Watching commercials on TV, you would be forgiven for thinking that miracle stain removal products are the answer to all your laundry problems. Just dab the stain with your magic stain remover stick, pop it in the wash, and everything will turn out ok!
Sadly, these products are all too often disappointing, particularly when it comes to challenging or unusual stains. There are plenty of blemishes, spills, and substances that mark our clothes - things that even the most innovative stain removers struggle to deal with.
Luckily, there is something that genuinely does work wonders on most stains and spots.
Enzymatic detergent or enzymatic presoak can be a real game-changer when it comes to dealing with tricky or hard-to-remove blemishes from your clothes.
So, let’s take a look at what enzymatic detergent is and how it can make a real difference to your laundry game!
What is Enzymatic Detergent?
Enzymatic cleaners contain enzymes, which are naturally occurring substances that create catalytic actions to break down soils and stains. Broken-down soils result in smaller particles (even molecules) that can be quickly and simply washed away during a standard washing cycle.
Enzymatic detergents can contain a range of different enzymes, each one targeting a specific type of stain. Protease, for example, breaks down proteins, while amylase targets starch or carbohydrates. Lipase is suitable for fats, mannanase for food stains, and pectinase breaks down fruit-based blemishes.
Using an enzymatic detergent or pre-soak helps to loosen tough stains or break down marks made by oil, proteins like blood, or tannins like coffee or red wine.
How Should I Use an Enzymatic Detergent?
The best and easiest way to use enzymatic detergents is by treating stained garments in the washing machine or a large tub before a standard washing cycle.
Add water, enzymatic detergent, and your clothes to the tub, ensuring that the garments are fully submerged. Allow the dirty laundry to soak for at least half an hour, but preferably overnight. Once the clothes are thoroughly soaked, get rid of the solution and wash the clothes normally following the standard laundry care instructions.
As with all laundry, it is vital to read the label carefully, both on the detergent bottle and on the clothes you intend to wash. You should be sure you have the correct type of enzymatic detergent and that your clothes are fine to wash with enzymes. It is also important to follow the washing directions to know how much detergent to use and how long for.
One of the best aspects of enzymatic detergent is that the chemical process works best at lower temperatures and does not require as much detergent to clean your clothes. Good for the environment and your wallet!
What Are the Best Enzymatic Detergents?
When shopping for enzymatic detergents, look for brands with ‘bio’ in their name, as they tend to be enzyme-based. These are three of the best enzymatic detergents out there.
Presto! Laundry Detergent - a great value-for-money bio-based detergent with a number of different plant-based enzymes included to deal with different kinds of stains.
Arm & Hammer BioEnzyme Power - enzyme detergent pods for ultimate convenience; just toss them in with your wash, and you’ll see a huge difference.
Rockin’ Green - enzymatic detergent in powder form, the blend of enzymes is designed explicitly for activewear and is great for removing grass stains and smells.
If you still feel like you need some help, or find you have stains that just won’t go away, give WaveMAX Laundry a call. We offer a wash, dry and fold laundry service for both residential and commercial. We’ll be happy to help!
