No. Several factors make body soap unsuitable for laundry use:

  1. Water hardness reaction — Soap is made from natural oils such as animal fats or vegetable oils. Soap reacts with hardness minerals in water before it can react with soil in the linen. It is therefore effective only with soft water (hardness below 50 ppm). If water hardness is above 50 ppm, detergent is more suitable. Detergent is made from synthetic chemicals that do not react with hardness minerals.
  2. pH and alkalinity — Body soap is usually pH-neutral. Laundry cleaning works better with an alkaline builder, which body soap does not provide.
  3. Solubility — Body soap is formulated to dissolve slowly so that it lasts longer in use. Laundry chemicals must dissolve as quickly as possible. Undissolved soap specks during the main wash can cause spotting and havoc in both washing and finishing processes, and may leave residue on ironed flatwork.

For industrial or commercial laundry, always use purpose-formulated laundry detergents, alkaline builders, and bleach at the correct dosages for your water quality and soil classification.