Bio vs Non-Bio Detergents

[launderess]

Wondering why there is such a furore over non-bio detergents in the UK, but really no where else. While many lower priced detergent brands in the United States like Ajax do not contain enzymes, all MOL and TOL detergents like Tide are loaded with them. Even Dreft which is designed for cleaning baby's laundry is loaded with enzymes.

Was looking over a commercial laundry chemical/detergent's website, and see they offer both bio and non-bio detergents. Some of the non-bio detergents are 35% STPP, with another good dose of washing soda, then surfactants.

Have heard that non-bio detergents in the UK and Europe tend to have lots of oxygen bleaching compounds, which one guesses is to make up for the lack of enzymes.

Are that many people truly allergic to enzymes in detergents? If so why is the market so paltry in the largest consumer market on earth (the United States).

Launderess

 

[toggleswitch]

Funny I have not noitced any fan-fare over enzymes here. Does the front of thelabel not fuss over them?

 

[brisnat81]

We dont get it either

Hi Laundress,

We dont have non-bio detergent here either. They've progressively become all enzyme based since the mid 80's.

Its very hard to find any high sudsing non enzyme detergent.

 

[frigilux]

Enzymes are sneaking in to dishwasher detergents, as well. No one advertises it that way, but they were all outed by Consumer Reports last year.

I recall, back in the dim, distant past of the early 1970's, that enzyme laundry additives Biz, Axion (or whatever the hell it was...) etc., were under suspicion of causing cancer. Apparantly that wasn't true. I hope.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've also noticed no "furor" over laundry detergents and enzymes. Most detergents higher that bargain basement seem to contain them, even those that portray themselves as "free and clear".

I think the actual "furor" happened about 30 years ago, when intial attempts to incorporate enzymes into laundry detergents resulted in a lot of airborne enzymes. Improvements in the processing of the enzymes (encapsulating them inside detergent granules) pretty much eliminated this problem. Perhaps improvements in the enzyems themselves helped, as well.

Enzymes are a laundry geek's favorite Pac-Man (or Pac-Woman).

 

[launderess]

Non-Bio Furore

Years ago the makers of Persil in the UK decided they would withdraw the non-enzyme versions leaving only the "bio" containing detergents on the shelves. Well one would have thought Persil UK was talking about murdering infants. The reaction was fast and "furious" from the nappies set and a few other sections of UK society as well. Not willing to anger the mothers/housewives of the UK furhter, Persil quickly back tracked and announced it would leave all non-bio versions in production.

Today one can find various non-bio detergents in any UK shop, and not just from Persil, but Tesco's, Sainsburys and a few other brands as well. What is interesting is once leaves the damp shores of GB, to either Europe or America, "non-bio" ceases to be an issue. Even detergents designed for infants and those with allergies all contain enzymes. This left me pondering just what the deal acutally is; are those living in the UK highly reactive to enzymes, or just more vocal about keeping products they like on shelves?

One has read of infants, children and even some adults having very nasty reactions to enzymes in detergents. These reactions usually are to the enzymes designed to break down protiens. Apparently if laundry is not rinsed properly,or even if it is the residue from these enzymes can be reactivated. Usually this reaction takes place where the aforementioned laundered items come in contact with damp,warm and moist skin, which provides the proper climate for enzymes to "work'. Since human skin, nails and hair, amoung other things are composed of protien, the enzymes do not see any difference.

These reactions are apparently on the rise as detergents are using enzymes developed to withstand heat. Apparently at one time enzymes in detergents were mainly of the type that worked at or near body temp (100F) and would be killed off by hot or boil washing.

L

 

[foraloysius]

I have wondered about this too. The United Kingdom seems to be the only country in Europe with Non-bio detergents. At the other side of the Channel I haven't seen them (yet?). Henkel sells a Sensitive version of it's Persil that doesn't contain Protease IIRC. Could it be that Protease is the enzyme that causes the most allergies?

 

[MrX]

I'd assume it's just marketing. People are convinced that biological detergents are irritating. Hence, they blame them on everything. Unilever obviously didn't want bad press so, kept the non bio option.

I'd have assumed that non-bio detergents were aimed at twin tub / handwashing in the days pre 1960s.

Front loaders have always used bio by default.

If anything, non biological detergent would rely on harsh chemicals instead of enzymes, so I really can't see how it's good for your skin.

The best sollution is good rinsing!

 

[sudsmaster]

I also really wonder if enzymes are the primary cause of skin irritation...

Skin is composed primarily of keratin. It's the same stuff that makes up hair and fingernails.

Here's a little experiment to try: take you favorite bio detergent and fill a bowl with warm water and an amount of bio detergent equivalent to what you might get with normal dosing of a front loader.

Then add a lock of your hair.

Let it sit overnight.

Check in the morning to see if the hair is still there.

If it's still there, then the proteases in your detergent are unable to attack keratin, and the source of any skin irritation is most likely to be the result of residual alkalinity in the laundry. Try using vinegar in the last rinse.