Liquid Handwash Making Formula – Professional Formulation & Manufacturing Guide

Liquid handwash is a commonly used personal-care cleansing product designed for routine hand cleaning. A good formulation should provide effective cleansing, pleasant foam, suitable skin feel, fragrance and an attractive appearance.

The provided formula book contains 7 different handwash formulations. This article covers the first formulation: “Handwash Liquid.”

Liquid Handwash Formula

Batch Formula

Raw Material Quantity
Water 60 kg
SLES 28% 24 kg
ALS 2 kg
CMEA 2 kg
Di Sodium EDTA 250 g
DMDM 100 g
Coco Glucoside 3 kg
CAPB 1 kg
Glycerine 2 kg
Salicylic Acid 50 g
Propylene Glycol 500 g
Colour 50 g (1% solution: 10 g)
Fragrance 230 g
PEG-40 250 g
Citric Acid 1 kg
Salt 550 g + 3 kg water

These quantities are taken from the Handwash Liquid formulation in the source.

Note: The source does not explicitly state a final batch weight for this particular formulation, so it should not be presented as an exact 100 kg formula without further calculation/testing.


Manufacturing Process

The source provides the following sequence for manufacturing this handwash formulation.

Step 1 – Prepare the Water Phase

Take the specified 60 kg water in the mixing vessel.

Add 250 g Di Sodium EDTA and 100 g DMDM.

Mix properly.

Step 2 – Add the Surfactants

Add the following ingredients into the water:

  • SLES 28% — 24 kg
  • ALS — 2 kg
  • Coco Glucoside — 3 kg
  • CAPB — 1 kg
  • CMEA — 2 kg

Mix until the ingredients are properly incorporated.

Step 3 – Add Conditioning & Supporting Ingredients

Add:

  • Glycerine — 2 kg
  • Salicylic Acid — 50 g
  • Propylene Glycol — 500 g
  • PEG-40 — 250 g

Continue mixing until the batch is uniform.

Step 4 – Add Citric Acid

Add 1 kg citric acid as specified in the formulation.

The source lists citric acid as part of the subsequent addition stage.

Step 5 – Prepare the Salt Solution

Dissolve:

550 g salt + 3 kg water

The source specifically says:

“Always add salt dissolved in water.”

Add the salt solution gradually while mixing.

Step 6 – Add Fragrance and Colour

Finally add:

  • Fragrance — 230 g
  • Colour — 50 g (1% solution: 10 g as listed)

Mix until the product becomes uniform.


Role of Main Ingredients

SLES 28%

A major surfactant in the formulation, contributing to cleansing and foam.

ALS

An anionic surfactant included to support the cleansing and foaming system.

Coco Glucoside

A nonionic surfactant included as part of the surfactant blend.

CAPB

A co-surfactant used as part of the cleansing/foaming system.

CMEA

Included in the formulation as part of the surfactant and consistency system.

Glycerine

Included as a humectant/skin-conditioning ingredient.

Propylene Glycol

Used as a supporting ingredient in the formulation.

PEG-40

Included in the formulation as specified by the source.

Di Sodium EDTA

Used as a supporting chelating ingredient.

DMDM

The preservative specified in this formulation.

Salicylic Acid

Included in the formulation at 50 g.

Citric Acid

Included during the final stages of formulation.

Salt

Used as part of the viscosity-adjustment system and is specifically instructed to be added dissolved in water.

Fragrance

Provides the desired fragrance.

Colour

Provides the desired visual appearance.


Important Manufacturing Tips

1. Always dissolve salt before addition

The source specifically instructs that salt should be dissolved in water before adding it to the formulation.

2. Add surfactants carefully

SLES, ALS and CAPB can generate foam during mixing. Controlled agitation helps reduce excessive air incorporation.

3. Check the final product

Before commercial production, check parameters such as:

  • Appearance
  • Odour
  • pH
  • Viscosity
  • Foam
  • Stability

4. Make a small trial batch

The source recommends making small batches first because raw-material quality can affect the final product and the required quantities.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the main surfactant in this handwash formula?

SLES 28% is used at 24 kg and forms a major part of the surfactant system.

2. How much ALS is used?

The formulation specifies 2 kg ALS.

3. How much Coco Glucoside is required?

3 kg Coco Glucoside is specified.

4. How much CAPB is used?

The formula contains 1 kg CAPB.

5. How much CMEA is used?

2 kg CMEA is specified.

6. How much glycerine is used?

The formulation contains 2 kg glycerine.

7. How much salt is required?

The formula specifies 550 g salt + 3 kg water.

8. How should salt be added?

The source specifically says to add salt dissolved in water.

9. How much fragrance is used?

230 g fragrance is specified.

10. How much DMDM is used?

The formula specifies 100 g DMDM.

11. How much Di Sodium EDTA is used?

250 g Di Sodium EDTA is specified.

12. How much citric acid is used?

The formulation lists 1 kg citric acid.

13. Does this formula contain salicylic acid?

Yes. It contains 50 g salicylic acid.

14. What is the purpose of glycerine in the formulation?

Glycerine is included in the formula as a supporting skin-conditioning/humectant ingredient.

15. Is this formulation exactly 100 kg?

The source lists 60 kg water plus the other ingredients, but it does not explicitly label this particular formula as a 100 kg batch. Therefore, the total batch weight should be calculated and verified rather than assuming it is exactly 100 kg.

16. Should this formulation be tested before commercial production?

Yes. Small-batch testing is recommended before scaling up because raw-material quality can affect the final result.


Conclusion

This Liquid Handwash Formulation combines SLES 28%, ALS, Coco Glucoside, CAPB and CMEA with glycerine, EDTA, DMDM, salicylic acid, propylene glycol, PEG-40, citric acid, salt, fragrance and colour.

The manufacturing sequence is straightforward: prepare the water phase, add the surfactant system, incorporate the supporting ingredients, then add citric acid, salt solution, fragrance and colour. The source specifically emphasizes that salt should always be dissolved in water before addition.

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