It has long been recognized that silicates of alkali metals form colloidal solutions which possessdetergent properties. It has been more recently made known that higher alkali ratio silicates are better detergents. Methods of producing high alkali ratio silicates having such physical properties as to permit commercial handling have occupied the attention of many investigators, but their efforts have, for the most part, failed. to accomplish the result desired. A product of somewhat similar nature has :been produced, but is not suitable for many detergent operations due to the presence of insoluble sodium aluminum silicate.