Come clean

'Til the washing of the water, make it all alright
Let your waters reach me, like she reached me tonight.

It is hard to believe, that at least 50% of the composition of washing powder has no cleansing action. This component is generally termed "the builders" and its function is simply to soften the water.
The business end of the powder, the ionic surfactants usually make up 15% of the composition.