John C. Dvorak: “Enzyme laundry detergent—this is an interesting one. Back in the 60s and 70s, there was a fad that started in Europe, mainly because phosphates were being removed from detergents. Phosphates were causing algae blooms and poisoning rivers, so they had to be taken out. I once got a lecture from a guy at Procter & Gamble who explained that you should always buy liquid detergent instead of powder. The substitutes for phosphates couldn’t be made into powder, so liquid was the way to go.
At the time, enzyme-based detergents emerged as an alternative. One of the well-known brands back then was Biz, though it’s been reformulated, and I’m not even sure if it still contains enzymes. Enzyme detergents work best with cold water, and you have to soak your clothes for a few hours, sometimes up to 24 hours.”
Adam Curry: “Is that when they started promoting cold wash?”
John C. Dvorak: “Yes, that’s part of it. Cold wash works best with enzymes. I use ProEnzyme and have had good results, but there are other brands out there. You’ll need to do a bit of research to find one you like. The downside is you do need to soak your clothes for a while, which can be inconvenient. However, it’s very effective—it takes out grass stains, blood stains, and other tough spots. The enzymes eat away at things that regular detergents can’t remove and sometimes even set in.
I remember we talked about fabric softeners, and you finally stopped using them.”
Adam Curry: “Yeah, that was years ago. I even tried those washing machine nuts, but they didn’t work out.”
John C. Dvorak: “Exactly. Anyway, people should look into enzyme detergents. They became popular in Europe because they’re energy-efficient, as you use cold water. They clean well and help keep things bright.”
Adam Curry: “Do you have a brand you recommend?”
John C. Dvorak: “I recommend ProEnzyme, but there are other brands, and there might be even better options out there.”