The “Old Engineer” Intro
Confused by all the letters? K12, AES, AOS? Don’t worry. As an old engineer, here is my quick “Cheat Sheet” to help you decide instantly.
- If you want the CHEAPEST and MOST VERSATILE:
- Winner: SLES (AES)
- Why: It does everything well enough. It’s the Toyota Corolla of surfactants.
- If you need MAXIMUM CLEANING POWER (Grease):
- Winner: SLS (K12)
- Why: It strips oil better than anything. Good for floors and engines.
- If you need HUGE BUBBLES and HARD WATER stability:
- Winner: AOS
- Why: The foam stands up tall and stays creamy.
- If you need SUPER MILDNESS (Baby products):
- Winner: SLES (combined with Betaine) or Special Salts (Magnesium/Ammonium).
- Why: You don’t want to irritate the eyes.
My Final Advice:
There is no “Perfect” product. The best formula is usually a blend. For example, mixing SLES with a little AOS gives you the best of both worlds: cheap price and great foam.
