How the ingredients work

Calcium binders

Different types of calcium binding agents exist, including zeolite, phosphate, polycarboxylates, and citrate. Phosphates are no longer considered an environmental problem in areas equipped water purification plants where phosphate can be removed. Products without phosphate are recommended for areas that do not have such plants. Here, phosphate has been replaced with zeolite, polycarboxylates and citrate, which are harmless to the environment. Neutral uses zeolite as a calcium binding agent.

Soap

Soap is the alkaline salt of a fatty acid. Soap is made by cooking animal or vegetable fatty acids with lye. Soap loosens the dirt from the textile fibers and keeps it floating in the water. The soap's foaming ability depends on the fatty acid that was used to make it.

Surfactants

Surfactants are made synthetically, e.g. from oils. Surfactants loosen dirt, grease and oil from the textiles and keep them suspended in the water. Many different types of surfactants exist. Some are heavy-foaming while others are lightly-foaming. Others are strong fat solvents that work as degreasing agents.

Enzymes

Enzymes work as solvents on different types of stains that are normally difficult to remove at low temperatures. Enzymes are most effective at 40-60°C (104-140°F). They work slowly in cold water and are destroyed at temperatures above 70°C (158°F). Never pour boiling water on a bioproduct. Enzymes degrade certain types of wool and silk fibers. Neutral Compact and Neutral Color contain four different types of enzymes:

Amylase:
Dissolves starch stains from e.g. spaghetti, potatoes, oatmeal, gravy and chocolate.

Lipase:
Dissolves grease stains from e.g. cooking fat, butter, oil, dressing and lipsticks.

Protease:
Dissolves protein stains from e.g. blood, grass, egg and sweat.

Cellulase:
Preserves the colors of the clothes by removing the worn fibers from the surface of the textile keeping the colors looking bright.

Bleaching agents

Bleaching agents bleach colored stains from e.g. coffee, tea, red wine but it may also bleach the color of the clothes and make certain fibers lose their elasticity (e.g. elastic fibers). Perborate works best at temperatures above 60°C (140°F).

TAED (Tetra Acetyl Etylene Diamine)

TAED is an activator that makes perborate effective at low temperatures. This is an advantage when washing white clothes at temperatures between 40 and 60°C (104-140°F) but it can also be a disadvantage when washing colored clothing.

Sodium sulphate

Sodium sulphate is a carrier for other ingredients – a filler in regular detergents. Compact detergents contain little or no sodium sulphate.

Silicates

Silicates have an emulsifying effect on fat and regulates pH values while making the clothes appear whiter.

Carbonates

Carbonates increase the alkalinity of the water, making the detergent more effective. Carbonates also have a calcium binding effect.