What is Detergent Enzyme? How it Works, Applications, and Benefits
Detergent enzymes are catalysts that are added during the processing of detergents to enhance their cleaning efficiency. These catalysts, often proteins, are the substances added to the chemical reactions to create a favorable environment for the best outcome. Because of these enzymes, the effectiveness of the detergents is enhanced so that they help break down the toughest stains with a single wash. Stains like starch, fats, proteins, and more are tough to remove, but after adding detergent enzymes, the cleaning powders become powerful in many ways. Let’s discuss in more detail their working, applications and benefits.
How Detergent Enzymes Work?
Enzymes are the proteins that create favorable conditions for the reaction to take place, either by speeding up the process or fluctuating the temperature. In detergents, they speed up the chemical reaction and help break down even the toughest stains easily.
Different Enzymes for Different Stains:
- Proteases: Helps break down protein stains including blood, sweat, etc.
- Lipases: For fat oil-based stains.
- Amylases: Breaks down starch-based stains.
- Cellulases: Specially added for cleaning fuzz from cotton fabrics.
Working of Detergent Enzymes:
- The process starts when enzymes bind to the molecules of the stains.
- After creating the bond, the enzymes start breaking down the stain into smaller fragments.
- Finally, these fragments can be washed away very easily in the first go.
Key Advantages of Detergent Enzymes
Ease of Removing Tough Stains
These complex enzymes are added to the detergent process to speed up the stain-removal process. They create a strong bond with stain molecules and break them down into smaller fragments, because of which it becomes easy to get rid of them in a single wash cycle. This way, even the toughest stains are removed or washed away very easily.
Effective at Lower Temperatures
Detergent enzymes work very effectively at lower temperatures, which eliminates the need to spend energy on boiling water. Moreover, many vessels can’t handle the water at higher temperatures so these enzymes also help to save expenses on other resources. In residential spaces, people can save a lot of energy, as the detergent reduces the need for heating the water for the wash cycle.
Gentler on Fabrics and Colors
Adding enzymes to the detergent or cleaning powder also helps to eliminate the need for using stronger detergents with harsh chemicals that can easily damage the fabric or result in faded colors. They help break down tough stains in a single wash and have a gentle effect on the fabrics.
Help Avoid Harsh Chemicals
There are different types of detergents in the market, out of which, some are developed using harsh chemicals for removing tough stains. However, they also have the ability to damage the fabric or fade away the colors during the cleaning process. This is why enzymes are added to the detergents working as a catalyst to remove such stains without compromising the quality of the fabrics.
Effective Cleaning
Enzymes are the proteins that bind themselves to the stain molecules to break down for easy washing. They are the safest and cost effective method to clean even the toughest stains like blood, sweat, food, etc. from the fabric without compromising the quality. This quality helps popular brands to effectively clean their clothing range and still maintain the original gentleness and color vibrancy.
Maintains Fabric Health
If you are using harsh chemicals then it may result in damaged fabrics with each wash cycle. However, in case of detergent enzymes, which helps breakdown stains only and does not harm the fabric, you can extend the lifespan of your branded clothes.
Major Applications of Detergent Enzymes
Removing Stains
Detergent enzymes are the most cost effective and safest solution for removing stains from different types of fabrics including cotton, silk, linen, fibers, etc. These enzymes are the protein based catalysts which have the ability to break down tough stains of fats, oils, starch, protein, etc. They enhance the effectiveness of the detergent, reducing the need for washing clothes multiple times, preventing damage to fabric and color fading.
Maintaining Whiteness
Detergents boosted by enzymes are best for regular washing and maintaining the whiteness of the fabrics. The enzyme creates a strong bond with stain molecules and ensures a cleaner wash in the first go. Furthermore, it prevents the soil deposits from sticking to the fabric which helps to maintain the whiteness of the fabric for a long time.
Fabric Care
Using normal or harsh chemical detergents results in the damage of fabric or color fading with every wash cycle. However, when the enzymes are added to the detergens, they ensure the removal of soil, clay, dust, and fuzziness, without harming the fabric. Moreover, it also takes care of the dullness and helps restore the brightness of the colors.
Dishwashing
Detergent enzymes also help to effectively clean dishes as they do not contain harmful chemicals and easily break down the tough residues and grease from the leftover food fragments. The quality of the cleaning was enhanced to multiple folds eliminating the need for washing dishes several times.
Industrial Cleaning
The enzymes are so effective at breaking down the stain molecules that they are also used for industrial cleaning. They help clean the tough stains from various surfaces and prevent the formation of soil and other residues very easily. Furthermore, the food & beverage processing equipment are often cleaned with these types of detergents as they don’t contain harmful chemicals.
How to Choose The Right Detergent Enzyme?
There are multiple factors to consider before making the final choice:
Type of Stain
Make sure you understand which type of stain you want to clean with the enzymes as each one is developed to remove specific stain molecules.
Type of Enzymes
There are several types of detergent enzymes that deal with different types of stains like proteases remove protein-based stains, lipases break down oil, amylases deal with starch stains, and mannanases help with any kind of food stain.
Type of Fabric
Identify which type of fabric you want to wash with the enzymes as there are two types including tough fabric and soft fabric. Although these enzymes do not damage the fabric, it is necessary to use the specific one that is designed as per the nature of the fabric.
Cleaning Method
Make sure the detergent you choose is designed for a specific cleaning method like hand washing, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
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