Babyganics Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap, Fragrance Free, 16oz Pump Bottle (Pack of 3)
Brain powder or how to make dishwasher powder 9.7 times cheaper
A new version of the powder and a more detailed analysis in the second part: DIY powder for dishwasher: disassemble industrial tools and improve the recipe
Now I’ll tell you how to make dishwasher powder from soda and laundry detergent. Same in composition, only cheaper to order.
There are so many areas of our life where our presentation forms an exclusively marketing bullshit. Alas, most people do not even try to think about what underlies all of this. Very often the market situation leads to the fact that the cost of a product is 0.5% of its price. The rest is marketing, mark-ups, logistics, packaging and the like. Almost everyone is aware of the concept of selling ink for a printer at the price of tears of Himalayan virgins and the manufacturer's insistent recommendations to use only original consumables. For example, recently it dawned on me that 1.5 grams of dry matter in a vial of fertilizer for plants cannot cost 200-250 rubles. But it is precisely this amount that can fit in a relatively stable state in the form of a solution. I immediately imagined hectares of fields and trucks carrying tons of powder . As a result, I switched to packaging of 1 kg of Bui complex dry fertilizers. You can prepare a bath solution.
Today we will create an ultra-cheap dishwasher powder. The decrease in real wages and the rise in prices of imported household chemicals led to search through textbooks, view a bunch of materials from chemists' forums and try to find ways to save on consumables. Powder has become very noticeable. The results of thoughtful research and experiments greatly surprised. For industrial use, chemists-technologists often create individual formulations depending on water quality and tasks. Why don't we try to figure it all out?
TLDR:
70% calcined soda and 30% detergent instead of detergent.
If you are very lazy to mess with soda, then just Biolan powder or its analogs. Soda reduces the price.
Food salt "Extra" instead of salt.
Types of pollution
What do we need from the powder? Weird question. To soap. Well, it is desirable that it was not very poisonous and did not dissolve the dishes along with the dishwasher. Detergent must cope with the main types of pollution:
Fat. The main pollutant is all kinds of frying oils, salad dressings, fingerprints, as well as fatty sauces and so on.
Protein contamination. There are less, but difficult to remove - eggs, cereals and other similar options.
Dyes. Tea, coffee, beets and other heavily dyed things.
Smell. Chicken, which was forgotten in a container for a couple of weeks, can give you a lot of thrill.
Inert mechanical contaminants. Sawdust, adhering pieces of greenery, radioactive dust, and every little thing.
Unknown burnt garbage from the party before last. Nothing will help. Do not expect. Throw away the dishes.
Different surfactants (surfactants) cope well with the first type of pollution. These are chemical compounds which, concentrating on the interface of the thermodynamic phases, cause a decrease in the surface tension. Simply, one can imagine this as enveloping fat particles with surfactant molecules and preventing them from sticking back to the surface.
This class of substances is quite extensive and includes the main two groups: ionic (anionic) and nonionic surfactants. The first decompose in solution into ions (salts of fatty acids, for example, ordinary liquid soap are potassium salts), the latter do not dissociate (alkyl glycosides, etc.). Anionic, as a rule, wash better, but more aggressive.
Protein contamination is a bit more complicated. Traditionally, dishwasher powder includes enzymes (enzymes) that hydrolyze protein into small peptide pieces. Enzymes are capricious, work in a small range of pH and temperature, as they are protein themselves. With a high washing temperature (over 60 degrees), almost all of them will be denatured and will stop working. The alternative is more characteristic of industrial products - the creation of an alkaline environment. Many used a cleaning tool for pipes like the Mole and the like. As part of detergents (surfactants) and alkali (sodium hydroxide). All this hellish mixture destroys almost any organic matter, including proteins and fats. Proteins break down into individual peptides and amino acids. Fats turn into soap:
The same reaction is the basis of one of the ancient ways of obtaining soap from vegetable and animal fats. The main disadvantage - very aggressive environment is obtained. Concentrated alkali will also joyfully dissolve the skin on the hands. Requires caution in the application.
With dyes, it's pretty simple. As a rule, to discolor a pigment, it is enough to oxidize it by changing its structure. Most often this is achieved by active oxygen or chlorine. Suffice it to recall hydrogen peroxide and the various options of "bleach", which easily discolor tea, coffee, pomegranate juice and the like. Be sure to be part of both powders for dishwashers, and for washing machines. Softer options are applied to the fabric so as not to dissolve the factory pattern on the clothes. Odor is eliminated by the same oxidizing agents, as the "smelling" molecules also react with these components.
Mechanical contamination does not require the use of household chemicals. Enough high pressure jet and hot water in the process of washing dishes.
Laundry detergent in the dishwasher
Perhaps the idea will seem a little strange to you, but the washing powder machine is almost identical to the powder for dishwashers. Not to be unfounded - let's look at the typical composition and purpose of each component. For a detailed description I want to thank avor from the forum www.chemport.ru .
Analysis of the components of two typical representatives, one "eco-friendly", the second "children".
“Ecover”: zeolites, sodium disilicate, C12-18 sodium alkyl sulfate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, ethoxylated methyl esters of rapeseed oil, sodium polyasparticum, sodium cocoate, cellulose gum, methyl cellulose, magnesium sulfate.
Aistenok: 5% -15% natural fat based soap, oxygen bleach, phosphates (in terms of P2O5), less than 5% non-ionic surfactants, sodium silicate, polycarboxylates, optical bleach, foam control, phosphonates, aromatic additives.
zeolites - solid insoluble substances adsorb on themselves some contaminants (they can leave fine dust in case of bad rinsing) are inert to the body and are used in medicine as enterosorbents.
sodium disilicate (liquid glass) - thickener, glue, granulating agent is obtained on the basis of sand and caustic soda, only high pH is dangerous.
Sodium silicate is also sodium disilicate.
Sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate is soda ash and baking soda used to regulate pH and soften water - only high pH is toxic.
C12-18 sodium alkyl sulfate is a synthetic surfactant based on fatty alcohol (the source can be both vegetable and petroleum) and sulfuric acid. Used in shampoos, low or no toxicity.
ethoxylated methyl esters of rapeseed fatty acids - synthetic non-ionic surfactants based on ethylene oxide and LCD esters of rapeseed oil, semi-natural product, toxicity, see alkyl sulfates.
Sodium polyasparaginate is an expensive supplement based on a natural amino acid, serves as a thickener, a water softener, and a desorber of impurities, is non-toxic absorbed by the body, like food.
Sodium cocoate is an analogue of ordinary soap not based on animal fatty acids, but based on coconut oil fatty acids.
Cellulose gum is a derivative of cellulose (wood). The prescription is the same as sodium polyasparginate, toxicity is low.
methylcellulose is similar, but is used as a thickener.
magnesium sulfate. - used in medicine, both for intravenous and for oral administration - magnesia. In powders - an inert filler.
Soaps on natural fatty basis - ordinary soap, but on animal fatty acids, similar to sodium cocoate
oxygen bleach - perborate or sodium percarbonate is close to peroxide by properties, which girls bleach their hair, decompose and kill microflora during washing, decomposition products have low toxicity (borates) or practically non-toxic (carbonates).
phosphates (in terms of P2O5) are a water softener and pH regulator sodium tripolyphosphate, phosphates are used as food additives and have low toxicity.
less than 5% of non-ionic surfactants are compounds similar to the ethoxylated LCD esters of rapeseed oil; however, products derived from petroleum can be used as a hydrophobic component (similar to alkyl sulfates)
polycarboxylates - either carboxymethylcellulose, or polyacrylic acid derivatives (used in diapers, in particular, in cosmetic gels); toxicity is low, the same purpose as polyasparticles and cellulose gum (the latter may be identical)
Optical bleach - a blue type dye makes white linen shine with white light due to fluorescence, the toxicity is average, but the dose in the powder is 10,000 - 100,000 times less than you need to feel a simple indisposition from the effect of this dye on the body.
foam regulator, defoamer - as a rule, silicone-based oil, (analogs used for breast prosthetics) if it is not present in the composition, then the powder cannot be used in drum washing machines, the toxicity is extremely low.
phosphonates - water softeners, low toxicity
fragrances are usually less toxic than women's fragrance.
Actually, all the listed components are non-toxic and have passed all conceivable tests, including tests for washability, teratogenic and oncogenic effects on experimental rats. If you do not eat it with spoons, then there will be no health problems. If, in the production of laundry detergents, poorly washed and toxic substances were used, consumers would have already gone with contact dermatitis regarding such things. I liked the wording from the same forum, describing the "technological complexity" of the production of such powders:
Well, to make a good car, you need a whole science, expensive equipment.
Need an army of qualified professionals.
And in order to make this kind of household chemicals, you need a barrel, a paddle, a market scale, two migrant workers.
And a boss who can read, write and count to one hundred.
And now let's compare with the composition of powders for dishwashers. Take quite standard powder Finish.
The beginning of “15% or more, but not less than 30%” was somewhat embarrassing, which is logically true, but it looks extremely strange. Incorrectly read) The main components - surfactants from fats, oxidizer (bleach from stains), polyphosphate - softener, enzymes - destruction of proteins.
Here is a similar composition of the very common Somat powder:
Non-inogenic surfactants, phosphates, phosphonates, soda, silicate, polymers, oxygen-based bleaching agents, TAED, enzymes, corrosion inhibitor, dyes, perfume, water.
Now take the laundry detergent. I tried the options with "Eared Nurse" and Biolan.
The same with minor variations.
Biolan has an absolutely similar composition:
Phosphates (15% or more, but less than 30%), anionic surfactants (5% or more, but less than 15%), non-ionic surfactants (less than 5%), enzymes, flavoring agent.
As you can see - there is nothing criminal in the composition. The substances used by different manufacturers vary only slightly. Of the "extra" components for dishwasher - only optical bleach. But this fluorescent is present in micro doses and is washed off well during rinsing. In the same "Biolane automatic" it is not at all. Of course, there will always be abnormal chemophobes, but let's leave them the right to wash everything with soap nuts and mustard powder. If there are strange personalities willing to pay for it, then why not take with them a multiple charge for the "Eco-organic" product? By the way, “Eared Nyan” is pleasant with its faint odor, but is essentially identical in composition to other powders of our manufacturer “Neva Cosmetics” - Lotus, Max, Ordinary Powder, Sarma. The only difference is in flavoring and marketing positioning.
Let's play the alchemist
Picking up a minimally scented and foaming powder for automatic washing machines could calm down. The cost savings are already very substantial. But we will not stop there and try to drastically drop the cost of the final dishwashing detergent. I immediately apologize for the quality of the part of the photos - I was shooting on sneakers, and a normal camera is at work right now.
As the basis of the product, we take the well-known and very cheap baking soda. Baking soda itself is sodium bicarbonate - NaHCO 3 . In solution it has a weak alkaline reaction and has detergent properties. But it is much more efficient to use the product of its thermal decomposition - washing soda, it is sodium carbonate - Na 2 CO 3 . Sodium carbonate is already very alkaline in solution, about 11 pH. With fats reacts, forming soap, and proteins successfully hydrolyzes. It is very easy to get sodium carbonate - it is enough to heat it above 60 degrees.
I recommend the pot / pan and warming up in the oven for an hour. As a result, the resulting powder loses in weight about 25%.
Be careful when working with sodium carbonate! The substance may cause burns to the mucous membranes, eyes and other body surfaces. Use gloves, do not eat, do not inhale and be careful. Soda is not a terrible poison, but alkaline burns have never brought joy to anyone. Now it remains to combine 70% of sodium carbonate and 30% of washing powder in order to add a small amount of detergents, bleach and other components. By the way, as a result of dilution, we reduce the total number of potentially non-washed surfactants.
Preliminary tests
The first thing you will have to face is washing the soda fat. A frying pan was taken as a test sample after pork chop frying.
After the standard cycle, the picture is more than acceptable. The pan to the touch is clean, I did not notice fatty dirt.
Particularly difficult test. Protein and fat pollution. Burnt oatmeal on milk. Such contaminants rarely take even “special” powders the first time. We try on the enhanced mode, without first clearing anything.
The result is good. Small traces of this disgrace remained, but I do not think that other powders would be washed better.
We consider savings
It is a bit difficult for me to calculate the exact figure, but we will try to at least roughly compare. The price of a conditional pack of soda weighing 500 g is 20 rubles. Price per 100 g - 4 rubles. You can find much cheaper if you buy a bag in bulk, but this is too much. Now the powder. I would advise to choose powders with a minimum odor. "Eared nanny" for automatic machines is quite suitable. Price per pack 4.5 kilograms in the first store - 439 rubles. Price per 100 g - about 10 rubles. In total, a kilogram of our money will cost 7 * 4 + 3 * 10 = 58 rubles.
Now the “special” Finish powder is 560 rubles per kg. The difference is about 10 times! If you take pills that contain the same thing, only with beautiful granules, the difference will be quite transcendental.
Let's try to estimate the scale of savings for the year. For one sink consumes about 20 g of powder. In my family of 4, the dishwasher usually runs twice a day, but we take 1 launch per day as the average. 20 * 365 = 7300 g of powder per year. These are 4088 rubles for the “special” and 423 rubles for our version.
Special salt
Another classic way to make money is a special salt for the regeneration of the ion exchange filter. Of course, rock salt with sand there can not be poured. But let's raise the GOST R 51574-2000 for food grade salt "Extra" . Mass fraction of NaCl - not less than 99.7%. The rest is a minor impurity of calcium and magnesium. Sorry, but this, according to the classification of the purity of chemical reagents, is better than “Pure for analysis” - “analytical grade.” This is “Chemically pure” (“chemical grade”) - the highest degree of purity of the reagent. The content of the main component of more than 99%. The only caveat - no need to take iodized or fluorinated varieties. Do you believe that salt, which is rationed by GOST in terms of purity, is suitable for human consumption, but not clean enough for a dishwasher?
Potential drawbacks and problems
I want to clarify right away that I am not responsible for the operation of your dishwasher and any potential health problems associated with eating, drinking or other incomprehensible use of the results of experiments. I just describe my experience and the information received in this area. If you have professional chemists among you, I will be glad to hear your point of view. The only problem that I potentially see is that due to the high alkaline reaction of the solution, particularly delicate painted porcelain, wine glasses or something like that can be damaged. But such things can be washed without using detergents. I recommend to carefully test everything and weigh it. In terms of health problems, I do not see anything seditious. Surfactants we use even in lower concentrations than in special powders. The basis is a harmless sodium carbonate, which is part of antacid preparations for the treatment of gastritis. Allergic reactions to detergent components? If you wash them clothes and everything is fine, then no problems are foreseen. When hand washing you leave at times more residual dishwashing liquid on plates and cups. And nothing critical happens.
In any case, I would like you to consciously understand what you are doing in terms of household chemicals and why.
useful links
It seems to me that the opinion of professional chemical technologists is more significant than traditional hysterical proteins on forums dedicated to getting rid of terrible chemistry and a complete transition to “eco”, “bio”, “organic” products from “natural” components. I hope these links will give many people the opportunity to reconsider their views and stop suffering chemophobia.
Dishwasher Cleaner
Use of washing powder in the dishwasher
The chemical composition of safe household chemicals.
Fantastic laundry detergent Umvay ??
UPD
Guzzle and apakin users offer a cheap version of a local Russian manufacturer. Sold in Auchan, called Sanit. Approximate price 100 p / kg. 2 times more expensive than the considered option, but sharpened directly under the dishwasher.
Pack Photos
UPD2
The powder was not very. Washes decently, but worse than soda with detergent. Leaves marks on the dishes, not completely washed off the surface when rinsing. Standard mode. Probably, it will be possible to dilute the soda until it is clean wash.
UPD3
Here Genegineer advised me to pay attention to the large-scale packing of salt in washers for large regeneration systems. Packing 25 kg, the price is around 600 rubles, i.e. in the region of 25 rubles per kilo. For example, a variation from Leroy :
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