When we are cleaning, seeing a lot of bubbles often makes us believe that our cleaning is more effective. Is there evidence to back this up, or is this just a myth that we have convinced ourselves of? Short answer: It’s a myth that has been perpetuated for many decades! 

Read along to find out why.

What are suds?

Foam and lather is created by different additives in soap mixing with water and air during a wash. Two of the most common foaming additives found in conventional detergents are sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) – chemicals added for the mere purpose of creating those bubbles we’ve all come to associate with “clean” ; however, it has very little to do with the actual cleaning power of the soap! What you should be looking for is a good natural surfactant (the true superstar of clean laundry!) that will perform the same way. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water allowing dirt and oil to be lifted from the fabric’s surface and then rinsed away in the wash cycle.

What should I look for? 

Sudsing chemicals are commonly added to popular brands to convince their consumers that their product is working better than one of their competitors, but it is more important to look at the ingredients of the soap rather than the amount of bubbles it produces. 

When shopping for laundry detergent and other cleaning products, look for natural surfactants! These are going to be the products that will truly clean your clothes and not just make pretty bubbles. Some natural surfactants to look for include: Cocamidopropyl Betaine (derived from coconuts and used to clean), Octyl Glucoside (a non-ionic membrane remover), and Sulfonic Acids (an organic cleaning agent). Each of these are found in CLEAN PEOPLE Laundry Detergent!

 

Why bother?

When you see a lot of bubbles in your cleaning routine, you may think it’s truly clean; and while that may be true, the excess soap particles left behind could also be damaging to your laundry if not rinsed out thoroughly. The wash cycle hasn’t completely rinsed out all of the soap if your laundry comes out feeling a little waxy. That’s why CLEAN PEOPLE Laundry Detergent Sheets are intentionally made with a low sudsing formula. Though few suds may be visible during the wash cycle, rest assured the detergent is still hard at work ensuring that your clothing is clean and free of leftover soap. If it looks, smells, and actually feels clean, then it more than likely is good to go!