Dull, stiff, not-quite-clean laundry? Hard water might be the culprit. Sodium citrate is the quiet fix, and it's in all three of our formulas.

Quick answer: sodium citrate is the salt of citric acid. It grabs hard-water minerals so detergent can clean, and it's one of the ingredients that replaced phosphates.

What is it?

The sodium salt of citric acid, the stuff that makes lemons tart. Most citric acid today is made by fermentation, with microorganisms turning sugar into acid. It's also used in food and drinks.^†

What hard water does to laundry

Hard water carries calcium and magnesium. In the wash they:

1. Tie up cleaners, so less is left for dirt.
2. Leave deposits that make fabric stiff and dingy.
3. Hold soil in place instead of letting it rinse out.

A large share of US homes have moderately hard to very hard water.^†

How sodium citrate helps

It's a chelating agent, from the Greek word for claw. It grabs the minerals and holds them in the water so they can't interfere. Then they rinse away.

Basically a bouncer for calcium.

Citrate vs phosphates

Phosphates used to be the go-to softener. They worked, but phosphates reaching lakes and rivers can feed algae blooms. Many US states restricted them in laundry detergent, and big brands moved away.^†

Citrate is one of the replacements. It softens water without adding phosphorus.

Why it's in all three formulas

• Our gentle sheet: the only softener, keeping the list short.
• Just 7: teams up with washing soda for harder water.
• Just 9: teams up with GLDA, a stronger chelator, for the toughest water.

FAQ

Is sodium citrate safe? It's widely used in food and drinks and generally regarded as safe there. In detergent, keep it away from kids and pets like any cleaner.

Is it natural? It's made from citric acid, mostly produced by fermentation.

Is it vegan? Yes, when made by fermentation, the usual method.^†

Do I need a separate water softener? Usually not. In very hard water, Just 7 or Just 9 give extra help.