A customer judges a liquid detergent before they even use it – by how it pours. Too thin and it looks watered down. Too thick and it will not come out of the bottle. Separating layers look like a spoilt product. Here are the problems we hear about most often, and what usually fixes them.
Problem 1: The liquid is too thin
- The thickener dose is too low for the surfactant level.
- The wrong thickener type for your formula.
- Salt balance is off – many surfactant systems thicken with a little salt and thin out with too much.
Fix: Use a suitable liquid detergent thickener, and run a small “salt curve” to find the peak viscosity point.
Problem 2: Lumps or “fish eyes”
Thickener added too fast or into still water swells on the outside and stays dry inside.
Fix: Sprinkle slowly into a strong vortex, or pre-disperse in a small part of the water before adding.
Problem 3: Viscosity drops after a few days
- Thickener not fully hydrated when you measured.
- Breakdown from wrong pH or microbial growth.
Fix: Measure viscosity after 24 hours, keep pH in range and add a preservative where needed.
Problem 4: Layers separate on the shelf
Insoluble or poorly dispersed ingredients settle over time.
Fix: Build enough viscosity to suspend them and mix thoroughly; check storage temperature.
Problem 5: Different batches, different thickness
Usually raw material lots or water quality.
Fix: Buy from consistent sources and soften process water with sodium hexametaphosphate or a softener.
Product types we support
- Laundry and dishwash liquids.
- Phenyl and floor cleaners.
- Toilet and acid cleaners.
- Fabric softeners.
Use cases
- Small and mid-size soap & detergent manufacturers.
- Private label and institutional cleaning brands.
- Cosmetics & personal care units making hand wash and shampoo bases.
Liquid not behaving? Tell us your product type and the problem you see – we will suggest a thickener and starting dose. Ask our team →