Greetings,

Does anyone know whether the "cold water" detergents (like Tide cold water) are actually different in contents than regular detergents, or is this just a scam?

I went looking for list of ingredients in both regular and cold water detergents, but neither of them list the ingredients.

Also, is there any reason why I can't use regular detergent for cold water washing?

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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."

-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"

Powder detergent composition for cold water laundering of fabrics.
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 5482646
Link to this page:

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5482646.html
Abstract:
This invention provides a powder carbonate-based laundry detergent which can be utilized in cold water fabric laundering with a minimized remainder of undissolved detergent residue in the wash water. A particulate anionic surfactant ingredient such as sodium lauryl sulfate is incorporated by dry blending with detergent granules to form an adherent coating of fine particles of anionic surfactant on the detergent granules, in a quantity which is effective for reducing the residue of undissolved detergent under cold water laundering conditions. ......

What is claimed, is:-

1. A laundry detergent composition which is a granulated blend of ingredients comprising (a) between about 40-90 weight percent of a water-soluble inorganic salt detergent builder ingredient wherein at least one third of the inorganic salt detergent builder ingredient is sodium carbonate, and (b) between about 5-40 weight percent of detergent active ingredient which comprises sodium, potassium or ammonium salt of linear C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkylbenzenesulfonate, sodium, potassium or ammonium salt of C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkyl sulfate or ethoxylated C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkyl ether sulfate, or C.sub.12 -C.sub.15 monohydric alcohol ethoxylated with 3-15 ethylene oxide units per molecule or any mixture thereof; and between about 0.7-5 weight percent of a particulate anionic surfactant ingredient coating on the surfaces of the detergent granules, and wherein the anionic surfactant ingredient consists of sodium, potassium or ammonium salt of C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 fatty acid or C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkyl sulfate or ethoxylated C.sub.10 -C.sub.18 alkyl ether sulfate or any mixture thereof, and wherein the anionic surfactant ingredient is a particulate solid having an average particle size between about 50-200 microns.......................... ETC., ETC.,
2. blah
3. blah
4. blah
5.....................blah

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heavy duty powder detergent compositions for home use fabric laundering generally perform well and are widely accepted. With the increasing trend to cold Water washing of fabrics at wash water temperatures below about 60.degree. F. for energy conservation, commercial laundry detergent compositions tend to leave a cold water residue (CWR) of undissolved detergent solids after completion of the wash machine cycles. ....... etc., etc.,

The detergent solubility rate is measured with a conductance meter (YSI model 32 with ATP). A jacketed beaker (40.degree. F.) is filled with two liters of tap water. A 3.54 gram quantity of detergent sample is added to the beaker medium, and the medium is stirred. A conductance probe (YSI model 3403) is employed to monitor the conductivity of the medium up to a maxamium reading, and the conductivity is correlated with weight percent of dissolved detergent.
The granules have an average particle diameter of 515 microns, and a bulk density of 905 grams/liter. A cold water residue test indicates a residue weight of 27.5 grams.
When the same formulation has a 2.5 weight percent post-addition surface coating of sodium stearate, no cold water residue remains.

The size and shape of the granules and the dissolving of the same in COLD water saves energy, protects the environment, costs a little less to use and provides NEARLY a close result as the HOT water laundry detergent does. The detergent manufacturers proclaim and glorify all of these facts and now can stick their hands out to the Feds and say "Cough you baskets" we are doing a great thing and now we are compliant with all of the Gas Emission Rules and we are making the consumer emit less tonnage of carbon into the atmosphere, by the usage of this particular product.

By the by, all of these soap companies have abandoned these patents and it is no longer a TOP secret.

There is a whole lot of HOGWASH available on the US Patent website. Don't loose your sleep over the same. If you find that you have to use more of the COLD water soap then dump half a scoop more, if it does its job. Otherwise switch back to the regular one that you are used to.

I am still waiting for the ultrasonic super duper washing machine, that will eliminate all of the soaps. Watch out.....That will kill all of the afternoon and night soap operas. AND ....What do you know, you will see the next soap on the market that will eat the hemoglobin molecules off the clothes and also to clean the blood off our hands.

Eitherway We will not be popular and WE LOOSE. Next time don't ask good questions like these. MUM is the word.

Freddie.

Quote:

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Originally posted by pratickm

Also, is there any reason why I can't use regular detergent for cold water washing?

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Quote:

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Originally posted by frnd
Meaning the detergent is efficient in cold (normal) water. This is what they are claiming.

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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."

-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"