Powder is a different business from liquids. You need dry storage, a way to tumble or blend evenly, and the discipline to pack the same day. Get those right and it is a high-volume product with a long shelf life.
What the ingredients actually do
Soda ash provides alkalinity, which is most of the cleaning in a powder. Sodium sulphate is a filler and flow aid, every commercial powder has a lot of it, and there is no shame in that as long as your active level is honest. STPP or zeolite deals with hard water. CMC stops the dirt you lifted from settling back on the cloth. Optical brightener makes whites look whiter under daylight without actually removing anything.
Indicative blend for 50 kg
| Material | Quantity | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Soda ash dense | 22 kg | Alkalinity and bulk |
| Sodium sulphate | 12 kg | Filler and flow |
| STPP or zeolite | 6 kg | Water softening |
| Surfactant powder | 7 kg | Detergency and foam |
| Sodium silicate powder | 2 kg | Soil suspension, protects metal |
| CMC | 500 g | Anti-redeposition |
| Optical brightener | 100 g | Whiteness |
| Enzyme blend | 300 g | Protein and grease stains |
| Fragrance and speckles | 200 g plus | Perceived quality |
Moisture is the whole game
Soda ash is hygroscopic, it pulls water out of the air and turns your free-flowing powder into a brick. Store bags off the floor on pallets, keep the blending area covered, and pack finished powder the day you make it. If your product cakes in the shop, you will not get a second order.
Are enzymes worth it?
For a budget powder sold on price, no. For anything positioning itself above the cheapest shelf, yes, protease and amylase do visible work on food and body-soil stains that no amount of soda ash achieves. They are the most expensive component per kilo, so add them last, at ambient temperature, and never store the finished powder anywhere hot.
Hand wash versus machine
Most Kenyan laundry is still done by hand, so foam matters more than it does in Europe. A low-foam machine formulation will be rejected by hand washers who read foam as strength. If you are selling into both markets, make two versions rather than compromising.
Builders and alkalis used here
Send us your list and we will price it
Message the materials and quantities you need with your delivery town. You get confirmed stock, unit prices and a delivery estimate, usually the same day.
