The difference between a biological and a non-biological detergent!
Biological Detergent
Biological means the washing powder formula uses enzymes as a way of achieving a really deep down clean. This almost certainly means that you can wash at lower temperatures and with less water to achieve a really deep down clean. Different enzymes are suitable for different applications and fabrics. Lipase enzyme, for example, being more suitable as a degreaser, and protease for attacking protein molecules in foodstuffs and bodily waste and odours. Other enzymes are used for removing particular dirt types.
Enzymes
Enzymes have a particular lock and key action, which you may remember from biology lessons. They take a particular catalyst to start the reaction off. In our case, this is both heat reaching the 30/40 degree point and the effect of the other ingredients as they dissolve to create a certain alkalinity level in the wash. The agents we use to achieve this process also aids the water softening meaning you need less detergent to achieve an effective clean with Distinctive.
The protease enzyme, one of the components in Distinctive, is great at breaking down the proteins in food stains, body waste such as urine, faeces and semen, some fats, blood and other naturally occurring everyday grime that we get on our clothes.
Distinctive’s superior formula means you won’t need any additional products when you wash. You don’t need to buy a fabric softener, as we have in-built cationic softening, (explained above), and unless you have a particular stain, such as an oil mark, you won’t ever need a stain remover either. If you notice a deep set food or mud stain then just pre-soak overnight with a little Distinctive in cool water before washing.
If you have tired old whites then a whitener product added occasionally to an all-white load will work wonders, and is better than a costly accident damaging expensive bedding or clothing if you use a laundry product that has a whitening effect.
Other Myths
Sensitive skins really are not more likely to react to a bio!
Enyzmes will also provide a superior rinsing action to the last stage of the wash, meaning that there are less chemicals left on the surface of the fibres once the last rinse is completed. Do not ever add a fabric softener to the last stage of the wash if you suffer from allergies.
A bio detergent can contain optical brighteners (UV dyes that reflect light and make a product appear whiter than it is) or it can be without. There is no fixed rule for a detergent, so if you are avoiding them for delicate skin reasons, please look on the packaging. Anything that makes whites whiter generally has optical brightener content.
Optical brighteners are great for whites as you can imagine, but they leave a permanent change as a build up on a coloured or delicate item that makes coloured clothing look a little faded and patchy. You’ll see the UV speckles on other peoples clothing, (like dandruff) if you are under strobe lights in a nightclub.
Some washing formulas will also contain harsh bleaching agents – again, ours doesn’t for a reason, we want to look after mixed and expensive designer fibers in one easy washing load.
New Laundry powders in Europe have to be compliant with being fully biodegradable and phosphate free (2015 Laundry regulations). Distinctive Washing powder all of our surfactants, (washing chemicals) are 100% environmental. It is something we are super proud of!
Non Biological Detergent
Non Biological means no enzymes, so the cleaning chemicals need to be harsher and usually rely on hot water and the washing machine as much as the chemicals to get the grease and grime off fabric.
There are plenty of non-bios on the market that clean perfectly well at high temperatures but none will outperform a bio in cooler water, and that is the reason most laundry experts prefer a bio because it’s the product that is washing your clothes rather than the hot water, or worse – harsh chemicals.
All we’ve done is go back to basics, with the addition of some clever laundry science.
We created a superior formula that washes and rinses superbly at low temperatures without the addition of any optical brighteners or bleaching agents – thus making it entirely colour safe and as gentle as a formula can be to skin.
Fragrance
Fragrance, on the other hand, can sometimes cause an allergy. My daughter Aimee doesn’t react to our formula though she used to react to fabric softeners from household leading brands. Unfortunately her skin does still react to lots of things and even sitting on mown grass in the summer causes her to flare, so I’d be very confident in suggesting it to anyone with sensitive skin to trial and we have already had repeat purchases from a number of men and women who are very excited to find something that smells so amazing on their laundry whilst not causing them an allergy flair up.
Distinctive washing powder perfect for even the most sensitive skins
So remember, if you have a super stained item that’s white that needs a bit of a boost, you can just add a bit of a specialist whitener product to that one load. But importantly, if you don’t, you won’t be damaging those expensive items when you wash them, if you accidentally wash the wrong things together.
I hope we might have provided you with help in answering your query what’s the difference between a biological and non-biological detergent in a relatively simple way. But, if you have any further questions please do email info@distinctivewash.co.uk
For fragrance, choice have a look here. And for all of our products if you would like to try them please Go Shopping here
