Cleaning Effect of Household Laundry Detergents at Low Temperatures

K. Laitala; H. Mollan Jensen

doi:10.3139/113.110096

Published by De Gruyter April 5, 2013

Cleaning Effect of Household Laundry Detergents at Low Temperatures

Reinigungswirkung von Haushaltswaschmitteln bei niedrigen Temperaturen

K. Laitala and H. Mollan Jensen

From the journal Tenside Surfactants Detergents

https://doi.org/10.3139/113.110096

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Abstract

Lowering the washing temperature of laundry has environmental benefits, but consumers are reluctant to decrease the temperature in fear of not getting clean textiles. The objective of this study was to test eight leading laundry detergents for low temperature washing at 30°C and at 40°C. The cleaning effect was tested by measuring the reflection values of pre-soiled swatches after wash based on standard EN 60456. The results show that the difference in reflection value was on average only 1.9% higher at 40°C than at 30°C, indicating very small difference in cleaning effect. Most differences between temperatures could be seen in liquid detergents for white textiles, and least in powder detergents for coloured textiles. This confirms that modern detergents are suitable for wash at 30°C, and the soil removal will in most cases be satisfactory for household use instead of the more common wash at 40°C.

Kurzfassung

Die Absenkung der Temperatur beim Wäschewaschen hat Vorteile für die Umwelt, aber die Verbraucher zögern bei niedrigen Temperaturen zu waschen, da sie befürchten, dass die Wäsche nicht sauber wird. Das Ziel dieser Studie ist, acht Waschmittel bei niedrigen Waschtemperaturen von 30°C und 40°C zu testen. Der Reinigungseffekt wird an Hand von Messungen der Remission von angeschmutzten Testgeweben vor und nach der Wäsche gemäß EN 60456 bestimmt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Remissionsdifferenz bei 40°C im Mittel nur 1,9% höher ist als bei 30°C, d.h. die Reinigungseffekte unterscheiden sich nur sehr wenig voneinander. Der größte Unterschied zwischen den beiden Temperaturen konnte bei den Flüssigwaschmitteln für weiße Textilien festgestellt werden, der geringste Unterschied war bei den Pulverwaschmitteln für farbige Textilien zu finden. Das bestätigt, dass moderne Waschmittel für die Wäsche bei 30°C geeignet sind. In den meisten Fällen ist die Schmutzentfernung bei 30°C anstatt der üblichen Wäsche bei 40°C für Haushaltsanwendungen zufriedenstellend.

Key words:: Laundry; Washing temperature; Detergent; Cleaning effect

Stichwörter:: Schmutzwäsche; Waschtemperatur; Waschmittel; Reinigungswirkung

^∗ Kirsi Laitala, National Institute for Consumer Research (SIFO), PO Box 4682 Nydalen, NO-0405 Oslo, Norway, Tel.: +47 22 04 35 77, Fax: +47 22 04 35 04. E-Mail: Kirsi.Laitala@sifo.no

Kirsi Laitala is a PhD student at Norwegian University of Science and Technology within Industrial design engineering. She has M.Sc. in Textile, fibre and clothing engineering from the Tampere University of Technology and international education titled “European masters in Advanced Textile Engineering, E-TEAM”, including studies at RWTH Aachen, University of Minho and Swedish School of Textiles. At the moment she is working as Principal Engineer at the National Institute for Consumer Research. She has researched on areas related to clothing quality and size issues, and is currently working with sustainability of clothing concentrating on the use and disposal periods.

Dr. Scient. Heidi Mollan Jensen studied chemistry in University of Oslo and finished her PhD in 2003 within inorganic chemistry and catalysis. She has worked earlier as researcher at Royal military college in Canada and at National Institute for Consumer Research. At the moment she is working as senior engineer at The Climate and Pollution Agency.

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Received: 2010-05-21

Published Online: 2013-04-05

Published in Print: 2010-11-01

Cleaning Effect of Household Laundry Detergents at Low Temperatures

Abstract

Kurzfassung

References

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