What's in odor fighting detergent?

[sudsluvr]

I'm curious what ingredients are in odor fighting detergents and why those ingredients aren't in general purpose products. Any insight?

Specifically, I'm looking for a detergent that's great on body oil. I previously used a Persil product recommended by that big non-profit ratings magazine in the past, but I can no longer find it.

I see that Tide Ultra Stain Release is top rated. How well does it work on body oils?

I use a standard non-HE top-loading machine in an apartment building's laundry room.

 

[circlew]

The best I can suggest is to refer to the SDS (safety data sheet) for the product you're interested in.

I don't know about the detergents, but laundry sanitizers such as the Lysol product, are quaternary ammonia based.

As for oils, a good liquid. You may need to add something like Lestoil if it's that bad. My aunt would use that to pretreat shirt collars and cuffs.

 

[sudsluvr]

I had not heard of Lestoil. Just read its Wikipedia page. Sounds similar to Pine-Sol or Mr. Clean.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

persil advanced clean

Persil does make an advanced clean detergent that does fight both tough stains and odors. I use the ultra pacs version.

 

[mrboilwash]

Zinc ricinoleate and cyclodextrin work by trapping and binding odors, but most so called odor fighting detergents simply work by masking odors with a strong perfume.
Non of it is a great solution in the long run.

Depending on what is causing the odors you might have better results by fighting the root of the problem instead of using an odor fighting detergent.

If it`s bacteria or yeasts causing it very hot wash and dry temps would work, if that`s not possible a quaternary based laundry sanitizing rinse might do as well.

If it`s because of rancid residual body oils or a similar build up of dirt in clothes increasing the detergent dose up to three times of what a standard load calls for might do the trick.
The most fail proof remedy however if your clothes can take it is to use an oxygen bleach containing powder detergent in sufficient amounts in at least very warm water. Works by reducing germs as well as the oxy bleach attacking protein based build up which the enzymes in a liquid formulation might have left back.

 

[launderess]

Leaving aside modern inventions such as various enzymes previous laundry detergents dealt with whiffy textiles by using non-ionic surfactants.

https://www.stockmeier.com/en/produ...s/home-industrial-care/non-ionic-surfactants/

Non-ionic surfactants get at oily and greasy soils which would include "body dirt" and sweat.

Of one examines Persil Active Wear detergent it contains largely blends of surfactants to aid in getting at whiff.

https://www.amazon.com/Persil-Activewear-Detergent-Efficiency-Concentrated/dp/B0D18RDBP4

Vintage Surf laundry detergent marketed to get at whiffy laundry was nothing more than mainly blend of anionic and non-ionic surfactants.



Ditto for products such as Ariel liquid.


Most important thing for getting laundry fresh and whiff free is to ensure textiles have a proper wash and are deep cleaned. Laundry or areas of a garment (such as under arm) that still have a whiff after washing haven't been cleaned properly. Sometimes attacking such dirt means pre-treating, pre-soaking or giving a good scrub.

https://www.onepeloton.com/blog/how...out,and consumer laundry appliance developers.

Rest of it comes down to things such as reducing/eliminating bacteria on wash and pH of wash water.

 

[sudsluvr]

Ah, non-ionic surfactants must be what I'm curious about.

My Gain powder does a poor job with body oils, I would say. However, the Persil odor fighting liquid detergent I used a few years ago did a fine job.

Perhaps any liquid detergent will work well for body oils since non-ionic surfactants appear to be more readily available as liquids, according to a cursory Google search.

 

[launderess]

May have had things muddled.

Reading Lever Bros. original patent for what became Surf (or Radion in some other markets), it appears a variety of surfactants and other deodorants were employed to get whiffy laundry.

US4304679A - Detergent product containing deodorant compositions - Google Patents

A deodorant detergent product comprises a non-soap detergent active compound, and a deodorant composition. The product can be used for personal washing of the skin and will as a result reduce human body malodor. The product can also be employed for washing fabrics which when subsequently worn in...

patents.google.com

 

[littlegreeny]

You need a product that is excellent at removing body oils. Go for something made by Tide such as the ultra stain release or one of the ultra oxi formulas. If you prefer unscented, the new ultra oxi unscented available at Target is their new version of the ultra stain release free. Add a few tablespoons of borax and some sodium percarbonate (oxicean) to the wash and use HOT water. It will take time to remove the built up funk but the odors will eventually go away.

 

[combo52]

Well, said David

People just don't understand that you're not gonna wash body oils out in cold water and with cleaning products that really don't work well, you need good cleaning products and temperatures over 100° the temperature where body oils got into the clothing.

John

 

[DADoES]

 
I've mentioned previously that I have oily hair and skin.  Pillow cases and sheets washed in cooler than ~105°F leave a telltale shadow.  I set the tankless at 116°F for sheets.  And I don't skimp on detergent, 1/4 cup of Persil + 2 TBSP STPP for a medium fill in the IWL12 (usually with some shirts added).

 

[tomturbomatic]

Yes, try Sodium Tripolyphosphate, enough to make the water feel slippery before the detergent is added, from a quarter to a half cup depending on the amount of water your machine uses and the hardness of the water. Once you remove the oil, the odor will go bye bye with it. As a bonus, the STPP will help the detergent rinse out easier.

 

[askolover]

I can speak about lestoil working well. I got a couple of bottles when I was working on the clutch in my car. All that road grime mixed with black diesel oil and soot. My work clothes were quite nasty. I put lestoil on them and washed on a 190F cycle in the Miele and they all pretty much came clean...for work clothes. It is made by the same company as pine Sol and has that type of scent plus some solvent.