To prepare a good laundry detergent many kind of ingredients need to be added. Many of these ingredients can be manufactured from plants; others are petroleum-based. The amount of each ingredient and how they are combined are affect the cleaning ability of the detergent. Some types are given billow,

1. Alkali: They are effective in removing dirt and stains from fabric without excessive rubbing. It neutralize the acid of fabric. They form an emulsion of the oily or solid particles that are held in suspension in wash water to be rinsed away.

2. Surfactants and Anti-Redepositing Agents: They break up stains and suspend the dirt in the water to prevent the redisposition of the dirt onto the surface. Surfactants disperse dirt that normally does not dissolve in water.

3. Functional Materials in Laundry Detergent:

PH modifiers - balance acids and bases in water
Optical brighteners (bleach alternative) - improve the appearance of whiteness by absorbing UV light and giving off a blue tint
water conditioners - manage hard water and inhibit dye transfer
suds control with soap or silicone - prevent excess foaming
preservatives - prevent microbial growth
4. Catalytic Enzymes:

protease - degrades protein-based soils
amylase - degrades starch-based or carbohydrate soils
cellulase - breaks down cotton fibers to release soils
lipase - degrades fat-based soils
pectinase - degrades fruit-based stains