Indian municipal and bore water often carries high calcium and magnesium ions. They are harmless to drink, but they are kryptonite for ordinary surfactants: minerals bind to cleaning molecules, form soap scum, and leave grease behind—especially on chimney baffles, steel sinks, and floor tiles.
What actually helps
Chelation means “grabbing” those metal ions so surfactants and solvents stay free to work. A thoughtful pairing of EDTA and sodium citrate (double chelation) keeps performance steadier in extreme hard water than single-ingredient shortcuts—so citrus peel extract can dissolve grease and a plant-derived wash base can lift it, even when the water fights back.
Why marketing “foam” lies
Foam is theatre; micelle stability in mineral-rich water is chemistry. If your degreaser goes flat in Jaipur or leaves a white film in Ahmedabad, it is usually hard water—not your technique.