Chemical Functional Definitions

They help keep soils from redepositing onto clothing in the wash water after they have been removed. Anti-redeposition agents are water-soluble and typically are negatively charged. The most commonly used anti-redeposition agent is carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC). Carboxymethylcellulose is a polymer derived from natural cellulose. Unlike cellulose, CMC is highly water-soluble. CMC is used in some of our laundry detergents at low levels (0.5-1%). It is a dispersion polymer and helps keeping soil dispersed in the wash water, thereby preventing it from re-depositing onto the fabrics being laundered.

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