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Hard water contains high levels of these cations. Anionic surfactants are the most common surfactants in laundry detergents. emulsifying oil and clay soils, fabric softener residue, and are high sudsing. ether sulfates such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). (charged particles) in hard water.
Briefly summarized, Modern Laundry Detergent (example: Tide), contains quiet a few different chemicals and enzymes that condition the quality of the water to optimize it for the other components to work, surfactants to break/lower the surfance tension/adhesion of the aforementioned compounds to the material you are washing, bleach/bleaching agents to degrade dyes and other organic dye compounds, and various enzymes to break down carbohydrates, fats, proteins that stubbornly adhere.