What's the chemistry behind laundry detergent?

Modern laundry detergents contain a huge array of chemicals that help the cleaning process and make your clothes look nice, including chemicals ... Chemists call these properties hydrophobic (water-hating) and hydrophilic (water-loving), and this conflicting nature is what makes detergents so powerful. read more

To work, laundry detergents (and small child cleaners) need three things: water, warmth and agitation. All of these are essential parts of the process, and modern laundry detergents are created to make the most of all of them with a huge range of fabrics and materials. read more

Note: The science behind this is complex and designed by some highly intelligent people. This response is a gross over-simplification as the materials used in commercial products are much more advanced. read more

Soap film does not rinse away easily. It tends to remain behind and produces visible deposits on clothing and makes fabrics feel stiff. It also attaches to the insides of bathtubs, sinks and washing machines. Some soap is used up by reacting with hard water minerals to form the film. This reduces the amount of soap available for cleaning. read more