached the proper consistency a hole at the bottom of this giant blender opens to release the liquid while the blades inside continue to turn. When the liquid leaves the blender through the hole in the bottom it is distributed into jugs that are on a conveyer belt below. It continues on the conveyer belt where it is removed and put into shipping cartons to be distributed to the market.

The dry detergent process

The machine that the ingredients for dry detergent are dropped into is similar to the machine of the wet detergent meaning it also has blades for the dry ingredients. The difference is that this machine, although it has blades, they act more like texturing food in a food processor. The detergent ingredients are mixed into a very fine consistency, which up to this point have been left dry. When the texture is just right liquid ingredients are added. The blending continues until enough heat is generated to produce a hot liquid that has the same texture as gelatin in its liquid form. The liquid will flow out of the machine at this point and is allowed to dry on a drying belt below. This detergent is very lumpy by now but very easy to crush. This detergent is then put through a screening process to ensure there are no large lumps left. It is then distributed in boxes and shipped out to the market.

Personal choice

This is what we find in the supermarkets and each of the detergent brands holds

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