Formulation of Laundry Detergent from Neem Seed Oil and Locally Available Surfactants in Kogi State

High consumer goods prices and the dominance of imported detergent products have motivated interest in locally formulated cleaning agents in North Central Nigeria. This study develops a laundry detergent formulation using neem seed oil sourced from Kogi State as the primary fatty acid feedstock. Neem oil was saponified using sodium hydroxide and combined with linear alkylbenzene sulphonate, sodium tripolyphosphate, carboxymethyl cellulose, and sodium sulphate to produce a powdered detergent. Three formulations were prepared at varying neem oil content of 10%, 20%, and 30%, and evaluated for active matter content, pH, bulk density, foam stability, whiteness index, and cleaning performance on standardised soiled cotton fabric swatches. Cleaning performance was benchmarked against two commercially available laundry detergents commonly sold in Lokoja markets. Results indicated that the 20% neem oil formulation exhibited cleaning efficiency comparable to the commercial benchmark, with superior foam stability and anti-bacterial activity attributed to neem-derived bioactive compounds. pH values of all three formulations fell within the recommended range for skin-safe laundry products. Dermal irritation testing on Wistar rat skin samples confirmed no adverse reactions. Raw material cost analysis demonstrated a potential manufacturing cost reduction of 37% relative to equivalent commercial products. The study supports neem-based detergent as a viable indigenous alternative for household and institutional cleaning markets in Kogi State. Keywords: neem seed oil, laundry detergent, saponification, surfactant, Kogi State