Another one for input...
===Washing up liquid=== Probably the fastest acting detergent, but one of the least powerful. Removes many types of dirt very quickly. Dries skin.
Washing up liquid can be used for urgent clothes washing, it can give a quick refresh wash in a few minutes. But it can't remove all types of dirt, and is not adequate for regular use.
Do not use washing liquid in washing machines, it creates a greasy film that makes the machine pong.
Don't use wasing liquid to clean carpets. It leaves a slightly sticky residue that attracts further dirt.
Washing liquid can be used as a lubricant for sash window runners and for driving stiff [[screws]].
Washing liquid can be wiped onto just dried oil-based [[paint]] to prevent sticking and allow prompt reassembly and smoooth running - and let you close the front door after painting!
Low cost washing liquids contain less detergent and are thickened with salt. Which is better value is such a trivial question that its seen long debates on [[Newsgroups|usenet]].
===Liquid soaps=== More or less all products sold as liquid soaps are based on a detergent called sodium lauryl ethyl sulphate, aka sodium laureth sulphate, plus various additives (preservatives, colour, perfume, sometimes oil & emulsifier). This is a nearly universal low cost skin cleaning detergent, and a known very slight skin irritant. Nearly all brands of skin cleaner contain it, regardless of purported quality.
Such products are ill suited to general cleaning since they often contain oils and fats, are a relatively high price per litre, and are somewhat mild.
===Shampoos=== Much the same constitutents as liquid soaps. Anti dandruff shampoos contain an antifungal, such as selenium sulphide. [[oil|Conditioners]] also contain [[oil]].
===Ecover washing up liquid===
- Based mostly on plant products.
- Not as irritant to skin as sodim laureth sulphate
- Can strip [[paint|emulsion]] if soaked
- Non toxic.
- Can be used as body wash and shampoo
- Add a little [[oil]] to make a [[oil|conditioning shampoo]] or for dry skin
For people with skin irritated by washing powder its possible to use ecover washing up liquid to replace most of the wahsing powder when clothes washing. Use one tablespoonful of each per load, don't overdo it as it doesn't contain anti foaming agents, and use conventional powders for other washes to prevent muck buildup in the machine. If you misjudge the amount to use, the froth monster will come after you.
===Washing powder=== Much more powerful than washing liquids, effective degreasing with hot water. Alkaline. Much more drying and irritant to skin than any washing up liquid.
Biological powders also contain enzymes to improve their cleaning action at 40C, but the enzymes stop working at higher temps. Washing powders contain various additives such as oxygen bleach, blue, powdered cardboard filler, and a huge array of stain removers.
An overnight soak with bio powder can remove a wide range of stains and organic materials, so is a good first line of treatment for unknown stains.
Biological washing powder is the ultimate cleaner in terms of its ability to digest a very wide range of dirt types. However to destroy them all requires warmth and days of soaking. This can (rarely) be worth doing for dirt that has resisted all other forms of attack.
===Washing powder tablets=== These are just washing powder, but they take time to dissolve. This gives them less cleaning time per wash than powders.
If placed in the soap drawer they sometimes fail to dissolve in time, giving a poor wash, and the clothes are left with a residue of irritant washing powder due to being rinsed in weak detergent solution instead of clean water.
===Dishwasher detergent, powders and tablets===
- A powerful alkaline detergent.
- Requires hot water to work effectively.
- The most irritant detergent to skin, skin contact is best avoided.
- The detergent gradually attacks some types of glass, making it go cloudy in time.
===Dishwasher detergent, liquid=== ...use a different chemistry to powders.
===Wonder / miracle / magic cleaners / stain removers=== A lot of these contain oxygen based laundry bleach. These often feature 'oxi' in the name.
Some are just ordinary washing detergents.
===Soap (bar)=== Soap for skin cleaning is superfatted, meaning it contains free fat and no free caustic. To some extent this counters soap's tendency to dry skin. This fat makes it unsuitable for household cleaning, and so outside the scope of this FAQ.
In poorer countries a wider variety of soaps are found, with bars for household cleaning, shampooing, laundry etc, but these are not so often seen in Britain. If you want to find them, look for them at Indian supermarkets. They're often sold in big bars a foot or so long, and you slice off a new soap bar when you need one. The colours indicate which type of soap it is. These are all based on soaps rather than more modern detergents. They make very economical cleaners, but are not widely available, not widely used, and better cleaning products are now popular.
Soaps may be used for cleaning gold and silver jewellery.
===Sugar soap=== A soap that has nothing to do with sugar, and is definitely not edible.
Used primarily to clean [[paint]]work, as traces of this soap don't affect household paints much. Other detergents can be used instead if rinsed off.
Washing painted walls is sometimes sufficient to rejuvenate them and delay the need to re-[[paint]].