Ingredient Glossary | The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)- gristchempowder detergent ingredients ,ALCOHOL: A class of organic compounds containing one or more hydroxyl groups.The alcohols used in light duty and liquid laundry detergents are isopropanol or ethanol (ethyl alcohol). These alcohols are used at low levels in liquid detergent formulations to control viscosity, to act as a solvent for other ingredients, and to provide resistance to low and freezing temperatures encountered in ...What Ingredients Are in Detergent? | Our Everyday LifeDetergents do not contain just a single chemical compound; they are complex mixtures of ingredients, each of which serves a particular purpose. Although the exact ingredients in dishwashing and laundry detergents differ, the components of all detergents share common functions. Some ingredients actively clean, whereas others remove stains or ...