Re: What happens to zeolites from detergents in the washing machine?

The reason there are dispersants in modern detergent is to keep as much as 
possible from redepositing onto the clothes when the water drains, and to 
keep as much as possible suspended in the water. The zeolites in some 
detergents are no exception; they need to be kept in suspension or they 
will do either. It's important to remember that what we call a zeolite in 
this usage bears little resemblance to the source of the name. The 
zeolites found in some detergents are very small particles. If you've done 
the laundry after you've been to the beach, I'd guess you've seen some 
sand that setled out of the clothes you washed. That's unavoidable given 
the size of the sand particles; they're about 10 to 100 larger than the 
zeolites in detergent.