The Truth About Budget Laundry Powders: How They Keep Prices Low

Sodium sulfate, also known as sodium sulfate or sulfate of soda, is a common ingredient in many laundry detergents and dishwasher powders. However, many consumers may need to be made aware of exactly what it is or what it does. We will take a closer look at sodium sulfate and how it is used in these cleaning products, as well as some potential downsides to its inclusion.

First, it is crucial to understand that sodium sulfate is often used as a filler or bulking agent in laundry detergents and dishwasher powders. Its primary purpose is to increase the volume of the product and make it more economical to produce. However, this does not necessarily mean that it improves the cleaning ability of the powder. It does not have any cleaning properties on its own and its primary function is to increase the volume of the powder.

Another reason manufacturers use sodium sulfate is that it is a relatively inexpensive ingredient and is widely available. This makes it a cost-effective option for manufacturers to use as a filler in their products. However, this also means that some laundry detergents and dishwasher powders may be cheaper at the supermarket but less effective than other products on the market.

Sodium sulfate can also act as a water softener by binding with the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water and preventing them from forming insoluble soap scum. This can make the active cleaning ingredients in the detergent more effective at removing dirt and stains from clothes. However, this is not its main function and other components are added explicitly for this purpose.

It can also act as a pH adjuster by helping maintain a neutral pH in the laundry water, making the detergent more effective at cleaning clothes. But again, this is not its main function, and other ingredients are specifically added for this purpose.

Regarding dishwasher powder, sodium sulfate can also function as an anti-caking agent, helping to prevent clumps from forming in the powder. However, other ingredients like silicon dioxide can also serve this purpose and in some cases, even better.

It is worth considering that other ingredients can be used in place of sodium sulfate when it comes to cleaning. For example, sodium carbonate and natural surfactants are added explicitly to laundry detergents and dishwasher powders to improve cleaning ability. These ingredients are more expensive than sodium sulfate but are also more effective at cleaning.

In conclusion, sodium sulfate may be a common ingredient in many laundry and dishwasher detergents. It is essential you understand that it is mainly used as a filler and has no direct cleaning properties. Additionally, its relatively low cost may be why some products are cheaper at the supermarket, but this only sometimes means they are more effective. When choosing a laundry detergent or dishwasher powder, it is important to look at the complete list of ingredients and consider the product's overall effectiveness rather than just the price. This is why we have no sodium sulfate in out laundry and dishwasher powders. They are 100% active ingredients. Meaning every ingredient is designed to help the cleaning process in a significant way. This is why we can get 75 washes from our 1.5 kg bag which costs under 40 cents per wash.