black light phosphate test

[mamapinky]

Today I made a trip to Pittsburgh so while in the city I stopped at a Mexican market and grabbed another bag of ariel which I like so much better than the arielUSA...it didn't say anything about *no phosphates* nor did I find them in the ingredients however I couldn't read the language. .when I got home I decided to try the black light trick...it glowed really glowed..than I tried tide..gain.. surf..and dreft..nothing not even a hint of a glow. I than tried foca from walmart the one in the huge bag that says*no phosphates* again that bright glow...and viva from the Mexican grocer another glow. Now I can understand finding the detergent with phosphates at a Mexican grocer. ..but what about the foca from walmart? ? I think whoever has any of the walmart foca should check theirs. Now several weeks ago I found cascade with phosphates in a small country store so I tested it also..nothing no glow..its dated 2008 so I'm assuming the phosphates died? I can take a picture but not sure how it will photo. What do you all think of this?? Cheryl

 

[mamapinky]

tested more...

Tide original...tide w bleach..tide w downy..tide free..fab..oxydol..era..nellies..sears..to name a few..nothing..than I tested a small bag of tide from china glowed..and pinol from walmart glowed and when I say these detergents glowed..I mean they really glowed could there be another explaination?? These ones from walmart were purchased several months ago..not years and they say 'no phosphates'. Folks I am stumped here and thinking I hope walmart doesn't find this out before you all test your own and buy the stores out...lol. Cheryl

 

[esty]

Can you please explain what this glow test is for us that don't know yet? How is it done and what does it mean?

 

[washingpowder]

I think rather than phosphates it might be the OBAs used, since their work is solely based on reflecting UV.

 

[mamapinky]

Washingpowder..doesn't all versions of tide contain oba's yet none of my tides glowed. Beth..supposedly if you shine a black light on a detergent with phosphates in it it will glow

 

[washingpowder]

I think you might be confusing phosphorus with phosphorescents.
Tide probably does, but maybe they work under different spectrum of light. Considering the glowing detergents you mentioned are rather on the cheap side, they might be using the simplest forms of OBAs rather than what Tide contains.
Correct me should that be wrong though.

 

[washingpowder]

All that stir, I meant phosphates obviously.

 

[mamapinky]

I can only

Tell you what I've read on here in several posts that a black light will make laundry detergent with phosphates glow...I can't remember reading anything about oba's doing the same..I'm sure not doubting you I'm trying to understand lol

 

[launderess]

Phosphates Are Derived From Phosphorus IIRC

Thus as such yes, products containing STPP, TSP an the rest will "glow" under black lights. Same as urine and some other bodily fluids.

Phosphate dishwasher detergent fans: Look what I found at Dollar Tree - Jill Cataldo

My February 2012 post, “The Clean Dishes Challenge: Battle of the Dishwasher Detergents” has been the most-visited page on my entire site for close to two years now. This tells me I’m not the only one who was looking for a better dishwasher detergent! Of the detergents I tested, Professional...

jillcataldo.com

 

[retrogirl]

There are lots of things that could cause the detergent to glow under a black light. I was curious so I did a quick test. From Left to Right:
1. Tide Pod, 2. Costco brand Pod, 3, small pile of dollar store oxy clean, 4, which doesn't show up well because it's not glowing is a small pile of TSP.

The only thing not glowing is the one that has phosphates.

I didn't take a picture of them, but I also checked 2 brands of phosphate free dishwasher detergent and they both glow.

 

[stan]

Interesting test there

You say that the one detergent that has phosphate is not glowing? And TSP is not glowing?
Makes you wonder what's in the others this is ? Is it the OBs?

 

[mamapinky]

I have

Going o. 50 different laundry detergents along with additives. .DW detergent. .tonight I will use a large poster board and do a test on all I have. I will post pics I'm sure I must have something without OBA'S lol

 

[stan]

Something with no OBs

May be hard to find, Seventh Generation liquid and Counrty Save Powder most likly don't.
This is a question for Laudress, shel know what detergent dose not contain any!

 

[frigilux]

This is all very interesting! I'd never heard of using a blacklight to determine if a detergent contained phosphates or optical brighteners.

And who would have guessed my Jefferson Airplane poster contained phosphates?!

 

[lordkenmore]

AFAIK Seventh Generation is free from optical brighteners. For that matter, most "green" detergents are probably likewise OB free.

 

[launderess]

Finding OBA/Bluing/Whitening Agent Free Detergent

In the USA can be a challenge.

IIRC few to nil of the top, middle and even lower shelf offerings from the main suspects (P&G, Unilever, Dial/Henkel, etc...) are OBA free. Cheer powder *used* to offer a bluing free version but now not to sure about that.

Many of the "garage" or off the wall private label laundry products are OBA free. So are various "green" products like those offered by Seventh Generation, Ecover and so forth.

Good news about OBAs is they require frequent application in order to last, otherwise routine laundering would remove. This is one reason why detergents contain the stuff; otherwise the OBAs applied to textiles during manufacturing would gradually diminish after repeated launderings. So even if you have used OBA detergents in the past, switching to a product that is free of the substance means sooner or later levels will be low to nil if not reapplied.

Also if you want to avoid OBAs you want to watch what fabric softeners you choose. Many FS contain OBAs/whitening agents (remember those adverts for Final Touch with "bluing for extra whiteness?". It is often those bluing agents in whole are part that are responsible for the staining that happens when undiluted FS comes into contact with laundry.

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123065881

 

[launderess]

Testing for Phosphates With Black Light

Am wondering if age and or length of contents open to exposure could have weakened the phosphate content of the products that didn't "glow".

IIRC to some extent all phosphates deteriorate over time especially if exposed to moisture. This is why we are warned off not storing phosphate containing automatic dishwasher detergent under sinks and or moist environments. That along with not purchasing huge containers that cannot be used within a given period. For those of us who collect vintage detergents we have seen first hand the often clumped hot mess boxes of phosphate containing products have become from sitting in a moist area.

If you ever want to get totally put off bring a black light when travelling. A quick shine over a hotel's or motel's bathroom, bed and other areas will reveal just how clean (or not) the place is deep down.

 

[frigilux]

Would not have wanted to shine a blacklight over the AmericInn hotel room I was in over the weekend while in Minneapolis.  Yeesh!

 

[launderess]

What you don't know can't hurt you!

*LOL*