Why Optical Brightening Chemicals Are Not Needed in Laundry Detergents

Optical brighteners are synthetic chemicals added to liquid and powder laundry detergents to make clothing appear whiter and brighter, and thus cleaner. They are the modern-day replacement for the decades-old practice of bluing—adding small amounts of blue dye to fabric to make it appear whiter.

Other Names for Optical Brighteners

Synonyms: Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs), Optical Whiteners, Fluorescent Brightening Agents, Fluorescent Brighteners, Fluorescent Optical Brighteners, Fluorescent Whitening Agents (FWAs), Fluorescent White Dyes, and Organic Fluorescent Dyes

Read More: https://www.thespruce.com/optical-brighteners-chemicals-not-needed-1707025