Enzymes and dry cleaning

[xenofont]

Happy Thanksgiving to all of the lovely people reading this post!

I am very allergic to enzymes found in most laundry detergents today. I get a nasty migraine when my skin comes into contact with an item that has been laundered with a detergent containing enzymes. I assume today's hydrocarbon-based dry cleaning systems also employ enzymes, at least as part of the pre-wash spotting treatment. My question is will the enzymes survive the cleaning process, or will they be washed away by the solvent by the end of the cleaning process? I know this is a bit of an off-the-wall question, but I also know this forum has a lot of smart people lurking around.

 

[tomturbomatic]

What about if the item is thoroughly rinsed?

 

[petek]

Hard to say if they all contain enzymes and I imagine not. I would personally contact the detergents manufacturer and ask them about the specific version of their product you're using.

 

[reactor]

allergies

Sorry about your allergies to detergents, Martin. I have them as well, but I don't think it is due to enzymes. However, you may wish to try what I do which seems to help.

Aside from multiple warm rinses, I put lemon juice or sometimes citric acid into the next to the last rinse.

Detergents are alkaline. If you place an acid in the presence of an alkaline it will neutralize it and create a salt. The addition of the acid not only neutralizes the detergent, but it also dissolves the water hardness minerals (primarily calcium) that combine with the detergent to create the soap scum that clings to the clothing.

Not only is the detergent neutralized, but much of hard water scum is reduced and the lemon juice gives the clothing a fresh clean smell.

 

[foraloysius]

I think there are still detergents available without enzymes. In the UK there are some non-bio detergents available that don't contain enzymes. One of them is Unilever Persil non bio. Perhaps something like it is available in the USA too?