Soap or Detergent? They aren't the same thing

Soap is made by saponifying oils with an alkali and has been used for washing clothes for centuries. Detergents came much later and generally use surfactants specifically formulated for modern washing conditions.

Our laundry liquids sit somewhere between the two. Marseille soap remains an important part of the formulation, but other ingredients are added to help it disperse and perform reliably in a modern washing machine.

Why use Marseille Soap in a Laundry Liquid?

Traditional Savon de Marseille has been used for washing clothes and household linen for generations. Its ability to deal with grease is one of the reasons soap still has a useful place in modern laundry formulations.

A ready-made laundry liquid takes that familiar starting point and makes it more convenient for the washing machine, unlike Soap Flakes, there's nothing to dissolve or make up first; measure it into the machine and wash.

Our laundry liquids are all based on Marseille soap, but the formulations vary. Some keep things very simple, while others combine soap with additional washing ingredients to improve performance in a modern machine. There are fragrance-free and fragranced options too, so you can choose according to what you wash and what matters to you.

Looking after your washing machine

Soap-based laundry liquids are formulated for use in washing machines, but it's still worth remembering that your machine needs cleaning too. Detergent and soap residues, limescale and general build-up can accumulate over time, particularly if you live in a hard-water area or mostly wash at lower temperatures.

We regularly run an empty hot cleaning cycle using white vinegar or citric acid. Both help deal with limescale and residues that can build up inside the machine.

It's a simple bit of laundry housekeeping that's worth doing whichever laundry liquid you use.