The Washing Effects of Eco-Friendly Laundry Aids

초록

As environmental awareness increases, more consumers are opting for eco-friendly detergents. Detergents can enhance washing, but an excessive amount does not significantly improve results. Inadequate rinsing can also cause skin irritation and water pollution. Eco-friendly laundry additives commonly include baking soda, sodium percarbonate, citric acid, salt, and effective microorganisms (EMs). In consideration of these issues, this study examined how eco-friendly laundry products affect washing efficiency. We evaluated the pH and washability of these products and detergent solutions using cloths contaminated with sebum or protein. When combined with heavy-duty or multipurpose detergent, baking soda, citric acid, and EMs exhibited decreased pH levels, thereby impacting washing effectiveness. Citric acid was less effective than water alone. Salt did not affect pH or cleaning, but sodium percarbonate slightly improved the cleaning of protein-soiled fabric. Among neutral detergents, baking soda or sodium percarbonate increased pH and cleaning power, whereas citric acid, salt, and EMs had minimal impact. Protein-contaminated cloths were washed well with sodium percarbonate alone. EMs were more effective than citric acid but not enough for them to count as detergent replacements. Lipid-contaminated cloths were ineffectively washed with laundry aids alone. © 2024, The Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles. All rights reserved.

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