The correct answer: The statement “the thicker the detergent, the better it removes dirt” is a common misconception with subjective assumptions and is incorrect!

 

The consistency of a cleaner is not directly proportional to its ability to remove stains, and it can even be said that there is no direct relationship between the consistency and the ability to remove stains.

 

The reason why some cleaners appear thicker is because of the addition of “thickeners”, the most common of which are inorganic salts. Because the amount of thickening agents in different products varies, users quickly perceive a visual difference in the consistency of the detergent and are easily led to believe that a thicker detergent must contain more active ingredients.

 

However, the detergency of a detergent does not come from the thickener, but from the surfactants contained in the product. Therefore, the consistency of the detergent and its ability to remove dirt is not directly related to the strength of the detergent, in some cases, too thick detergents will bring more problems: thickeners with a high content of detergents is more difficult to quickly and thoroughly dissolve in water; not easy to produce foam; easy to caking, and even cause the outlet and pipeline clogging; but also because of its high viscosity and adhesion caused by the solution or some of its It may also cause the solution or some of its chemical components to remain on the surface of the cleaned object due to its high viscosity and adhesion, which will obviously create potential food safety and allergy problems for those detergents used to clean “imported objects” and “intimate objects”, such as dishwashing detergent to clean tableware and laundry detergent to clean clothes (especially intimate garments). Allergies and other more serious problems.

Of course, thick detergents are not useless! Certain detergents with the right consistency can be useful in specific cleaning areas, such as toilet bowl cleaners. I’m sure you’ve encountered similar problems when cleaning a toilet or urinal: watery toilet bowl cleaners can spew acidic liquids all over the place if you’re not careful when squeezing them out; toilet bowl cleaners that are poured into the toilet bowl go straight down the drain before you can start scrubbing, and you have to squeeze them out several times and repeat the process to finish cleaning a toilet bowl.

On the contrary, a more viscous toilet bowl cleaner can avoid the above problems: a moderately viscous liquid with reduced fluidity and higher wall-hanging properties greatly prolongs the contact and reaction time between the toilet bowl cleaner and the stains, allowing for a more comprehensive and thorough cleaning without the need for strenuous scrubbing; at the same time, a moderately viscous toilet bowl cleaner solution is also less likely to splatter around and avoids the potential danger of “accidentally injuring” the human skin. The toilet bowl cleaner solution is also not easy to splash around to avoid the potential danger of “accidental injury” to human skin.

 

How to use dishwashing detergent correctly?

Quick answer: Surface-control additives are usually selected by defect type, compatibility, and dosage window. The strongest commercial choice is the one that fixes the real problem without creating a new one.

01 When the room temperature is low, it is recommended to use warm water from 25℃ to 40℃ to wash the tableware, in this temperature range, the detergent has a better decontamination effect. At the same time, warm water can also dissolve grease and make it easier to wash. When using, the tableware detergent will be diluted into 200 to 500 times with water (washing concentration of 0.2% to 0.5% is appropriate), soaking time of 2 to 5 minutes is appropriate, with a sponge or rag scrubbing, and then rinsed with running water. For dishes with heavy grease, pour the dishwashing detergent directly onto a sponge or rag, dip it into a small amount of water and scrub the dishes, then rinse with running water.

02 When washing vegetables and fruits, follow the instructions of the detergent and rinse thoroughly. The soaking time should not be too long, so as to avoid excessive penetration of detergent into the vegetables and fruits, resulting in the loss of vitamins and reduced nutritional value.

 

03 Try not to mix many different types of dishwashing detergent. The surfactants used in different types of dishwashing detergents may be different, such as anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, etc. Mixing them may affect the performance of the detergents.

04 Dishwashing detergents are not the better the more they are used, nor are they better the longer they are soaked. Excessive use or soaking time is not only wasteful, but also the detergent is easy to remain on the tableware, which is not easy to rinse clean.

 

05 Most of the dishwashing detergents currently on the market are neutral, skin irritation is mainly reflected in the degreasing, dishwashing detergents, the stronger the degreasing is also stronger, long-term use will lead to skin dryness, stratum corneum aging off, and so on, serious allergic reactions. It is best to wear special gloves or apply moisturising hand cream in time after use to reduce skin irritation and dryness.

 

06 When using dishwashing detergent, maintain a ventilated environment and avoid prolonged exposure to large quantities of detergent vapour, which may cause irritation or damage to the respiratory tract and eyes.

 

07 Dishwashing detergents are generally chemicals and should be kept out of reach of children to avoid accidental ingestion or contact.

 

08 After washing the tableware, try to control dry or dry water, placed in a dry cabinet or disinfection cabinet, cabinet Regular cleaning and disinfection, to avoid mould growth and bacterial growth.

 

A practical selection checklist for wetting, leveling, and defoaming additives

Additive selection is usually most effective when the team defines the defect first and then screens compatibility, dosage range, and process stage. That is often much more reliable than choosing only by chemistry family or by a single dramatic lab result.

• Start from the defect, not the additive name: wetting loss, crater, microfoam, and instability often need different solutions even inside the same formula.
• Check compatibility at the intended dosage: the strongest additive can still be the wrong commercial choice if it narrows the process window too much.
• Review the stage of use: some products are most useful during grind, while others matter more during let-down, filling, or final application.
• Balance cure or film quality with defect control: the right additive fixes the problem without sacrificing adhesion, gloss, or appearance.

Recommended product references

• CHLUMIAF 094: A balanced defoamer reference for waterborne coatings and many general foam-control screens.
• CHLUMIAF 3062: Useful when printing-ink and UV-ink compatibility matter in the defoaming screen.
• CHLUMIAF 3037: A stronger process-defoaming option when persistent foam survives harsher conditions.
• CHLUMIWE 3280: A strong wetting-agent reference for inks, coatings, and difficult substrate wetting.

FAQ for buyers and formulators

Why does an additive that looks powerful in a beaker sometimes fail in production?
Because shear, temperature, substrate, and the full formula can all change the way the additive performs under real process conditions.

Should the most aggressive additive always be preferred?
Not usually. The best additive is the one that solves the real defect while preserving the broadest safe operating window.